Principal study options

During the application and audition process, you must select which instrument(s) you wish to specialise in for the duration of your course. On this course, you can choose from the following options:

Single specialism

Only one instrument is studied. It may be possible to study a further instrument formatively, but this will not contribute towards the qualification.

Instrument/specialisms

For all courses, you must select at least one specialism from the 'primary' list. For those studying primary/secondary pathways, two instruments may be selected – one from the 'primary' list and one from the 'secondary' list. Joint pathway students may select any two instruments from either list.

Modules

Year 1: In music studies we provide a solid foundation in performance, theoretical subjects, arranging, history, academic writing, music technology and collaboration. Teacher education will focus on key professional issues, teacher’s conduct, ethics and the law; communication, discipline, classroom management, curriculum and planning; child development, theories of learning and essential aspects of cognition. School experience will be in a primary school. Year 2: In music studies we build on and develop critical skills in the same areas studied in year one. In teacher education we focus on two significant areas: additional support needs; assessment theory in the context of promoting learning and achievement; child protection, in pupil support and in systems of pastoral care; health and well-being; and whole school approaches in promoting numeracy across the curriculum. School experience focusses will focus on years one and two in a secondary school. Year 3: Music studies will focus on: refining your performance skills; developing further your research skills, critical thinking and academic writing; and compositional techniques since 1900. You will also have the opportunity to choose two additional subjects. Teacher education will consider: wider social context, looking at class, ethnicity and gender in relation to education and attainment; poverty and anti-racism education; curriculum theory, the history of Scotland’s curriculum and national curriculum policy; professional issues; Leadership within learning and educational; The role of technology in supporting learning; and research in education. School experience will focus on secondary three and four. Year 4: In music studies you will choose to specialise in performance, composition or dissertation. In addition, you will choose two additional subjects. Teacher education will consider: performance and quality assurance; policy making in education; Scotland’s General Teaching Council; arrangements and requirements within the induction year; and continuous professional learning. School experience will focus on secondary five and six.