Entry requirementsEntry Requirements Normally a 2:1 honours degree or its equivalent if outside the UK, in music.
Academic titleMMus Musical Instrument Research
Course descriptionLearning Outcomes
Students who study the course will learn the history and relevant literature of the most important instruments of Western art music. They will be able to examine historic instruments, carry out research and draw conclusions about their operation.
How You Will Be Taught
Weekly two-hour tutorials will be held in the Historic Musical Instrument Collection galleries. In each semester students write a research paper of about 3,000 words in length. Following the second semester, students will carry out original research in organology and write a dissertation.
The increasing importance of historically-informed performance relies on knowledge of the development of instruments and their capabilities. This programme introduces the study of keyboard and non-keyboard instruments and draws on the resources of the unique facilities of the the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Instruments (EUCHMI), including the Raymond Russell Collection of early keyboard instruments. The professional staff of the Collection teach the course, which deals with aspects of design, social background, historical usage, repertoire etc.
Structure of the Programme
Six taught or supervised courses are taken over two semesters, making a total of 120 credits. A 15,000-word dissertation is written over the remaining four months for 60 credits. The structure of the course is as follows (credits levels in brackets):
Semester 1
* Introduction to Keyboard Organology (20)
* Research Methods A (20)
* Stringed Instrument Organology (20)
Semester 2
* Introduction to the Organology of Wind and Percussion instruments (20)
* Research Methods B (20)
* Individual Research Project (20)
On successful completion of coursework students proceed to write a 15,000-word Dissertation on an organological topic of their choice (60 credits)