The MMus in Composition allows students to explore their creative language and horizons in relationship to contemporary compositional styles and challenges. Each student's creative work is developed and guided through seminars and individual tutorials. There are no stylistic preferences and all contemporary styles are encouraged, including the use of new technologies.
This programme is for creative musicians with a thorough grounding in basic technique who wish to expand their imaginative and critical horizons. The Reid School of Music is situated within Edinburgh College of Art, with the possibility of collaboration with art-forms including film, video, art writing, sculpture and many others. Four taught or supervised courses are taken over two semesters, with a wide variety of optional courses including advanced orchestration, music in the community, algorithmic composition, and a range of musicological and technical courses.
What you will study
There is a strong practical element to the programme, including an engagement with performers in residence: the Edinburgh Quartet, and Edinburgh University Composers’ Orchestra which gives regular performances of student compositions. Recent visiting artists include percussionist, Joby Burgess; the Diotima Quartet; the Hebrides Ensemble; bass viol player, Andrew Arceci; guitarist, Simon Thacker and many others.
Participants can also take advantage of a vibrant creative environment which includes free improvisation, algorithmic composition using computer software, and live interactive electronics. The annual Dialogues Festival provides a series of performances by exceptional visiting artists.
Graduates will have developed and consolidated their creative skills, and will also have gained experience of collaborative work and engagement with performers and audiences. Many graduates go on to worthwhile involvement in creative music-making.
