Doctoral education

Artistic Research Programme in Music

The Artistic Research Programme in Music is a laboratory for artistic exploration and experimentation that enables the doctoral student to:

• develop methods for artistic development and renewal
• conduct research that positively impacts creative outputs
• produce creative outputs that positively impacts research
• consider research as tools for technical, aesthetic and communicative artistic expression
• develop an astute awareness of their own artistic activity

Artistic Research in Music investigates and develops the creative process and the generation of artistic knowledge in the field of music. The research field comprises various forms of artistic musical practices, including composition, interpretation, improvisation, music production and other contexts for musical creation.

We work towards the notion that artistic research impacts the doctoral student’s musical practice and professional activity. In total, this research has been carried out by performers, improvisers, composers, music producers and other professional music practitioners.

Innovative projects 

Through innovative projects, artistic research aims to deeply investigate, creatively challenge and critically illuminate diverse forms of musical practice. Importantly we aim to investigate the complexity of real-world artistic behaviors, ranging from traditional to experimental practices, which integrate the perspective of artistically active musical practitioners. This is in direct opposition to the development of an understanding based solely on simplified models of reality. The trick is, of course, how to extract those significant bits of information that carries the power of replicable confirmation in disparate contexts.

This program is based on the realistic profile of the artist as a mature practitioner; in which activities abroad, such as performances at international festivals, presentations at conferences, or research initiatives at other institutes of higher education contribute to and shape the degree trajectory as a whole.

The goals of the Artistic Research Programme in Music are to:

• develop research that leads to or results from artistic practice
• to place artistic practice or production as the central object of inquiry
• contribute knowledge, obtained from research focused on the complexities of real-world artistic production
• produce compelling art

Coursework

The program for a Doctoral Degree in Music contains courses as well as individual work and is carried out during four years of full-time studies (240 ECTS). This includes course work and literature studies/seminars (60 ECTS) and a thesis/artistic project (180 ECTS).

Required Courses

The required courses for the PhD in Artistic Research are:

• Artistic Research, an introduction (2 ECTS)
• Methods, art production (5 ECTS)
• Methods, scholarship (5 ECTS)
• Systematic Methods & Psychoacoustics (5 ECTS)
• Epistemology and Artistic Research (5 ECTS)
• Contemporary music literature (5 ECTS)
• Ethics (3 ECTS)

Research Programme in Music Education

The Research Programme in Music Education aims to provide comprehensive training which prepares for assignments in wider society, where knowledge of music education as a discipline is of value. This can apply equally well within higher education, upper secondary schooling or compulsory schooling, as well as outside formal education institutions.

The Research Programme in Music Education provides qualified knowledge about music education sciences and general education sciences, broad training in theory and research methodology and the ability to conduct independent research work. The thesis work is to provide the student with the ability to critically analyse relevant problems within the field of music education and to plan, implement and document this research work in writing. The research studies programme has a broad specialisation, although there is a certain orientation towards intercultural perspectives on musical learning and research focusing on schools and creativity.

More information about completed doctoral thesis projects with the Research Programme in Music Education

Content of Research Programmes

The Research Programmes contain both courses and individual thesis work.

• The Doctoral Degree consists of courses and literature studies (90 ECTS) and a thesis (150 ECTS). It is planned to be completed in four years of full-time studies (240 ECTS). 
   
• The Licentiate of Arts Degree Programme consists of courses and literature studies (45 ECTS) and a dissertation (75 ECTS). It is planned to be to be completed in two years of full-time study (120 ECTS).