Music BMus

Why This Degree

The aims of Music within the School are to play a full part in maintaining and enhancing the University’s international standing in scholarship through the quality of its teaching, research and performance; to offer higher education to individuals of all ages and social backgrounds with sufficient ability and motivation to profit from it; and to continue to develop its role in the professional and cultural life of Scotland and of the United Kingdom as part of Europe, and of Glasgow and the West of Scotland in particular.

Music’s specific teaching aims are:

• to provide the intellectual environment in which high quality research, including composition and performance, can support and enrich teaching and learning;

• to provide the highest quality teaching and learning at all levels of each degree within the constraints of available resources;

• to keep curricula up-to-date and relevant to the needs of students; to maintain flexible and modular degree programmes;

• to assess students’ learning continuously; to promote students’ awareness of, and interest in, the discipline.

The BMus focuses primarily on the western classical repertoire – for more information on the first year course options, please see the Programme Structure.

The BMus is a small course, designed specifically to enhance and nurture the varied musical backgrounds of students. Around 20 students per year are successful in applying and passing the audition.

Some frequently asked questions are below:

Applications

All applications to the BMus that arrive by 15^th January will be taken into consideration. If you miss that deadline, you can still apply, but the University is not obliged to look at your application.

Bear in mind that the BMus is competitive – there are approximately 300 applications per year, for around 20 places.

Attendance

In Music we value inclusion and full participation in the learning experience. The nature of Music as a practical subject requires commitment, engagement, and respect for one’s peers through being prepared to contribute to critical debate, workshops, ensemble and other forms of group work.

We therefore expect students to attend all scheduled classes! It doesn’t happen often, but you will be refused credit for any course you do not attend.

You can see expected teaching hours and studying at the Course Catalogue Specification Documents for each course.

Contact Hours

The hours you spend honing your craft are of course up to you, however for a better idea of expected teaching hours and studying, you can find that information in the Course Catalogue Specification Documents for each course. As a guide, you can normally expect around twelve hours of classes per week in your first year.

You will take classes with fellow Music students studying the MA and Electronics with Music programmes, and you will be in various classes with all levels of Music students, from first to fourth years, due to a very individual curriculum.

Deferred Entry

While you may have the option to defer for one year upon a successful application and audition, you will be expected to maintain the standard at which you auditioned for entry in the following year.

Instruments

It’s a myth that you must play piano to gain access to the BMus at Glasgow! You should be proficient on a solo instrument or voice with at least a Merit at ABRSM Grade 8 or the equivalent. You should ideally be at a level equivalent to Grade 5 of the ABRSM theory exams.

Performing

Performance is a compulsory subject for BMus students entering their first year. You can continue with Performance all the way through to your fourth year, or you can move into more Academic studies from your second year. Composition is an option from second year onwards.

You can see your second year options onwards at the Course Catalogue. While Performance is an option, this is an Academic programme.

Part of the Performance Requirements include lessons with a private tutor as recommended by the Music Subject. You will not be taught in-house!

Students are expected to organise lessons – how many and how often is between you and your tutor – and make progress in continued learning throughout the year. You may be reimbursed for lessons each year, up to an amount confirmed at the start of term.

Please note we cannot recommend private tutors to external parties.

Please be aware that in order to continue studying Performance, you will be expected to show improvement with your teacher throughout the year.

Transferring courses

If you wish to transfer from another Institution, you should apply via UCAS as normal. Any decision as to the transfer of credits would be made after a successful application.

Entering at second year and above is possible, but infrequent – there are pre-requisites you would ordinarily have passed in order to meet the entry level, but this will be discuss prior to any offer being made based on qualifications and experience to date.