What Makes This Course So Special?
As a postgraduate student, you will have the opportunity to become a member of the Future Music Lab research group giving you the opportunity to explore and exchange ideas with leading professionals in the emerging ecology. The programme is facilitated to the highest specification offering you access to professional industry standard studios at both our Caerleon campus and our new multi-million pound City Campus. The course is Skillset Media Academy accredited which promotes convergence and collaboration with other media practices and strong links to industry.
The programme takes a ‘student-centred’ approach to the acquisition of skills and knowledge and is enterprise driven in both research and practice enabling you to gain exposure and a confidence to foster commercial partnerships in the appropriate sector of the industry.
Find out more about the subject of Performing Arts at Newport.
Course Intro
Our innovative course has been designed to give you an advantage in a career in the ‘new music industry’. The convergence of new technological tools, formats and consumer trends has changed the industry forever offering exciting opportunities for artists, producers, designers and entrepreneurs. We are therefore seeking highly motivated, forward thinking individuals to join us in developing this future.
Creative Music Practice is staffed with a combination of award winning specialists and experienced visiting practitioners. We support your skills acquisition; creativity and innovation in research and production; and enterprise activity in developing artistic, industrial and research partnerships and collaborations.
We specialise in:
• Music composition and production, incorporating electronic and digital technology
• Sound design and composition for media (installation, new media and games)
• Sonic art, acousmatic and electroacoustic
• Improvisation incorporating electronic and digital technology
• New musical interface (software and hardware development)
• Interactive, reactive and generative music
• Music networks and new audience development
• Performance media
What you study
In the first part of the course you will be taught practice, theory and research elements. It is during this phase that you are first exposed to the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary course ethos, promoting risk, experimentation and enterprise within your practice and research.
In the second part of the course you will have the option to undertake an extended practical project or write a full thesis leading to your final development of a product, public performance, exhibition, or research event.
The MFA award is based on supervised study. This work can be focused on significant professional experience gained through extended research or national and international placements or internships.
A programme specification is available for this course.
Where Next?
The MA/MFA in Creative Music Practice is designed to develop your practice and research to a position of sustainable commercial activity in your chosen field or lead to registration for an MPhil/PhD.
The course offers students an insight into both current and emerging ecologies and an opportunity to compete in the new music industry.
Students have the opportunity to forge relationships and partnerships with independent music and film labels, software and hardware manufacturers, games and new media companies, broadcasters and international research centres. You are actively encouraged and supported in entrepreneurial activities such as raising research and development capital for your work.
Interview Required
Applicants are required to present examples of existing work and informally discuss the practice and research they expect to carry out during the MA/MFA programme.
Assessment
Throughout this course you will be assessed through a combination of research presentations, practical projects and written assignments.
This course is part of the Skillset Media Academy Wales, a partnership of the leading film and media schools in Wales, offering an exceptionally high standard of education that is endorsed by industry and approved by Skillset. MA/MFA Creative Music Practice students benefit from close contact with the Academy’s Industry Panel, access to professional masterclasses and workshops, jobs and work placements, and the opportunity to promote work through an exclusive online network.
Student Soundbite
“The unique approach to mentoring, applied research and technology enabled me to gain essential entrepreneurial skills to develop as an independent producer. I now produce reactive and interactive music for established artists and labels.”