MUSIC
MUSIC We believe the study of music should be eclectic and embrace every genre. Our music courses are for all musics and musicians, irrespective of style, background or culture. Study music with us and you will learn not only about classical, jazz and rock but also music from many different cultures, and you will benefit from an array of experiences and opportunities. If your interest spans several musical disciplines and you are looking to gain a broad-based experience in music, these courses will suit you. You will have options in performance, composition, music education and community music, alongside a range of other stimulating, relevant and contemporary modules where you will learn through practical engagement with the subject.
Our enthusiastic and supportive team of experienced music tutors include performers, composers, teachers and community musicians and their musical interests include everything from jazz and metal to choral music and brass bands. They are supported by a large group of instrumental and vocal teachers who cover many instruments and musical styles; everyone receives individual instrumental or vocal tuition, providing a firm basis for specialist study in subsequent years. Our Music degrees will challenge you to realise your potential for creativity and individual expression and to develop a deeper understanding of music and its place in society. David Lancaster Subject Director: Music /YSJ Music
@YSJMusic.
“After graduating I started playing as one of two cellists for the award-winning ‘ELO Experience’. Our tours take us from up in Dundee all the way down to the Isle Of Wight. We recently won the Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Smooth Radio at the National Tribute Awards, which was a huge achievement for the band, and our tour is carrying on indefinitely. Being a freelance musician often requires a portfolio career. At the moment I teach privately and record as a session musician as well as touring with the ELO Experience. I developed lots of transferable skills over the three years I spent at York St John. Leadership, teamwork and performance skills are required of me on a regular basis in all aspects of my jobs. We performed regularly in York Minster, sang at graduation ceremonies, and we held many concerts in the National Centre for Early Music as well as other music concerts in other churches and spaces around York. If like me you are unsure of what you want to do, keep an open mind and choose a variety of modules as they will all open your mind to different possibilities. One of my favourite modules included a placement working with adults with multiple learning difficulties and that is a career path I had never considered until I undertook that placement.” Francesca McDonald Music BA (Hons)
87%
of 2017 graduates from our Music courses were in employment or further study within six months of graduating. (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey 2017)
OUR COURSES — Music BA (Hons) Engage with the broadest array of music, developing versatility and flexibility in your musical practice. Our broad approach to musical learning will prepare you for a vast range of career opportunities. Study Music at York St John University and you will benefit from experiences across various specialisms and have the choice of composition or advanced instrumental tuition. York is a city with a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant genre-spanning live music scene. It is the home of many renowned venues, from York Barbican to the National Centre for Early Music and even its own busking festival.
— Music Composition BA (Hons) Whatever genre you focus on, this is the place to build your compositional voice. Your composing will develop through exposure to film music, improvisation and challenging new ideas. You will have exciting opportunities to hear your work performed by professional ensembles as you become part of a vibrant musical network alongside performers, community musicians and educators. We believe the study of music should be eclectic and embrace a variety of genres. Our teaching staff includes accomplished composers who are active practitioners locally, nationally and internationally.
— Music: Education & Community BA (Hons) Experience first-hand how you can use music to positively impact people’s lives and discover your strengths as a community musician and educator. You will become part of a vibrant musical network and make full use of The International Centre for Community Music, based at York St John University, to enrich your experience and opportunities. Discover more about the role which music plays and the power it can have when applied in educational and community contexts. The University is rooted in the principles of fairness and social justice, which apply equally to the way that we work alongside local businesses and communities.
— Music: Performance BA (Hons) Develop your craft with a wide range of public performances and collaborations. You will perform across a range of styles and settings including the concert hall, recording studio and in the wider community. Whatever your preferred style, this is the place to hone your performance skills. Working alongside composers, community musicians and educators, you will learn the craft of advanced performance. We have specialist instrumental and vocal tutors to work with you on your voice or chosen instrument and have a curriculum tailored to bring out the best in you wherever your musical talent lies.
— Musical Theatre BA (Hons) From stage to screen, from the spectacular to the intimate, from jukebox musical to the political musical, the growth of musical theatre as an art form in recent times has seen this genre become a driving force in the performing arts where creativity and expression have exploded across our culture. This is a great time to be involved in this multidisciplinary art form. At York St John University we have decades of experience in delivering the music, theatre and movement skills that you will need to develop as a musical theatre performer.
OUTSTANDING FACILITIES At York St John University we have access to a number of unique musical spaces, owing to our location in the heart of historic York, as well as having excellent music facilities on campus. The Chapel has a pipe organ, harpsichord, electronic harpsichord, electronic drum kit, Steinway and Bechstein grand pianos. Temple Hall is equipped with a Yamaha grand piano, has recently been refurbished and is suitable for all genres of music. We also have many instrumental resources including a marimba, vibraphone, djembes, drum kit, tabla, samba kit, double bass, bass clarinet, baritone sax, tuba, baritone ukulele, balalaikas, amplifiers and PAs as well as a Javanese gamelan. Students have access to recording studios and technology studios in addition to three specialist teaching spaces and practice rooms.
PLACEMENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS Our modules focus directly on building the skills needed to become professional musicians. There are many possibilities for placements in the Music programmes, particularly in those modules which encourage students to work with children, youth groups and in community settings. Our partnerships with the York Guildhall Orchestra and Late Music provide workshops and masterclasses for student composers and performers and opportunities to develop their specialisms working alongside leading professionals. In Year 3, students are expected to develop and realise their own collaborative projects, gaining experience as independent artists in their own right.
PERFORMANCES The Music students and staff present performances on a regular basis, both on and off the campus, covering a wide range of music and reaching very different audiences. In addition to our weekly lunchtime concerts, which feature soloists and ensembles, students have the opportunity to perform in community venues such as York Hospital and in evening concerts at venues such as the National Centre for Early Music.
EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL In August 2019 music students performed at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. As well as being a great experience and amazing opportunity to be part of the world’s biggest cultural festival, their performance of Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet by Gavin Bryars received positive reviews and raised £700 for charities which support homeless people in the city. “The story goes that during the making of [this piece], Bryars left the tape running, and when he returned he found his colleagues silently weeping. This performance, by musicians from York St John and to raise money for the homeless, could well leave you the same way.” Robert Peacock – The Wee Review, Scotland’s Online Arts & Culture Magazine
At York St John University we’ve been changing lives through education since 1841. We have a long history of championing social justice and expanding opportunities. Our research and our teaching reflect this.
97% of York St John University graduates were in work or further study six months after graduation (DLHE 2017).
People from almost
60
different countries study at York St John University. When you graduate you will become part of a global community who are proud to be part of the YSJ Family.
/YorkStJohnUniversity @YorkStJohn @YorkStJohn ADMISSIONS INFORMATION E: admissions@yorksj.ac.uk T: 01904 876598 www.yorksj.ac.uk
OVER 200 COURSES
to choose from Whatever you want to do, we’re here to help.
York is the safest city in the region for students The Complete University Guide (2017).
PLACEMENT YEARS Almost all of our Undergraduate courses can now be studied with a placement year in industry, giving you more real-world experience to boost your career.
STUDY ABROAD Most of our courses include the option to study abroad for a year or a semester without adding extra time to your degree. We have links with partner institutions all around the world.