Postgraduate

Introduction

Moving beyond the Undergraduate scheme of work, LPMAM offers a varied and high-profile range of development opportunities for Postgraduate students. LPMAM particularly focus on elective professional development courses enabling our students to achieve an extremely high level in their career. Students at the Postgraduate level are expected to lead their own learning and be selfmotivated as they develop throughout the course. Certain Principal Study Requirements have been set by each department to ensure students on the Masters Courses are the best of the best. The Postgraduate Courses also enable students to develop highly accomplished Professional Portfolios that demonstrate the incredible range of opportunities LPMAM has offered throughout your course.

As the courses develop, a student’s professional development is carried forward and built upon. This continues throughout all project-based work for both the postgraduate and research advanced students. Students will be encouraged to make the most of the opportunities afforded to them, in an atmosphere of support from our expert staff, exposure to visiting specialists, and learning alongside and in collaboration with your peers.

It is an exciting element of all LPMAM courses that we are able to run a series of competitions to identify and nurture the very best students by awarding recording contracts with leading UK record labels and concert tours with international Artist Agencies.

We offer these postgraduate qualifications:

*Postgraduate Diploma in Performance or Composition (PgDip) – IIB accredited diploma

This is the standard course for performers. The aim is to prepare a student for a professional music career in all necessary aspects and disciplines. This is a highly practical course where the only written element of assessment is a student’s Professional Portfolio. Students who are not eligible due to not fully meeting enrolment criteria for the PgDip may be enrolled on to the PGCert.

*Master Music Diploma in Performance or Composition
(MMDip) – IIB accredited diploma

The MMDip, for both composers and for performers, follows the same core programme as the PGDip. However it also includes a project component (either a Concert Project or a Research Project). This is in line with the standard postgraduate programme for composers. The MMus is also suitable for performers who wish to expand and develop high-level performance opportunities alongside practical academic study and research. This course is therefore ideal for students who may wish to progress to ARDip level.

Postgraduate Certificate in Performance (PGCert) – IIB accredited diploma

Advanced Diploma in Performance or Opera (AdvDip)

*Advanced Research Diploma in Performance Practice or Composition (ARDip)

All students at LPMAM benefit enormously from our tutorial system whereby students receive personalised educational and career advice to enable individual students to make informed choices regarding their future. Students enrolled on the PgDip may transfer to MMDip after one year for an additional year of study, provided the necessary criteria have been met.

Programme duration

In usual circumstances, the PgDip is normally a two-year programme. In special cases LPMAM may allow a student to complete the programme in one year. Conducting is a unique study route and normally requires three years. LPMAM carries out assessments at prospective student auditions to determine a candidate suitability for one or two year programmes. As part of this assessment we consider the standard demonstrated at entry, educational needs and a student’s funding provision. This can later be reviewed during the first term following enrolment.

MMDip options are designed to also be flexible. However we expect two years of study for all but a very small minority that may be considered to complete the programme in one year (this does however incur a significantly higher fee).

Programme Details

PG Certificate in Performance – Total 140 Credits

PGDip Performance or Composition – Total 180 Credits

MMDip Performance or Composition – Total 220 Credits

AdvDip in Perfromance and Opera – Non-credit programme

Principal Study [PGCert, PGDip and MMDip]:

Credit Value 140 Credits – 80 Individual instrument, 60 Supportive studies*
Summary Assessment performance – 100% PGCert, 75% PGDip, 50% MMDip Assessment
Summative Assessment Performers

Concerto or equivalent (1/3 of mark)

FinalRecital or equivalent (2/3 of mark)

Supportive studies:
Formative Assessment as required and Reported on by Heads of Department

Composers
Composition PortfolioSupportive studies:
Formative Assessment as required and Reported on by Heads of Department
Teaching Delivery 1:1 lessons for Individual instrument
Collective classes and ensembles for Supportive studies

PGCert students follow the PGDip programme without the Professional Portfolio, and thus receive 140 credits.

Professional Portfolio [PGDip and MMDip]:

Credit Value 40 Credits
Summary Assessment 25% PGDip, 20% MMDip
Format of Assessment Assessment of portfolio presentation (including commentary)

Assessment of creative work (e.g. a concert)

(Holistic Assessment)

Teaching Delivery Core:
Supportive studies – development of faculty activities
Professional Development Pathway
1:1 Tutorial supervision

Options:
Development of supportive studies or
Development of one or more Professional Development areas

Project [MMDip]:

Credit Value 40 Credits
Summary Assessment 30% MMDip
Format of Assessment Either: Concert Project or Research Project
Teaching Delivery Research Skills Seminars
Project Preparation Seminars
Individual Supervision
Performance Workshop
Composition Seminars

Academic and Supporting Studies*: 60 credits

Supporting Studies are offered through four core modules that develop key areas of musicianship as well as introducing other important skills during the undergraduate course. Students may elect to study these subjects further at a later stage:

  • Masterclasses (for all students of any Undergraduate and Postgraduate year)
  • Academic Studies
  • Keyboard Skills (1st Year Undergraduate)
  • Vocal Skills (any Year Undergraduate)
  • Vocal Balance Technique (1 year compulsory Vocal Students, any time during Undergraduate and Postgraduate)
  • Secondary Piano Course (1st Year Undergraduate onward)
  • Theory Grade 6 to 8 (1st Year Undergraduate)
  • Aural Training (1st and 2nd Year Undergraduate)
  • Instrument Technology (1Year Undergraduate, 1 term, compulsory for each related instrument)
  • Techniques and Analysis (1st and 2nd Year Undergraduate)
  • History of Western Music (1st and 2nd Year Undergraduate)
  • Music and Identity (Jazz Course, facultative to all other students)
  • Foreign Language at choice (facultative)
  • Chamber Music and Orchestral Ensemble (compulsory 1st and 2nd Year Undergraduate, then facultative)
  • Performance classes (3rd+4th Year Undergraduate and Postgraduate)
  • Interdisciplinary Performance Classes (3rd Year Undergraduate)
  • Music Law (3rd Year Undergraduate and Postgraduate facultative)
  • Music Business (3rd Year Undergraduate and Postgraduate facultative)
  • Introduction to Conducting (4th Year Undergraduate and Postgraduate facultative)
  • Sound Engineering applied to performers (4th Year Undergraduate and Postgraduate)
  • Stage Speech (4th Year Undergraduate) and/or Yoga for Musician, Alexander Technique or Pilates
  • Music Journalism (facultative)
  • Principles of Music Education (facultative)
  • LPMAM Teaching Diploma (facultative)
  • Class Electives
  • Music Sociology (facultative)
  • Music Technology (facultative)