Music BMus at Kings College London

Overview

Delivered in one of the musical capitals of the world, this highly personalised degree leads to advanced work in four areas: history of western music, ethnomusicology, performance and composition. Students interested in performance will benefit from our partnership with the Royal Academy of Music, while those interested in composition will enjoy our expert teaching and access to London’s rich contemporary music scene.

The course introduces all students to a broad range of theoretical and historical approaches to music, and will develop essential skills in critical thinking, expression and research.

Key benefits:

• One of the most versatile and lively music departments in the UK.
• Strong links with the Royal Academy of Music, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Hong Kong.
• This degree offers you the opportunity to choose the types of modules that suit your interests.
• Central location offers access to London’s rich music scene, alongside many libraries and cultural institutes.
• Be part of an international group of students.
• Choral and organ scholarships are available.

Course detail

Description

Studying Music at King’s enables you to immerse yourself in the world of sound, stretching across the centuries and around the globe. Today, music is the most global cultural expression, and we pride ourselves not only on the range and diversity of the modules we offer, but also on the diversity of the approaches we employ, including compositional creativity, close reading of scores, aural training, contemporary critical theory, historical scholarship and ethnographic studies.

There is plenty of opportunity at King’s to participate in concerts and chamber music groups. You will have the opportunity to play a leading part in the College Orchestra and to sing in the departmental choir. Recitals take place throughout the year.

We offer you individual lessons at the Royal Academy of Music, if you have ABRSM Grade 8 in your instrument of study. In your first year you will study with an Academy postgraduate student. Depending on your performance level, you may be able to subsequently change to an Academy professor.

Teaching

We think it is incredibly important that you receive close personal attention. We teach most modules through a mix of lectures and seminars or small tutorial groups of four or five. For lessons in Advanced Composition and in Performance you will be taught one-to-one. Our Department has an international reputation for its excellence in teaching and research and our staff aim to connect research and teaching, both in the classroom and at the many research seminars held in the Department.

Career prospects

Our former students can be found in schools all over the country, in British and American universities and conservatoires, working at the BBC, in arts management and as composers and conductors with an international reputation.

Career destinations

Amongst our recent graduates there is a freelance editor for Lexis Nexis, a house manager for a concert hall trust, an international production operations co-ordinator for a music company, a marketing assistant intern at London Symphony Orchestra, mathematics and music tutor for a tuition company, a freelance musician and a secondary school teacher.