Creative leadership in action through a conservatoire-based MSc in performance science

Perkins, R. and Williamon, A. (2019) Creative leadership in action through a conservatoire-based MSc in performance science. In: Leadership of Pedagogy and Curriculum in Higher Music Education. ISME Series in Music Education . Routledge, pp. 97-114. ISBN 9780367077327 (hardback) 9780367077334 (paperback) 9780429022418 (e-book)

Abstract

The call for multiple creativities in higher music education echoes the increasing body of research demanding transformation in the education of professional musicians. This chapter reports on a curriculum initiative, designed in response to changing professional landscapes, at the Royal College of Music London (RCM). Launched in 2011, the RCM MSc in Performance Science offers musicians the opportunity to examine critically the art and science of performance in a real-world educational and professional context, facilitating a robust understanding of performance through the lens of the social scientific method. This chapter examines, via a specially designed alumni survey, students’ experiences of the MSc programme to date, interrogating motivations for studying performance science, perceived learning outcomes, graduate destinations and the role of the MSc in professional development. Reflecting on these data, the chapter demonstrates and discusses the potential of a programme such as the MSc in Performance Science to provide a space for musicians to engage in leadership in action, using social science as a means of critiquing and enhancing musical practices.

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