A new OCA Course in music on the way!

Good news for current and potential music students at the OCA!  We have commissioned Carla Rees to write a new Level 1 Music course.  Gareth’s recent interview with Carla gives some fascinating background on her interests, including her pioneering work on the 21^st century flute repertoire and developments with the instrument itself (alto and bass flute).

The new course will have the intriguing title: From the Present to the Past.  It will be targeted at those with a general interest in music history and repertoire but who don’t want to go straight into our Composing Music courses; we know from feedback received that the requirement to have a prior understanding of music theory does put some people off the otherwise very popular composing courses.  We are also hoping that some Fine Art, Photography or Creative Writing students will consider the new music course as an option at Level 1 – but do check the recommended pathways if you are planning to do a full degree with us.

The reason the course has a Back to the Future feel is that, unlike most general music courses which start with the Renaissance and work forward to the present day, this course actually starts with the here and now and then asks ‘how did we get here?’  We know that for some people Brian Ferneyhough or Harrison Birtwistle are too conventional, whilst for others John Rutter or even John Williams are too avant garde!   So we will still cover the 20^th century, the romantics, the Baroque and so on, but grounded in an appreciation of the current scene.

We are sometimes asked whether we have any intention of introducing a BA Hons in Music, to set alongside the new specialist degrees in Painting and Photography.  The honest answer is that we have an open mind at this stage.  But clearly if music enrolments continue to rise, and the new course goes well, the case will become stronger.

If you would like to be kept up to date with developments with the new music course, do please drop me an email at OCA andrewwatson[at]oca-uk.com.  We hope to launch it at the end of the current calendar year

Tags: carla rees, history of music, Music, music course, music history