The general admission requirement is a bachelor's degree or equivalent education of at least three years (180 credits). At least 20 credits in the specialization unit must be level 2. Otherwise, admission takes place in accordance with the https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2021-11-24-3370?q=Forskrift%2520om%2520opptak%2520uiaRegulations on admission to studies and courses at the University of Agder.
Performance specializations:
Performing music, World Music and Songwriting
The admission criteria must include a specialization unit of at least 80 credits in performing music or equivalent.
Applicants must write a proposal for a project description for a master's thesis according to the guidelines laid down for the Faculty of Arts. Proposals for areas of specialization for the master's thesis must be approved by the university 5 weeks before the entrance exam is held.
Ranking of applicants takes place on the basis of the entrance exam with the following parts:
• Audition. At the audition, a score from 10 to 20 is given for passing the test. Applicants who get less than 10 points have not passed. The audition counts for 50% of the total score.
• Interview. During the interview, a score is given from 10 to 20. The interview counts for 50% of the total score. The audition must be passed in order to be admitted to an interview.
Electronic music
The admission basis must include one of the following criteria:
• Specialization unit of at least 80 credits in performing or electronic music, bachelor's degree in music technology or equivalent. At least 20 credits in the specialization unit must be level 2.
• Other relevant bachelor's programs may, after special assessment, be approved as a basis for admission.
Applicants must write an application with a proposal for a project description for a master's thesis according to the guidelines laid down for the Faculty of Arts. Proposals for areas of specialization for the master's thesis must be approved by the university 5 weeks before the entrance exam is held.
Ranking of applicants takes place on the basis of the entrance exam with the following parts:
• Audition. At the audition, a score from 10 to 20 is given for passing the test. Applicants who get less than 10 points have not passed. The audition counts for 50% of the total score.
• Interview. During the interview, a score is given from 10 to 20. The interview counts for 50% of the total score. The audition must be passed in order to be admitted to an interview.
Music business and management
The admission basis must include one of the following criteria:
• Specialization unit of at least 80 credits in performing music, music pedagogy or musicology. At least 20 credits in the specialization unit must be level 2.
• Relevant specialization unit of at least 80 credits within the culture/music/culture studies. At least 20 credits in the specialization unit must be level 2.
• Bachelor's degree in economics or equivalent
• Other relevant bachelor's programs may, after special assessment, be approved as a basis for admission.
A weighted average grade of C or better is required, calculated on the basis of the entire bachelor's degree.
The purpose of the master’s programme in popular music is to provide the students with a broad musical competence, and in this way prepare them for work in a fragmented and constantly shifting music industry. The study of popular music embraces such disciplines as music industry (economy, contract law, consumption, etc.) and aesthetics (criticism, commercialisation, authenticity, etc.), but also production and the performance practice of a hybrid of musical traditions, styles and genres such as pop, rock, folk and jazz, and others.
The digitalisation and restructuring of the music business in the past decade has changed the workday for the traditional performing musician, and the master’s programme intends to give the students a diverse approach to the discipline of popular music. We have a major focus on performance, but we also provide the students with a thorough insight into, and competence within, differing branches of the music business and the cultural industries.
On the master`s programme in Popular Music, you have the opportunity to work within one of six specialisations, of which four are performance-based: Popular Music Performance, Electronic Music, World Music, Songwriting, Music Business Management or Project Management for Music and Stage.
1. In the specialisation Popular Music Performance, the focus is on your personal artistic expression and musical identity. Through further development of artistic and technical proficiency, you are prepared well for work as a musician at an advanced level. This specialisation also includes a theoretical component, where current fields of musicological research and methodological approaches are discussed and contextualised within a performance-based framework.
2. The specialisation Electronic Music focuses on performance and its relationship to music technology and sound design. Central aspects of this specialisation are composition, programming and the production of electronic music. The theoretical component follows the specialisation in Popular Music Performance.
3. The basis of our World Music specialisation is the student’s own traditional music, linking it to music from other parts of the world. World Music is suited to performing musicians and music educators who wish to build bridges across cultures and explore their own stylistic repertoires. The theoretical component focuses on existing theories, methods and interpretations within traditional folk music, and encourages independent work with the relevant methodological tools of artistic research.
4. The specialisation Songwriting focuses on further development of your own compositional material, and your own musical expression is the focal point. Through the work in the main areas – textual, musical and instrumental – your identity as a songwriter and performer will be strengthened, and reflection on your own work is central to this specialisation. Performer competence is a common theme, and you will pursue your compositions from idea to final recorded material.
5. Music Business and Management studies is designed for students wishing to work with idea development and entrepreneurship within the national and international music industry. Studies include subjects such as: marketing, economy, music, management, and law. Students gain a significant insight into the Norwegian and international music industry with a strong focus on issues related to the development of new markets, revenue streams, new technologies and challenges within the area of copyright.
The master’s thesis (30 ECTS) is central to the programme, and must be an independent academic work within the chosen specialisation.
The students on the master’s programme can be included in the research groups on the Faculty’s research platform PMRU.
| 1. sem | Choose Specialisation | |||||||||||||||
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| 2. sem | ME-426-1 Musicological Theory and Method 15 sp | |||||||||||||||
| 3. sem | ||||||||||||||||
| 4. sem | ||||||||||||||||
Upon completion of the programme, students will:
KNOWLEDGE
SKILLS
GENERAL COMPETENCE
The study programme offers varied instructional and working forms as well as the close follow-up of each individual student. The teaching language is normally Norwegian, but some lessons can be taught in English. Instruction is given as a combination of individual supervision, workshops and lectures. For the performance-based specialisations, lectures will also be given through ensemble classes.
The University of Agder (UiA) encourages the increased use of digital tools in its study programmes. The aim is to utilise new forms of communication and to test out new arrangements for teaching and academic supervision. Students at UiA will, to an increasing extent, be using computers in their daily academic work. A transition to digital examinations is an important part of this process. The students should therefore have laptops at their disposal.
The programme qualifies graduates for creative and artistic work in the arts and cultural sector, as well as more specialised performance occupations. The study provides a very good starting point for a music career.
After completing the master’s programme one will also have acquired competence relevant to establishing one’s own music business.
The theory-based specialisations offer relevant competance for national and international work inside music organisations and music-related companies, the media, and record companies.
Completed master's degree in Popular Music forms the basis of further PhD studies. The Faculty of Fine Arts at UiA, for example, offers a PhD educational programme in Popular Music Performance.