Not surprisingly, music is one of the oldest areas of university study. It was treated as one of the mathematical arts in medieval and renaissance universities, but in the later romantic period, the emphasis was on its effect on emotions, and on the work and character of individual composers. These days, we bring additional ways of thinking about music to the study of the discipline. This brings us to the study of anthropology, and in the process, the music of a wide range of societies, western and non-western, and at genres as various as symphonies, concertos, rock, opera, folk, jazz, soul, reggae, lieder, string quartets and choral music. The School of Music and Music Education offers courses on all these areas and more.
Music technology is also part of our music studies courses.
You can make music with computers and synthesisers as well as by playing your own instrument in a jazz or rock group, singing in a choir, performing in a bush band, playing chamber music, or music that could be medieval, renaissance or baroque. In all these areas we can offer you expert help. We can also help you to use your musical knowledge and skills to perform, compose and discuss music, to become a well-trained listener, and to study society from a musical perspective. There are several musical societies and ensembles which give you plenty of scope to exercise your musical talents and interests, or to gain additional skill. Program requirements vary depending on the area of specialisation.