Music Theatre BA(Hons)

Why study BA(Hons) Music Theatre at University College Falmouth?

Performance courses - additional information (994.71 KB)

If you come from a music, drama or performing arts background and want to become a confident and innovative performer and composer in the interdisciplinary field of music theatre, then Falmouth's new BA(Hons) Music Theatre degree could be just what you're looking for.

This innovative course examines the sonic, physical and visual elements of existing music theatre works and the different ways in which they've been created. It will also help you work confidently with all of these forms and combine them in new and exciting ways, enabling you to perform and make original, dynamic work for a variety of professionally based contexts and communities.

What will I get out of the course?

You'll learn to create your own music theatre works through a series of devising/composing projects and workshops. Learning by doing, you'll also be exposed to central music theatre practitioners and practices through presentations, lectures, research exercises and assignments, all of which will give you greater understanding, confidence and a fresh context for your work. You'll also engage with musical composition's expanded range of ‘instruments', including live video, lighting design, live sound electronics, voice, gesture, movement, costumes, and spatial arrangements.

Tell me more about the BA(Hons) Music Theatre course

By choosing to study for a degree in Music Theatre at Falmouth you will:

• Benefit from being taught by friendly and approachable staff who are all experts in their respective fields.
• Develop both a clear, theoretical understanding and the strong practical skills necessary for a successful career in music theatre.
• Learn how to use initiative, work in a team, meet deadlines under pressure and understand the connections between theatre makers and the audiences, consumers, communities, industry and cultures that they serve.
• Have opportunities to work outside the University College in professional contexts.
• Benefit from our close relationships with many performance institutions, companies and artists, including: Battersea Arts Centre, Hall for Cornwall, Kneehigh Theatre, Cal Arts, Lone Twin Theatre Company, Goat Island, Rosie Dennis, Helen Chadwick, Bobby Baker and many others.
• Be based at the new Performance Centre, a high-specification facility, purpose-built for students' specific needs with the very latest equipment.

Links

• www.bac.org.uk
• www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
• www.kneehigh.co.uk
• www.calarts.edu
• www.lonetwin.com
• www.goatislandperformance.org

Professorial lecture series

Falmouth's Professorial lecture series aims to produce an engaging and challenging public programme that stimulates the intellectual curiosity of our staff, students and alumni, our research collaborators, our industry partners, our local communities and other supporters. Recent lectures relevant to Performance students include Robin Rimbaud (aka ‘Scanner') and Michael Grandage, artistic director of Donmar Warehouse.

Michael Grandage

A conversation with Michael Grandage

Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse in London, Michael has won every major theatre award and ranges from the European classical repertoire to new plays and musicals. Michael has worked with many of the UK's leading actors, such as Kenneth Branagh, Jude Law and Joseph Fiennes.

A video of Michael Grandage in conversation can be viewed online here

Robin Rimbaud (aka Scanner)

How to make art from life (with the help of a few ghosts)

British sound artist who has received critical acclaim and won admiration from the likes of Bjork, Aphex Twin and Stockhausen. Scanner has worked with Bryan Ferry, Radiohead and Laurie Anderson, The Royal Ballet, Merce Cunningham and Random Dance companies, composers Michael Nyman and Luc Ferrari, and artists Mike Kelley, Derek Jarman, Carsten Nicolai and Douglas Gordon, and performed in many of the world's most prestigious spaces.

Facilities

Our new Performance Centre includes:

• Large theatre
• Performance studio with variable raked seating options
• Large theatre and dance studio with a fully sprung Harlequin floor
• Performance studio designed for acoustic music
• Performance studio designed for amplified music
• Two further large dance studios with fully sprung Harlequin floors
• Three studio theatres
• Recording studio complex
• Music rooms for bands and solo occupancy

All studios are equipped with contemporary production lighting and sound facilities.

Course outline

Level 1

• Voice/Movement
• Design/Technology
• Performing/Notation
• Practices & Practitioners 1 & 2
• Locations of Performance 

Level 2

• Performance/Composition 1 & 2
• Devising Project 1 & 2
• Planning and Proposals
• Music Theatre: Situated Project

Level 3

• Music Theatre - Contextual Enquiry Project
• Research Writings
• Complementary Practice
• Music Theatre Final Project

Answers and advice about the course

If you have any queries about the course please visit our HelpMe Forum

HelpMe Forum

For further information about BA(Hons) Music Theatre at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 255945.

Career opportunities

We expect our graduates will go on to work in a variety of contexts, including working in small, medium and large scale companies. Teaching and postgraduate study are also further options. Career opportunities include:

• Performance
• Writing
• Devising
• Directing
• Composing
• Music and/or theatre journalism
• Managing and curating music theatre

Course entry requirements

A minimum of 220 UCAS points, mainly from the A2 level (including one Grade B) or equivalent Level 3 qualifications. You'll also need to be able to show baseline skills in music theatre performance and/or composition/arranging, gained through relevant music theatre experience or exam courses such as ABRSM grades (around grade 6 standard expected), A/AS-Level Music/Music Technology/Theatre.  

Please see our How to Apply page for more information.

For further information about BA(Hons) Music Theatre at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 255945.

Interview dates and selection process

Selection days will commence in December.

Selection days will involve improvisation and working in small groups. Applicants will be expected to bring:

• A prepared piece of vocal or instrumental composition of no more than two minutes. This fragment may be your own composition or it may be material from another source that interests you. The prepared material will be used for group improvisation and making exercises. Please bring comfortable clothes for movement.
• A short review of a contemporary music theatre performance that you have recently seen (a page at most).

Related courses

• Theatre: Performance BA(Hons)
• Theatre: Directing BA(Hons)
• Theatre: Screen & Media BA(Hons)
• Theatre: Writing BA(Hons)
• Music BA(Hons)
• Music: Composition BA(Hons)
• Music: Performance BA(Hons)
• Popular Music BA(Hons)
• Creative Music Technology BA(Hons)