Music

Music is a discipline that encompasses the study, practice, and creation of sound as a cultural and artistic form. Studying music at degree level takes you into the history of music across periods and traditions, the theory and analysis that allow you to understand how music works, the performance skills that allow you to make it, and the creative composition that allows you to add to it. It is a discipline that develops both intellectual and practical capacities, asking you to listen analytically, think historically and theoretically, and engage practically with music-making as a serious artistic pursuit.

At York St John University, this three-year programme immerses you in a vibrant and welcoming musical community where the emphasis is on practical engagement in music-making alongside academic study. You will develop your performance skills, deepen your theoretical and historical understanding of music, and engage with composition and creativity as part of a curriculum that takes seriously both the scholarly and the artistic dimensions of the discipline. The programme is designed to build on your existing musical abilities while opening new areas of study and practice.

The degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you the opportunity to develop professionally in music-related environments, to encounter different musical cultures and traditions abroad, and to build the networks and experience that a career in music or music-related fields requires.

Graduates from music degrees pursue a wide variety of careers. Many work as performers, music teachers, composers, music producers, and arts administrators. Others move into broadcasting, music journalism, music management, publishing, and the creative industries more broadly.

The analytical, creative, and communication skills developed through music study are also valued in education, the civil service, and many other professional contexts. Postgraduate study in music performance, composition, musicology, or music education is a natural route for those who wish to develop their expertise or pursue academic careers.