Songwriting MA
University of Limerick
Key Information
Campus location
Limerick, Ireland
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Introduction
Songwriting MA
The Master of Arts in Songwriting is a one year, full-time postgraduate program, which focuses on the artistic practice of songwriting with opportunities to perform and record work. The course is cognisant of the wide variety of approaches to songwriting that one might adopt and will not attempt to be a ‘how-to’. Rather, this is a space where students can explore and be exposed to a range of writing techniques, whilst having the dedicated time and resources to develop their own body of work. This will be through a combination of solo work and collaboration with a community of fellow songwriters with guidance from songwriting mentors.
In addition, the course provides a toolkit of core skills that students can draw from in areas such as music theory and arranging, technology and production, promotion, copyright and publishing as well as the central focus of writing, recording and/or performing.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
For more information about scholarships, please visit the university website.
Curriculum
Autumn Semester
- Songwriting Style and Context 1
- Songwriting Process 1
- Media Technologies for Performing Arts & Arts Research
- Professional Development for the Performing Arts
- Writing and Documentation of Arts Practice 1
Students choose 3 of the following elective modules:
- Introduction to Fieldwork Techniques
- Introduction to Ritual Studies
- Independent Study 1
- Introduction to Somatics
- Colloquium 1
- Instrumental Skills for Songwriters
- Irish World Academy Ensembles
- Applied Music Theory for Songwriters
Spring Semester
- Songwriting Style and Context 2
- Songwriting Process 2
- Critical Contexts for Arts Management & Cultural Policy
- Performance and Media Technologies for Songwriters
- Promotion and Dissemination for Songwriters
Students choose Min 1 (6 credit) Max 2 (3 credit) of the following elective modules:
- Broadening through Awareness, Activism & the Arts (Postgraduate)
- Individual Creative Writing project (6 credits)
- Independent Study 2
- Writing and Documentation of Arts Practice 2
- Critical Engagements with Irish Traditional Music
- Introduction to Somatics 2
- Interdisciplinary Practice
Summer Semester
- Final Presentation
Program Outcome
Objectives:
The student will gain:
- Originality - a strong sense of individual voice
- Wide core skill set
- Strong basis for sustainable career as a songwriter / space to explore and spend dedicated time to support existing career as songwriter
- Critical engagement with artistic practice
- Songwriting honed through supportive and reflective critique
- Exposure to wide range of approaches to songwriting
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
The program is beneficial for students wishing to pursue careers in songwriting, recording and/or performance or for those who wish to add to their creative skills in other related areas of work such as community music or music education.