Course summary

Are you interested in researching and interrogating the languages and performance styles of popular music? Studying for a Popular Music Practice PhD, you’ll produce a portfolio of original music in the form of creative work. Through methods of composition and performance, your creative work will critique and advance popular music practices. You’ll write a 20,000-40,000-word dissertation demonstrating original research. Your dissertation will highlight ways in which your practice makes a substantial contribution to knowledge or understanding in your chosen field, and acknowledge existing scholarship and artistic practices. You’ll have access to the latest tools in software and hardware in the Jonathan Harvey Electronic Music Studio at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts. Other specialist facilities include rare 20th-century music scores, and unique collections of jazz and music television documentaries. We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.