Music

The Music degree at Oxford is a three-year BA that combines theoretical, historical, philosophical, sociological and practical study of music. The History of Electronic Music, Rock Musics of the 1970s, 13^thCentury Song and 18^th Century Opera have all featured recently among the diverse range of options on the course.

Trinity provides many opportunities for musicians including the many high-level performing musicians studying other subjects. The President’s Concert each term is a great showcase for all Trinity musicians. The recently opened Levine Building includes music practice rooms and a concert hall which hosts a prestigious concert series Events at Trinity full 2023/24 programme guide | Trinity College Oxford which students can attend free of charge. Maxim Vengerov is an Honorary Visiting Fellow and Rosalind Ventris is an Associate Member of the College. All music students have a keyboard provided in their college room. The Chapel Choir sings every Sunday of term and is led by the undergraduate Organ Scholars, all singers in college are encouraged to join.

Course Details

Tutorials (usually in groups of two) are organised by the Lecturer in Music (Hugh Collins Rice). Music students at Trinity are also provided with conducting tuition from Sarah Tennant-Flowers.

The first year course introduces students to the important concepts in current musicology and some core technical skills in harmony and counterpoint. It also includes options to perform and compose. For Finals students have a very wide range of options which can be tailored to their own skills and interests. The Music Faculty’s introduction to the course can be found online here: Faculty of Music

More Information

Oxford Music Faculty

Trinity and the Music Faculty (Google Maps)

A female student plays a clarinet; in the background other students are listening.

Teaching Structure

Students will attend lectures at the Music Faculty (the number per week can vary) and will normally have three tutorials a week where they will discuss the essay or other task they have been working on during the week.

Admissions

We welcome applications from musicians of all backgrounds. What matters is that you have a high level of musical skill and real curiosity about the study of music as an academic discipline. You can check the admission requirements on the Music Faculty website.

Music course details and admissions criteria

Oxford Undergraduate Admissions

Academic Study Support

All students have access to non-means-tested grants to support their studies; further funding is available to support research projects and placements, including travel grants. More detail is available on our Student Support pages.

Trinity also offers a specific fund (the Lingen Fund) to support Classics students undertaking vacation travel linked to their studies. Many of our Classicists benefit from an award towards travel to Classical sites in Greece, Italy or elsewhere.

Travel and Academic Funding for Students

Undergraduate Financial Support

The Pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason performs in the Levine Building auditorium at Trinity College.

Career Prospects

Many of Trinity’s graduates in Music go on to further study or work in performance, teaching or arts administration. The skills you develop during a Music degree at Oxford – problem-solving, analysis and the ability to present a clear and well-reasoned argument – are also valued by employers in a wide variety of careers outside of music.

Music

Tutors

Hugh Collins Rice

Lecturer in Music

Organising Tutor