MA Musical Theatre (Performance or Musical Directing)

This one-year intensive course in Musical Directing will take a select cohort and will provide skill base and project work support that will facilitate practical learning and artistic growth in the area of Musical Directing. The curriculum has been designed in discussion with a range of Musical Directors and Musical theatre professionals throughout Britain and the US to nurture development in all areas of Musical Directing with specific attention to keyboard skills, scoring and arranging and conducting. MD students will collaborate with performance students from both the BA and MA Musical Theatre programmes under the supervision of faculty and an industry mentor who guides the student’s development throughout the whole year.

At the heart of the programme is an ethos which looks to support the development of the role of an MD through project work designed to offer a range of environments and contexts which reflect current industry practice. A strong emphasis is placed on weekly technique classes in keyboard skills (both traditional and contemporary), scoring and arranging (arrangements are realised for Big Band, Cabaret, Company scenes), conducting (students may conduct Big Band, Company Scenes, Edinburgh Fringe Season) and in vocal technique.
 
With guidance from staff, students will arrange a professional placement with a view to observing part of a professional creative process, allowing further support for links to working in the industry. Independent study and elective study will allow time for both critical reflection and exploration of other aspects to musical directing including keyboard programming, theatre composition, voice technique etc.
 
There are also many opportunities for placements through the year which in the past have included assisting at the Citizen's Theatre, on NTS productions and on our 3 year BA Musical Theatre Season. The year culminates with each student serving as a member of a creative team on a musical production at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.