MA Music Performance

EFL Pathway for Non-Native Speakers of English

Cultural and Contextual Studies is a specialist module for students who have learned English as a foreign language and require further assistance with their English language skills. It replaces the Vocational Placement module in the standard MA programme.

In a three-week intensive pre-term programme of classes and seminars, you will develop your knowledge of Western musical language and its usage in an academic context. You will focus on the key academic skills required to study music at master’s level including listening, reading, writing and presenting seminars. Classes will be tailored to respond to the needs and particular interests of the student group, as well as introducing a range of topics for study, including cultural and social issues throughout Europe.

Throughout the two year programme you will receive two or three hours per week of lessons aimed at building your confidence and developing increased sophistication in your use of English to communicate on many levels. These classes will be tailored to complement and support the main programme, for example working on seminar presentation skills when preparing for the seminar component of ‘The Performing Musician’ module. You will also receive fortnightly tutorials to support your progress.

For entry to the course, you will be required to demonstrate a level of fluency in English equivalent to IELTS 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in the written component) or TOEFL 550 (213 for the computer-based test or 79-80 IBT). By the end of the programme, we will expect you to have reached an IELTS level of 7.0.