MA Popular Music (Writer Performer)
Leeds, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 20,000
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Pre-Register Your Interest in Future Live Events (Be first to know when bookings open & access on-demand content)
Launch your career in music with our MA in Popular Music (Writer Performer). Designed to empower you with a blend of musical expertise, a professional mindset and creative ingenuity, this postgraduate degree will prepare you to enter the ever-changing landscape of the modern music industry.
At Leeds Conservatoire students are in control of their personal, creative, and intellectual growth, emerging as skilled musicians and reflective practitioners who are prepared for enduring success in the music industry.
You’ll be challenged to explore, experiment, and uncover fresh perspectives and methodologies, being empowered to craft your best work and stand out in today's competitive global music scene.
A Collaborative Curriculum
When you enrol at Leeds Conservatoire you will join a lively community of creative practice. We celebrate creative diversity, fostering collaboration among practitioners from varied stylistic backgrounds to pioneer new musical frontiers and build foundations for sustainable careers in the industry. Through dynamic group sessions, students from diverse stylistic backgrounds will collaborate, sparking innovation and forging lifelong connections.
Master Your Skills
Alongside developing your music practice as a performer, we also provide our students with vital networking and entrepreneurial skills, essential for thriving in diverse professional arenas.
Specialist tutors, peers, and industry guests provide invaluable support, constructive critique, and expert insights across a spectrum of disciplines.
You’ll also engage in theoretical and research activities that will place your talent within a range of philosophical, historical, sociological, industrial and critical contexts.
By combining both performance and songwriting in this specialism, you develop both performance and composition skills equally. You’ll receive comprehensive training in both disciplines, allowing you to refine your stage presence while developing your songwriting skills.
The degree offers a balanced curriculum that includes one-to-one tuition, ensemble work, group workshops and live performance opportunities allowing you to gain insights into both the creative and technical aspects of music-making.
This holistic approach will help you develop a cohesive style and connection with audiences through your music and performance and you’ll graduate as a multi-faceted artist in the competitive music industry.
Specialist Study
Specialist Study modules in trimesters 1, 2 and 3 give students opportunities to reach their musical potential through one-to-one tuition and group workshops in songwriting and/or performance.
Creative Practice in Context
Creative Practice in Context modules in trimesters 1 and 2 engage students in research activities that place their music within a range of philosophical, historical, sociological, industrial and critical contexts.
Assessment
Trimester 1:
- Specialist Study 1 – assessed by one of the following: a public performance of existing work a public performance or sharing of original compositions or production work newly created; a portfolio of original compositions/production work evidenced by appropriate documentation, i.e. scores, recordings, etc.
- Creative Practice in Context 1 – assessed by one of the following: essay, or presentation with an accompanying written commentary.
Trimester 2:
- Specialist Study 2 – assessed by one of the following: a public performance of existing work; a public performance or sharing of original compositions; a portfolio of original newly-created compositions/production work evidenced by appropriate documentation, i.e. scores, recordings, etc.
- Creative Practice in Context 2 – assessed by one of the following: essay, or presentation and an accompanying written commentary.
Trimester 3:
Specialist Study 3 – assessed by one of the following, accounting for 70% of the mark: a public performance of existing work/repertoire or a public performance or sharing of original newly-created compositions and/or production work, which may be live or digitally conceived, i.e. application-based, web-based, digital or physical EP release. Additionally, accounting for 30% of the mark, either a written critique examining the creative project submitted, or a panel-led spoken examination examining the creative project submitted.
With a deep understanding of the creative and industrial contexts within which your practice exists, as an alumnus, you will be prepared for a career as a musician.
Our postgraduate students have received commissions, performed at regional and international festivals including South by South West, The Reeperbahn Festival, Glastonbury and Live at Leeds, progressed to teaching positions, and created public installations.