Traditional Music (MMus)

You begin your postgraduate studies with the core of your musical personality – the skills, understandings and attitudes that define you as a traditional musician or piper – already established. Your postgraduate studies should nurture that existing artistic personality so that you can make a difference in the fields in which you choose to work.

The programme offers advanced training to talented traditional musicians from diverse undergraduate degrees or their equivalent. We have designed the programme so that you take ownership of the learning process throughout the degree and beyond, whether in the professional world or in further studies (such as a PhD).

Our staff are professional performers, composers, and scholars of Scottish traditional music (and beyond) with active careers. They understand the challenges that you’ll face in your career and can provide help and advice as you progress. As well as working with our core staff, you’ll get the opportunity to learn from visiting artists and academics from all over the world.

There’s a great atmosphere in the department and the Conservatoire as a whole. We have a close-knit community where you will perform and gig with other students and staff, making friends for life.

As for professional and institutional collaborations, we work closely with the National Piping Centre, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and the Celtic Connections and Piping Live festivals in delivering a varied and vocationally robust experience for its students.

Piping tuition on the MMus is delivered in collaboration with the National Piping Centre — an internationally recognised centre of excellence in Highland Bagpipe teaching.

Please note, the international deadline for this programme is the 2nd December 2024, but we would encourage applicants to apply by the 2nd October 2024 to be guaranteed consideration for the first round of scholarship.

Curriculum Review We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate music programmes starting in 2025, these courses are currently designated 'subject to validation'. This is standard practice during curriculum review periods. The outcome of this process, may mean there are some changes to how your programme is delivered.