BA (Ed) Primary Teaching (Music specialism)
High-quality education is essential if individuals are to realise their full potential. The teacher is fundamental to that process and therefore the development of teachers at all stages of their careers is a task of the utmost importance. Our programme is based on the view that education is about active and meaningful learning through which students should become analytical, creative and receptive to new ideas. By working with partnership schools and mentor teachers on our programme, we aim to raise the standards of newly qualified teachers on entry to the profession.
The BA (Ed) music specialism:
• offers a range of modules that develop you as a practical musician and as a music teacher
• develops subject-specific musical knowledge, skills and understanding
• provides training as a music subject leader in the primary school
• is staffed by tutors who are research-active as scholars and/or performing musicians.
The BA (Ed) Music specialism is a programme that develops your skills as a musical practitioner. This includes many areas of musical activities, such as performing, composing and rehearsing. The course also promotes an understanding of musical styles and history, believing that writing, research and presentation skills, as well as in-depth subject knowledge, will enhance your professional profile. The course would suit students who have a clear interest and emerging expertise in practical and/or academic music, but also wish to train as a primary teacher.
The Music subject specialism is an integral part of the three year BA (Ed) course and consists of six modules, which enable you to develop three key areas of expertise: individual practical skills as musicians (for example, 1st study instrument and conducting), creative compositional and classroom practice (such as improvisation and composition), and subject-specific knowledge (for example, music history and understanding style and performance practice).
The three years of the Music subject specialism are designed to promote your musical development in three stages. Year 1 is concerned with the building of all-round practical skills, both in your first study instrument and through classroom-centered group music making. Year 2 retains music performance as an elective, but also offers instrumental teaching as an alternative focus. Additionally, composition, arranging, and music history deepen your subject-specific knowledge. Year 3 offers the opportunity of a subject-specialist dissertation, as well as a music curriculum design project and an elected specialism of one of the following subjects: performance, composition, music case study or instrumental pedagogy.