Course Code

TR001

Duration

4 years

Description

This is a four-year degree in which students combine Music with another subject. The combinations available with Music are: Drama Studies, Film Studies, English Literature, French, History, History of Art and Architecture, Mathematics 1, Modern Irish, Philosophy, Psychology. Both subjects are taken to Honors level, and students choose to take one of the subjects in their final year. In the other subject, the final examinations are held at the end of the third year. (Students taking Music and Mathematics 1 must take Music as their final-year subject.) Two-Subject Moderatorship (TSM) students attend the same classes as those studying Music alone, but have a lighter workload.

The incremental nature of the course, with each successive year building on the achievements of the previous years, means that graduates from this course are highly qualified. Most graduates work in music and related areas. For example, many of Ireland's most successful composers have studied in TCD; and the areas in which recent graduates are working include the following: instrumental and vocal performance, conducting, arts administration, sound design and engineering, composition for theatre, film and television, teaching. In addition, the department has an excellent record of students going on to study at postgraduate level, in this country and abroad, and of students who have obtained university posts in Europe and North America.

In the Freshman years (years 1 & 2), students receive a thorough grounding in the main areas of general musicianship, and the areas in which they will specialise in later years. The first year offers courses in Aural Training & Keyboard Skills, Harmony, Counterpoint, History of Music, Music Analysis, and Music Technology. Some of these, such as History of Music are formal lectures; and some, such Aural Training & Keyboard Skills, are taught in small groups. This allows students to receive a level of individual attention that most institutions cannot offer in the early years of a course.

In the Senior Freshman year (year 2) students begin to explore specialisations in one of three areas: Musicology (the historical and analytical study of music), Music Technology, and Composition. The final choice of specialisation is made at the end of that year. In this year TSM students may elect to take one of the college's Broad Curriculum courses instead of Methodologies of Music Analysis.

In each of the Sophister years (years 3 & 4), at least one third of a student's curriculum is devoted to their area of specialisation, and most of the teaching is in small groups. Students finishing in Music at the end of year 3 may elect to produce, under the individual guidance of a member of staff, a major piece of work in their area of specialisation. Students taking Music in year 4 will present a larger project, again under individual supervision. Those specialising in musicology write a dissertation of approximately 10,000 words; music technologists undertake a project; composers present a portfolio of works. Additionally, a range of electives is offered in all three areas, and students may choose to take electives outside their specialisation. All students may participate in practical musicianship electives for up to 25% of their marks: a recital, Aural Training, and Keyboard Skills (continuo playing).

Fees

Please check the Treasurers office for the summary of undergraduate degree fees.

Application

Applications should be made through:

The Irish Central Applications Office (C.A.O.) by January of the year of proposed entry. Entry is by an entrance test (usually at the end of March), a formal interview (usually in late April/early May) and academic competition (the points system).

The 2009 entrance tests will take place on 21 March. All candidates will be notified of the time and place in early March. For further information, see Marking criteria for Entrance Tests. For sample entrance test papers from 2008, click on the following links: General Knowledge, Aural Test, Aural Test Answers, Rudiments and B Mus Ed Essay Paper.

Overseas students who wish to come to Trinity College for one year or more should contact:

The International Office, East Theatre, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland; Phone: +353 (0)1 896 3150; Fax: +353 (0)1 677 1698; E-mail: international@tcd.ie

Assessment

Oral presentation, coursework and written examination.