MMus in Music Performance
- Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
- Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 20,700 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* there is no application deadline for postgraduate courses
** for international full-time | international part-time: 11,385 GBP/year | home full-time: 10,300 GBP/year | home part-time: 5,665 GBP/year
Key Summary
Specialise in composition or conducting and refine your knowledge in arranging and ensemble performance.
Previous graduates have gone on to work in performance, teaching, outreach, composition and more. If you’re already employed, this programme could seriously accelerate your promotion prospects.
During the course, you’ll choose the modules that engage you most and deepen your expertise accordingly. You’ll develop your performance skills across multiple genres, from Western classical to popular and world music. The course also covers issues including performance practice, aesthetics of music performance, analysis for performers, psychology of music performance and performance presentation.
Professional performers will be on hand to give you individual tuition on your voice or instrument while you study. You’ll also be able to attend masterclasses and workshops with performers and composers, as well as live performances at London’s major venues throughout the year.
Why choose this course?
While you study, you’ll benefit from top-quality teaching at Kingston University. We’re ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, and our highly experienced academic staff are active performers, composers and producers themselves.
The Coombehurst Complex and Visconti Studio
As a music student, you’ll access a range of professional studio facilities and practice rooms in the Coombehurst House Complex. Here, you'll find five recording studios, a computer suite with iMac workstations, plus audio and video editing facilities and band rehearsal rooms.
You’ll also be able to use our flagship Visconti Studio, an analogue-meets-digital space with a 300m² octagonal live room and a selection of vintage and rare recording equipment. This tape-based studio features a unique collection of instruments, including a Mellotron, a Hammond organ and a Steinway concert grand piano.
Access to instruments and the loan system
Our extensive instrument collection includes around 30 pianos, a harpsichord, drum kits and orchestral and classroom instruments. We also have a double-size Javanese gamelan and a set of djembe drums.
You can book a range of recording and performing instruments, rooms and equipment through our online system. Studios are open for use 24 hours a day.
Music in the library
The Nightingale Centre’s music library holds an extensive collection of books, anthologies, scores, sheet music, periodicals, and audio and video recordings. Kingston also subscribes to Grove Music Online, RILM and the Naxos online recordings catalogue. You can access these resources from any University workstation.
Interested in studying a Music Performance MMus at Kingston? The following funding support is available:
- Inspire the Future scholarship
- International scholarships
- Progression Scholarship
- Discounts for Kingston University alumni
Course content
You will cover issues of performance practice, aesthetics of music performance, analysis for performers, psychology of music performance, and performance presentation.
A range of option modules allows you to develop your skills in related topics, such as composition, conducting, arranging and ensemble performance.
You'll need to take all four compulsory modules, totalling 150 credits. You can then choose a further 30-credit optional module, to total 180 credits altogether.
Modules
You will have the opportunity to develop and enhance your performance skills through one-to-one tuition, group classes, workshops, recitals and ensemble participation.
You will also be asked to critique and evaluate your own performances, and will undertake a performance-based project.
Please note
Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Core modules
- Critical Aspects of Performance Presentation
- Performance Studies
- Major Project
- Researching Music
Optional modules (may vary from year to year)
- Advanced Production of Popular Music
- Composing and Marketing Popular Music
- Constructing Music Education in the UK
- International Music Education: Psychology, Culture and Philosophy
- Techniques and Technology for Composing for Film and Television
- Score and Screen
You’ll complete this programme with a blend of compositional and practical skills, plus theoretical knowledge. Our graduates have gone on to perform professionally, teach instruments, work in education and run workshops. Others are working in studio recording or outreach programmes.