Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Music Leadership (MMusL) Programme

The Master of Music Leadership (MMusL) is a 40-unit graduate coursework programme designed to support musicians who want to advance their skills and be leaders of change within the rapidly evolving musical landscape in Singapore and the world. With an emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, the MMusL programme equips graduates to keep pace with the changes wrought by rapid technological development, digitalisation of the music profession, and the societal need for inter- and cross-disciplinary competences and collaboration.

Programme Structure

The MMusL curriculum adopts an interdisciplinary approach to increase students' understanding of the musical ecosystem, diversify their skillsets, and promote critical thinking. The programme consists of three curricular components:

• Core (inclusive of a Capstone Project)
• Graduate Certificate in Music Perspectives and Practices
• Free Electives

Requirements for Graduation

To graduate, students from the MMusL programme must meet the following requirements:

• Read and pass a total of 40 units, fulfilling all Core course requirements
• Read and pass Graduate Certificate in Music Perspectives and Practices and elective courses totalling 20 units (level 4000 and below courses capped at a total of 8 units)
• A minimum GPA of 3.50 throughout the candidature

Course Requirements

Core (20 units)

• Compulsory courses (14 units):
  • MUA5160 Leadership in Musical Contexts – 4 units
  • MUA5163 Research Practices in Music – 4 units
  • MUA6178 Graduate Capstone Project in Music Leadership – 6 units (taken in the final semester of candidature)
• Free-choice core courses (select up to 6 units):
  • MUA5105 Leadership in Orchestral Conducting – 4 units
  • MUA5121 Professional Practices in Music – 2 units
  • MUA5122 Graduate Practicum in Pedagogy – 2 units
  • MUA5123 Collaborative Portfolio – 4 units
  • MUA5124 Musical Explorations – 2 units

Graduate Certificate (12 units)

• Students must complete 3 courses from the list below:
  • MUH5201 Histories and Cultures of Amateur Music-Making – 4 units
  • MUH5202 Music in Interconnection – 4 units
  • MUA5264 Musical Engagement in the Community – 4 units
  • MUT5201 Practical Approaches to Musical Analysis – 4 units

Free Electives (8 units)

• Students must complete 8 units of free electives from the list of YST-SSG eligible courses below
• Examples of courses include:
  • MUA2203 Keyboard Literature: Genres throughout History – 4 units
  • MUA2204 Keyboard Literature: Sonatas in Context – 4 units
  • MUA3105 Conducting – 2 units
  • MUA3116 Pedagogy for Orchestral Instrumentalists – 4 units
  • MUA3209 Business for Musicians – 4 units
  • MUA3228 Re-imagining Pianism through Analysis – 4 units
  • MUA3271 Acoustics and Sound Production for Performers – 4 units
  • MUA4113 Piano Pedagogy – 4 units
  • MUA4215 Vocal Pedagogy – 4 units
  • MUT3224 Teaching Music Online – 2 units
  • GEC1035 Patrons of the Arts – 4 units
  • GEX1021 What, When and Where is Art – 4 units
  • GEX1022 Communicating about the Arts – 4 units
  • GEX1027 Art and Identity – 4 units
  • GESS1015 Western Music within a Singaporean Context – 4 units

Course Descriptions

Core

• MUA5160 Leadership in Musical Contexts: This course aims to provide musicians with a solid understanding of leadership strategies building out of their transferable musical skills.
• MUA5163 Research Practices in Music: This course surveys and evaluates a breadth of research methodologies and outputs, drawing on the expertise of leading practitioners in fields such as performance practice, music education, music cognition, and ethnomusicology.
• MUA6178 Graduate Capstone Project in Music Leadership: The capstone project is an individualised, self-directed application of research thinking and skills.
• MUA5105 Leadership in Orchestral Conducting: Leadership approaches in conducting have evolved considerably from the dictatorial behaviour of conductors in the past to a much more collaborative relationship with their musicians in modern day contexts.
• MUA5121 Professional Practices in Music: This course revolves around self-directed learning appropriate to each student’s career trajectory through one-to-one mentoring.
• MUA5122 Graduate Practicum in Pedagogy: The Graduate Practicum provides students with the opportunity to work in a professional context within the Conservatory.
• MUA5123 Collaborative Portfolio: The collaborative portfolio course is self-directed and documents students’ practical/real world applications in leading collaborative activities.
• MUA5124 Musical Explorations: This is a self-directed, portfolio-based course that encourages students to document, reflect upon, and evaluate their artistic practices within their chosen fields.

Graduate Certificate

• MUH5201 Histories and Cultures of Amateur Music-Making: This course explores the role and impact of amateur music-making in terms of technology adoption and innovation in diverse cultural contexts.
• MUH5202 Music in Interconnection: This course explores music as a locus of interaction: how it is situated in and relates to the wider world outside the concert hall, both in the abstract and in the real world.
• MUA5264 Musical Engagement in the Community: This course introduces current thinking and best practices in community music-making through research and information synthesis.
• MUT5201 Practical Approaches to Musical Analysis: This course presents a pragmatic, accessible approach to music analysis.

Free Electives

• MUA2203 Keyboard Literature: Genres throughout History: This course explores the various genres of keyboard music throughout history.
• MUA2204 Keyboard Literature: Sonatas in Context: This course explores various meanings and incarnations of the keyboard sonata.
• MUA3105 Conducting: This course introduces fundamental orchestral conducting and covers baton technique, rehearsal technique, and score organisation.
• MUA3116 Pedagogy for Orchestral Instrumentalists: The course provides foundational knowledge and introductory experience in delivering fundamental pedagogic principles to become more effective and creative instrumental music teachers.
• MUA3209 Business for Musicians: The course is designed for musicians to gain knowledge in the legal, marketing, and data gathering aspects in music-related contexts.
• MUA3228 Re-imagining Pianism through Analysis: In this course, learners will acquire the analytical skills needed to understand the construction of keyboard works of different styles.
• MUA3271 Acoustics and Sound Production for Performers: This course will help instrumentalists and teachers become more familiar with recording arts and live sound techniques.
• MUA4113 Piano Pedagogy: The course encourages innovation in problem-solving related to piano pedagogy and in lesson design.
• MUA4215 Vocal Pedagogy: The course is designed for current vocal practitioners with some work experience to encourage innovation in problem-solving related to vocal pedagogy and in lesson design.
• MUT3224 Teaching Music Online: The online component of teaching is an added advantage in today’s increasingly connected world.

Fees and Funding

The Master of Music Leadership is a self-funded programme.

• Full Tuition Fees: SGD$46,950.00 (excluding GST), SGD$51,175.50 (including 9% GST)
• Application Fee: SGD$50
• Extra Funding: YST-SSG Courses under the Free Electives component are eligible for SSG subsidies (applicable only to Singapore Citizens/PRs).

Application Procedure

For more information on the application process, please refer to the Admissions page.

• Completed application form on the NUS Graduate Admission System (GDA2)
• Bachelor of Music or equivalent degree from an approved institution of higher education in music
• Two recommendations
• Non-English documents must be accompanied by an official English translation
• Applicants whose native tongue or language of undergraduate instruction is not English must complete the TOEFL, IELTS, or Diagnostic English Test (administered by the NUS Centre for English Language Communication) with the minimum acceptable scores.

Application Timeline

• Online Application: 15 July – 31 August
• Interviews: Week of 26 September
• Announcement of Results: Week of 10 October
• Matriculation and Orientation: December – January (TBC)

Admission Requirements

Prospective students may enrol in the MMusL programme either full-time or part-time.

• Candidature period:
  • Full-time: 2-4 semesters (approx. 1-2 years)
  • Part-time: 5-8 semesters (approx. 2.5-4 years)
• Admission will be determined primarily through an interview, with other supporting documents considered.
• Candidates are expected to have a strong grasp of the English language as classes are taught in English.