Undergraduate performance
Undergraduate performance clearly involves students developing and extending their solo practice. Principal study instrumental tuition is available to all BMus and BA students. If students follow a 'recital track' through to their final year, they will receive 18 hours of tuition per year. This number decreases if students decide not to pursue performance in second and final years of study. At each level (year), there is a performance examination normally comprising a recital. At level III a 'double' recital (40 credits) comprises a 35-40 minute public performance.
In all years, performance practice is studied alongside the students' individual lessons. This includes classes in preparation for performance, understanding performance anxiety, stylistic changes in performance, performance analysis and includes regular opportunities for students to play to their peers.
Students who find themselves forming a small ensemble can take advantage of the 'ensemble class' module (MUS318) in the second and third year and receive coaching towards a fully credited public performance of their chosen repertoire. This is a very popular module.
You may find that piano accompaniment is where your talents lie. There's a module for that too (MUS344)
Finally, a number of our historical studies courses (opera studies especially) now insert a small practical component into the assessment criteria, keeping the music live and affording a real time understanding of the set work.