Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Master of Arts - MA
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit

Programme Offerings

Full-Time

F2F-JMU-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

1. To provide a learning environment for the promotion of advanced scholarship related to mastery of craft in musical theatre and its allied performing arts; 2. To produce skilled, self-managed and collaborative artists in the creation, development and presentation of musical theatre performances, either original work or in contemporary context of developments in the genre; 3. To encourage the acquisition and development of individual knowledge, understanding, craft, and creative practice related to the current discourse in musical theatre; 4. To contribute through regional, national and international platforms to the development of musical theatre scholarship allied to creative practice.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Demonstrate advanced understanding and application of specific craft related to Musical Theatre creation and performance.
2.
Contribute at professional level to the creation of expressive and affective musical theatre, through the application and synthesis of advanced understanding of creative, interpretive and performance processes and contexts.
3.
Critically reflect on, and appropriately and successfully utilize, a range of contemporary and relevant critical conceptual frameworks and methodologies for the coherent, informed and advanced evaluation of the work of others, and analytical reflection on their own work.
4.
Critically reflect on and apply a detailed and professionally informed understanding of entrepreneurship and creative Musical Theatre production as a context for personal practice.
5.
Demonstrate advanced levels of informed independence of thought and judgment.
6.
Consistently display the independent learning ability that is required for continuing professional development.
7.
Work independently towards the completion of a substantial project that demonstrates initiative and personal responsibility.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The knowledge and understanding required for mastery of craft is acquired via skill based and exploratory workshops, lectures, seminars, production work and discursive sessions in tutorial. This knowledge and understanding is assessed via coursework, including group and individual practical work supported by evaluative statements/reports, oral presentations, contextualising essays and viva voce, including self and peer assessment where appropriate. Negotiated content of learning activities and assessment forms part of the ongoing discourse of student development. Intellectual (thinking) skills are promoted through teaching in lectures, practical workshop/laboratory sessions, seminar group discussion and tutorial and are assessed by coursework, essay, oral presentation and viva. A substantial part of the programme is given over to independent negotiated individual and collaborative practical creative or performance projects. A final Dissertation and Project embodies the programme's focus on practice as research output with up to 75% of the weighting of the assessment being able to be practical process/performance based. Visiting lecturers and the contribution of professional theatre artists will make a significant contribution to the programme. Assessment methods and requirements are specified for each module on the respective Canvas module page. In general the focus on appropriate staff/individual student contact time and small cohort sizes allows for considerable formative assessment before summative assessment

Opportunities for work related learning

Part of the aim of the course is to offer opportunities for those who have previously committed to working professionally in or with musical theatre as their primary employment, or those who wish to make it so, to undertake diversification and development of relevant skills to increase employment opportunities. In the design of the course, both in second semester modules and in the year-long dissertation and project module, it is possible for practice undertaken in an employment or placement context to be included in the activity leading to the assessment of the respective modules. For example, in the case of a teacher wishing to take the course, it would we feasible for them to do so taking one full day a week of teaching/learning on site in Semester Two and using activity in their employment context as part of their activity in either of the second semester modules, or a school production might form the focus of the final Dissertation/Project module.. Alternatively in the final module someone might undertake a professional employment contract (touring say) and conduct much of their tutorial time via Skype/Facetime in support of their dissertation with agreed manageable visits for face-to-face contact onsite. The aim is to remain flexible to the best possible mode of delivery for each respective student and to agree all of this through Learning Contract prior to the commencement of each module. It is anticipated that in Module 7004MT – Specialist Craft, there is an opportunity to include an element of observation activity or internship and/or direct connection to a professional artist working in the relevant craft area. In Module 7005MT – Musical Theatre Laboratory (ensemble), prior to the final intensive project, it is possible to include off-campus placement or work-based learning which will lead to specific practice or questions/issues being explored and shared with the peer group in weekly Laboratory sessions on-site. In Module 7006MT - `Dissertation and Project’ , it is possible for the practice to take the form of employment or work-based activity as appropriate and as negotiated with the Programme Leader. In each case, such practice must be planned well in advance and relevant mechanisms for supervision and assessment must be agreed with the host before the commencement of any placement/work-based learning. All agreements will form part of a Learning Contract signed by staff and student, usually prior to commencement of any activity. A mentor from the staff team will be appointed as liaison for the duration of the placement. Communication, both in form and frequency, will be agreed with the student in advance, and the opportunity for students to receive support at any time through contact with the mentor will also be available. A placement or work-based learning may be activated through contacts and networks of staff but ultimately it is the responsibility of the student to negotiate the placement. The Programme Leader (or nominated staff deputy) will have final approval of all placements. Further details may be found in the LJMU Placement Learning Code of Practice.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

An alternative award of Postgraduate Diploma in Musical Theatre will be offered to students who do not achieve a pass in, or do not attempt, the final 60 credits module but have gained 120 credits within the programme An alternative award of Postgraduate Certificate in Musical Theatre will be offered … For more content click the Read More button below.

Entry Requirements

IELTS
Interview required
RPL
Relevant work experience
Undergraduate degree

Extra Entry Requirements

  • to demonstrate that you have sufficient knowledge to embark on and complete the programme so you should provide evidence of your learning capability, study opportunity and commitment

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH25-02) performing arts