COURSE CURRICULUM

The MusM in Performance Studies combines practical musicianship with scholarly inquiry, providing students with the tools to excel as advanced performers and reflective practitioners. Core modules such as Researching Performance: Issues and Approaches and Advanced Music Studies: Research Skills in the Digital Age equip students with analytical and research capabilities essential for understanding performance within historical, theoretical, and cultural contexts. The Professional and Pedagogical Skills unit develops teaching, leadership, and communication competencies, preparing students for diverse roles in music education and the wider creative sector. Performance-based components, including the Recital and Performance Project, enable students to refine their technical mastery and interpretative insight through public and assessed performances. Optional units allow for specialization in areas such as world music, historical performance, analysis, or editorial skills, supporting a personalized and interdisciplinary approach to study. The course encourages critical reflection on the act of performance, exploring how musicians engage with repertoire, audiences, and contemporary debates in music-making. Set within Manchester’s dynamic musical environment, the program offers opportunities to collaborate with professional ensembles and cultural institutions. Graduates emerge as versatile artists equipped for careers in performance, teaching, and research, capable of contributing creatively and critically to the evolving landscape of professional music practice.