(1 year full-time; 2 years part-time)
Course Leader: Mick Wilson

An intensive course for composers and arrangers wishing to specialise in contemporary musical genres - popular music, brass and wind bands, jazz and electro-acoustic music.

Students are assigned to a personal tutor according to their particular musical specialism, and are encouraged to develop their compositional technique, whilst also pursuing their own search for creativity and individuality. Students also participate in a series of seminars and workshops in which related practical and theoretical matters are considered.

Salford University has an established reputation for its work in contemporary musical genres. Many of the staff are successful composers with numerous publications and performances. The College's music synthesis and recording studios are outstandingly well-equipped; there are extensive computer composition and editing facilities, including the Composers' Desktop Project.

Salford University currently has some three hundred music students enrolled on its Honours degree courses in Band Musicianship and Popular Music and Recording. This presents MA students with an ideally stimulating environment within which to pursue advanced compositional study in contemporary music. All undergraduates undertake composition as part of their degree programmes; many are also outstanding performers, and the performance of student compositions is regarded as an essential feature of the life of the Department. The College's Bands have an international reputation and have made numerous recordings and broadcasts. Composition students can expect suitable work to receive performance of a professional standard.


Assessment of the Postgraduate Diploma is by portfolio of original compositions and/or arrangements. Students taking the MA also submit a dissertation on a related aspect of musical analysis or contemporary musical language. Applicants should possess, or expect to achieve, an honours degree or equivalent qualification in music. They will normally have specialised in composition during their undergraduate studies. Exceptionally, applications may also be considered from candidates who lack formal qualifications but who can demonstrate equivalent achievement in composition, and have a proven capacity for analytical thought and fluent written expression.

Application forms are available from:

Admissions Tutor
MA Compositional Studies
FAculty of Media, Music and Performance
University College Salford
Adelphi
Peru Street
Salford
Manchester
M3 6EQ

Tel: 0161 2956118
Fax: 0161 2956023

Or email: m.j.wilson@salford.ac.uk