MFA Creative Practice

Develop a distinctive, original and trans-disciplinary creative practice in (or related to) music through this programme.

• This unique programme comprises an inclusive, forward-thinking ‘making', composition and creative practice approach. It embraces broad conceptions of composition and performance and encourages multi-disciplinary and collaborative approaches to creative practice
• The programme is designed for creative practitioners and music artists who are seeking to deepen, challenge and uniquely blend practices in contemporary composition, songwriting and song-based music, sound art and electronic music, music production, performance, ethnographic film and multi-media or audio-visual work
• You will get to explore and develop your creative and research skills, which may span various disciplines, and may introduce you to London's world-leading music collections and institutions
• You can tailor your studies to your personal interests by developing your own coherent programme of study. You will select modules from an extensive list of taught options, and propose a significant body of work for your 180-credit creative project, which can also be proposed collaboratively. The outcomes of this work have the possibility of being professionally released by the Department’s record label, NX Records
• This programme also offers the opportunity for direct entry to the one-year Creative Project stage, providing you meet the necessary entry requirements
• The Department of Music houses state-of-the-art studios, which you will have access to. The Electronic Music Studios offers advanced facilities for electro-acoustic composition, multichannel work, and live and interactive performance. The Goldsmiths Music Studios offers a HD Pro-tools recording system and a large format analogue desk.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Simon Deacon.

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class in a relevant/related subject.

If you don't have a related undergraduate degree we also welcome those who have completed equivalent professional experience, ideally in a music or arts-based discipline.

Uniquely, the programme is offered standalone or as an ‘upgrade’ option from the Department of Music’s MA/MMus pathways after completing 120 credits of taught modules and a successful Creative Project proposal application.

Students transferring into the MFA Creative Practice from external institutions should evidence PGDip (120 taught credits) or a relevant MA/MMus degree (180 credits) in addition to a successful Creative Project proposal application.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Careers

Completion of this degree could lead to a career in the following areas:

• Music-focused careers, including: instrumental tutor, composer, singer, music producer, music teacher
• Music- and arts-related careers, such as: royalties assistant, co-editor, learning support assistant, SEN teacher, digital marketing creative, learning designer
• Careers involving transferable skills, including: project co-ordinator, administrator, business development, mentor

Some students may also decide to progress their research via a PhD application.

The department aims to support this breadth of career paths through our module offer, careers events and advice for students. We understand that there is no one ‘music industry’ and no one model of success for music students and musicians, but rather many pathways available on graduation.

Skills

Through this degree, some of the skills you will develop are:

• Understanding current theories and contexts that inspire and inform musical practice, in areas such as analysis, aesthetics, interpretation, cultural theory, literature and computer science
• Employing originality and expertise in creative strategies in the production of creative work, through experiment, speculation and rigorous investigation
• Identifying and solve complex technical and interpretative problems with flexibility and resourcefulness to a professional level of practice
• Appling and critically evaluating contemporary techniques in the creation of new work, which may reference pitch/rhythmic organisation, instrumentation, computer-based sound manipulation, popular music production, performance interaction and algorithmic process
• Independently designing and carrying out original and creative projects, imaginatively and expertly
• The ability to work cooperatively, effectively and creatively in a team and with other professionals