Music

Music (group 5 subject) CAO Code: MH101 | CAO Points 2021: 338

Minimum entry requirements: To study Music requires minimum Leaving Certificate H5 Music or equivalent. For full details about entry requirements see p. 42.

You have the option of studying either solo performance (subject to audition or certificate) or group piano tuition. BA students who have attained Grade 6+ (ABRSM, RIAM, Trinity College London) on a standard orchestral instrument (excluding percussion), piano, organ, classical guitar, voice or saxophone; Grade 6+ (Rockschool, Trinity College London) on bass, drums, vocals, keyboard or guitar (electric or acoustic); or who are traditional Irish musicians or musical theatre vocalists of comparable fluency, will also have an opportunity to take individual tuition in their instrument or voice.

Students who have not taken formal performance examinations are invited to audition, demonstrating Grade 6+ attainment, in September. Please see further details on the Department of Music website (link opposite). Alternatively, group piano tuition is an option open to all levels from absolute beginner to advanced. Where possible, the Department of Music arranges instrumental/vocal tuition on campus. Students can also choose to have instrumental/vocal tuition (funded to a maximum amount by the Department) at either TU Dublin or RIAM.

> Exciting and varied programme of practical, compositional and academic work. > Students participate in ensembles such as the Chamber Choir, Maynooth

University Orchestra and Traditional Music Ensemble. > In your third year, you have the option to specialise in performance, composition or musicology. Some of the modules available include ‘Jazz Styles in the USA’,

‘Music and Entrepreneurship’, ‘Opera in Context’ and 'Music and Identity'. > For those considering teaching Music at second level, the Teaching Council requirements are met by studying Music in the MH101 degree.

Course structure

1st year

BA Bachelor of Arts – Music – Double Major, Major/Minor or as a Minor

> 15 or 30 credits of Music > Plus choose 2 or 3 other subjects including Critical Skills from the 5 groups available (maximum 1 subject per group – see groups table p. 45) > After 1st year you take Music as part of a Double Major, as a Major/Minor or as a Minor > Continue with 20, 30 or 40 credits of Music plus 1 of your 1st year subjects > If you want to qualify to teach music and another subject at secondary school, you will need to take 35 credits of Music in 2nd year & 25 credits of your other subject > Optional 10 credit Elective in 2nd year (see p. 13 for details)

2nd year

Erasmus/Study Abroad option after 2nd year

Final year

> 20, 30 or 40 credits of Music plus other subject > If you want to qualify to teach music and another subject at second level, you will need to take 30 credits of

Music in 3rd year & 30 credits of your other subject

For MH101 subject groups table go to p. 45

Possible topics

1st year

> Performance (solo and ensemble) > Music history; music’s cultural role > Music theory > Performance (solo and ensemble) > Composition > Music history; film music; music’s cultural and social roles > Music theory > Irish Traditional Music > Orchestration and arrangement > Performance (solo and ensemble) > Music history, culture, theory and analysis > Music therapy > Music and entrepreneurship > Composition > Orchestration and arrangement

2nd year Final year

Music (group 5 subject) (continued)

Why choose this subject?

> Studying Music at Maynooth, Ireland’s largest university music department, offers unparalleled choice and expertise, from performance to computer programming, from ancient traditions to contemporary experience, from high art to heavy metal.

> Our programmes are designed to ensure a broad and firm grounding in practical, compositional and academic work, with expanded opportunities to specialise in areas that really interest you the most in your final year.

> Performance, composition, music history (musicology including pop/rock) and the music of other cultures (ethnomusicology) are just a selection of different aspects of music you will study in the Music programme.

Options after graduation?

> Music teacher, choral director, church organist/director of music, music librarian, orchestral/session musician, composer/arranger are just some of the roles in which our graduates have found employment. Graduates have also worked in the following fields: arts administration, multimedia, music industry, music journalism, music publicity and recording, radio production and presentation.

Postgraduate study options in Maynooth currently include:

> MA in Composition > MA in Creative Music Technologies > MA in Musicology > MA in Performance and Musicology > MA in Irish Traditional Music > MSc in Sound and Music Computing “ Through my Music course, I learned a lot about the historical aspects of music which has given me a better understanding of how ideas and techniques have developed. This has helped me in my performance of classical pieces. I also majored in performance, and learned a lot of valuable singing techniques, as well as developing my voice further.

I learned new and interesting ways of composing music, and I hope to bring these skills with me throughout the course of my career.

I was involved in lots of Clubs and Societies, namely the Fencing Club, Dance Society, Music Society, MAD Society (Musical and Dramatics) and Disney Society. Being involved in the committees, particularly the MAD Society, and being involved in the production of our first full-scale musical has led to me founding my own musical theatre school with my family.

The unique thing about studying at Maynooth is the fact that, while it is a growing campus, it is still a very close-knit community. This makes the transition to college a lot easier, and it also means that you get to know a lot of different people from different parts of the college. ”

orLaiTh, GrAduAte

Music is also available in

MH103: BMus Bachelor of Music p. 168 MH109: BA Media Studies p. 171 MH502 LWD: BCL (Law and Arts) p. 184

Contact us

Maynooth University Department of Music, Logic House  + 353 1 708 3733

 music.department@mu.ie  www.maynoothuniversity.ie/music @MaynoothMusic @musicmaynooth

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