Musical Direction and Coaching MA

This programme is structured according to your individual needs and experience, and operates in tandem with the Musical Theatre programme. This intensive one-year programme leads to MA (Musical Direction and Coaching). It is highly competitive with only two/three entrants selected each year. It is taught by industry professional Musical Directors, each of whom has a different style and specialisation. Students can also exit with PGCert award.

The programme covers pianistic styles for Musical Theatre repertoire (i.e. swing/"standards", pop, rock, gospel, Sondheim, show-tunes etc.), conducting, accompaniment, rehearsal preparation and practice, transposition at sight, accompanying from chord symbols and working out "instant" arrangements, improvisation, programming synths, and arranging and orchestration. Existing familiarity with sequencing and notation software is developed further with advanced seminars to show how Sibelius, MainStage, Logic and ProTools can assist the work of the modern MD. Students work alongside our students on the MA in Musical Theatre Performance programme and attend their practical classes, where their timetable permits.

The programme has been in existence since 2002 and past students have gone on to work on the London productions of: Follies, Mamma Mia, Cabaret, Take Flight, Avenue Q, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Jersey Boys, Shrek - The Musical, Book of Mormon, The Pajama Game, Bend it like Beckham, as well as on the national tours such as Tommy, Calamity Jane, Oliver, Jersey Boys, Avenue Q, Les Miserables (UK and US tours), Here Lies Love (National Theatre), The Light Princess (National Theatre), The Empress (RSC), The History Boys (all Sheffield Crucible)… and many, many more.