Music (Classical) with Foundation Year

We believe that being a classical musician today involves mastery of technique, creative application of theory and adaptability – making you at home in any musical context – and the Foundation Year route at Leeds Conservatoire will give you an extra year to focus on your musical development. There are numerous opportunities to perform with core ensembles such as Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Choir, Opera and opportunities to explore recent classical music with the exciting crossover amplified group New Music Collective. There is a vibrant student union within the conservatoire, which also runs its own ensembles and orchestra, so there are many ways in which students are active as performers and composers. Leeds Conservatoire has recently formed a partnership with Opera North that will increase access for students to gain real professional experience via side-by-side projects. The emphasis is on challenging students to achieve highly, but supporting and nurturing them also.

This course follows the same specifications as our three year BA (Hons) Music (Classical) except that the extra Foundation Year allows for students who need an extra year of study to achieve the standard of our entry requirements for the 3-year BA. The Foundation Year modules include one to one tuition on your principal instrument/voice/composition, as well as skills development in ensemble work (or group composition), music theory and aural skills. Contextual Studies focuses on the repertoire of your chosen pathway, as well as cross pathway musicology and practical and collaborative sessions focusing on creative skills. The Musicianship Skills modules allows all students who have completed their Grade 5 theory prior to the start of the course to choose an elective module to supplement the core curriculum. The list of options includes subjects like music technology, keyboard skills, pathway specific composition and creative performance techniques.

On completion of the Foundation Year you will continue to Year 1 of the BA (Hons) Music (Classical).

From Level 4 one to one study is augmented with weekly Performance in Context and Composition in Context classes. Historical musicology is thematically explored alongside critical listening and harmony, as well as other valuable skills that are aimed to bring contextual understanding to the primary focus of practical musicianship.

Leeds is a vibrant musical city and students are regularly given the opportunity to hear professional music-making of the highest standard and are given numerous opportunities to perform within the city and the wider region. Study is supplemented by regular masterclasses by visiting world-class musicians and composition students are given at least two opportunities per year to write for visiting professional ensembles.

The BA (Hons) Music (Classical) with Foundation Year modules focus on developing you as a professional musician through one-to-one tuition, ensemble study and creative projects. The professional studies strand will develop your core business skills, and other optional modules will introduce additional cross-genre skills.

The programme has strands in Specialist Study and Contextual Studies that span the four levels of the programme, as well as a Professional Studies strand throughout Levels 4, 5 and 6. Students focus primarily on their Specialist Study.

Foundation Year (Level 3)
Compulsory modules:
Specialist Study Foundation
Specialist Group Study Foundation
Contextual Studies Foundation
Musicianship Skills
Aural and Theory

Year 1 (Level 4)
Compulsory modules:
Specialist Study 1
Specialist Group Study 1
Contextual Studies 1
Professional Studies 1: Working in the Creative Industries
Creative Project

Year 2 (Level 5)
Compulsory modules:
Specialist Study 2
Specialist Group Study 2
Contextual Studies 2
Professional Studies 2

Contextual Studies 2 optional modules, one of:
Arranging and Orchestration
Collaborative Composition
Entrepreneurship
Introduction to Music Technology
Music and Ideology
Music for the Moving Image
Musical Direction
Performance with Electronics
Songwriting

Professional Studies 2 optional modules, one of:
Artistic Management
Business Start-up
Concerts and Touring
Instrumental Music Tuition
Self-Promotion and Music Marketing
Structure and Functions of the Film Music Industry
Working with Music in the Community

Year 3 (Level 6)
Compulsory modules:
Specialist Study 3
Final Project
Contextual Studies 3
Professional Studies 3

Students select either a Group/Ensemble Performance Project, a Practice in Context Research Project or Musical Direction/Conducting for their Final Project module.

Contextual Studies 3 optional modules, one of:
Composed Theatre
Composition and Production for Film and Television
Computer-Based Composition
Electroacoustic Composition
Emerging Music Models
Extended Improvisation
Intercultural Music
Software Environments – Performance and Sound Creation

Professional Studies 3 optional modules, one of:
Business Leadership and Ethics
Community Music Project
Film Music – Aesthetics and Narrative Function
Live Music Management
Music Journalism

Module specifications can be accessed via the Leeds Conservatoire website:
http://bit.ly/LC-ClassFY-UCAS

The course is assessed in a variety of ways to reflect the diversity of creative and professional practice. Assessment methods include performance recitals/composition portfolios, technical tests, online portfolios, presentations and written work. The exact nature of assessments will depend on the Musicianship Skills, Contextual Studies and Professional Studies module options chosen at Level 3, Level 5 and Level 6, as well as the choice of project for the Final Project module at Level 6. Formal assessments tend to take place at the end of each semester or the end of the year. There are a handful of assignments with deadlines halfway through a semester.