Studying Music at Cambridge

Studying Music at Cambridge

• Course Presentation

• Introduction to Composition at Cambridge

• Introduction to Music Analysis at Cambridge

• Sample Lecture

In this course presentation, delivered by Professor Katharine Ellis, Professor Sam Barrett and Dr Delphine Mordey, you can learn more about the Cambridge Music degree, including what and how we teach, the wider musical environment and facilities, what careers our students go on to have, and the application process. 

For further information about the Undergraduate Music Degree at Cambridge, click here and visit the Music pages on the University's Virtual Tour.

You can also find further information on applying to study music here and do also have a look at the general University webpages for prospective students here.

For further study resources, including links to lectures, and reading recommendations, click here;

for more on careers, click here;

and to learn about the experiences of some of our former students, and where their Cambridge music degree has taken them, click here.

Introduction to Composition at Cambridge

In the following short video, Professor Richard Causton introduces what it's like to study Composition at Cambridge, including the many opportunities available to composers to hear their works performed.

Introduction to Music Analysis at Cambridge

Music Analysis is one of the core modules studied by all music students at Cambridge in their first year. In the following short video, Professor Bettina Varwig introduces what it means to study music analysis, how it is taught at Cambridge, and the kind of repertoire that you might expect to cover.

Sample Music History Lecture

The following 20-minute sample lecture, given by Professor of Music History, Marina Frolova-Walker, explores some of the possible hidden meanings contained within Shostakovich’s tenth symphony. This video will give you an insight into some of the kinds of questions we explore in our history teaching, and a taste of what to expect from a University lecture.

For three different approaches to studying Shostakovich - through history, analysis, and performance studies - have a look at this article written by three Cambridge Professors, each offering their own perspectives on Shostakovich's 8th String Quartet. This article was first published in Music@Cambridge: The Magazine of the Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge, Schools Edition (Michaelmas Term 2015).

Find out more about studying Music at Cambridge: Meet our Students

Find out about: Performance Opportunities at Cambridge