Composition classes

Whilst studying with us either at BMus, MMus or PhD level at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, you'll participate in a great range of Composition classes and tutorials.

Undergraduate

Composition Studies (Years 1- 4)

Discussion based class, where you will learn about the different approaches to organising material and creating innovative work. You will examine how different disciplines and musical traditions can lead to novel ideas.

Orchestration (Years 1-3)

Learn about the evolution of orchestration and its related principles.

Core Skills (Years 1-3)

A practical class where you will explore experimental and more recent compositional techniques that will help you develop musical material.

Electronic Music (Year 1)

Learn how to use coding musical languages, modular synthesizers, electronic effects, Pure Data, DAW composition and recording techniques.

Notation (Year 1)

Learn how to present your scores to a professional standard for a variety of musical contexts.

Film Music (Year 2)

Learn film scoring techniques, from how to create moods and ambience, to presenting your material in the most effective ways in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Briefs and feedback are provided by industry professionals in a real-world environment.

Conducting (Years 2 & 3)

Develop the skills required to lead both small ensembles and large groups of musicians in a beginner’s context.

Pedagogy: Teaching for Composers (Years 2 & 3)

An introduction to aspects of teaching composition to other people. The classes are taken by a variety of experts from a wide range of disciplines.

Gamelan (Year 3)

A practical class where you will be part of a Gamelan ensemble and learn the fundamentals of traditional Javanese gamelan notation, composition and performance; then write, perform, and record your own pieces.

Final Major Project (Year 4)

Work on a self-defined final project, entirely of your own devising utilising both on campus and off campus resources. In recent years students have self-produced operas, interdisciplinary performances, albums and album launch events, a two-week festival, symphony orchestra concerts, video game design and many more.

Postgraduate

MMus in Composition is augmented by a number of modules common to all MMus students across Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. You can choose several modules from areas related to composition, career development, experimental and traditional performance, music technology, musicology and practice-based research.

Postgraduate Forum

In this session composition staff and postgraduate composers share and discuss ideas about contemporary composition and current trends in a small group session. In addition to taught sessions there are opportunities to present and discuss your own work.

Composers' Seminar (all year groups)

In Composers’ Seminar we invite a renowned composer, artist, or industry professional to share their work, ideas and share important lessons and experiences gained as an arts professional, followed by student-led discussions. The seminars are often accompanied by a masterclass. Guests have included Laurence Crane, Bryn Harrison, Anna Meredith, Elaine Mitchener, Ayanna Witter-Johnson and musical professionals from the Performing Rights Society for Music (PRS).

LAB (all year groups)

This practical session provides an opportunity for student composers to present work in progress to fellow students and staff. It is an opportunity to experiment, try things out and discuss work in an open and explorative environment.

Projects (all year groups)

We run a substantial number of projects which you can choose from. These include opportunities to compose for an array of visiting professional ensembles, including the Bozzini Quartet, Orchestra of the Swan and the Lines-Redgrave-Quigley Piano Trio.

We also set up collaborative projects with an array of arts organisations such as Flatpack Film Festival and Eastside Projects. We also provide opportunities to learn from and work with student performers at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire ensembles such as its Symphony Orchestra, and the Thallein Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Being part of a university means that we have access to everything that’s on offer in other departments. As a result we regularly collaborate with students from Theatre, Film, TV, Media, Gaming, Animation and Fashion Design. Our projects include guided tutoring, workshops and public performances.