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Accessibility statement
A image to illustrate MA Music part 2 module
In part 2 of the MA in Music, you’ll design and conduct original research on a musical subject of your choosing. With dedicated support, you’ll develop a project in one of five specialised areas: historical musicology, hermeneutical studies, ethnographic research, practice-led research, or popular music studies. As you develop your research, you’ll explore diverse musical traditions spanning from sixteenth-century dance music to modern Western popular music, engaging with readings and resources relevant to both these traditions and your chosen musicological approach. At the end of the module, you’ll submit a dissertation to showcase your research.
The module is made up of four blocks of study.
Block 1 introduces you to the five approaches available for your MA project: historical musicology, hermeneutical studies, ethnographic work, practice-led research, and popular music studies. You’ll gain essential guidance on identifying relevant sources, applying appropriate methods, and conducting research ethically.
This initial block also exposes you to diverse musical traditions spanning several centuries and regions: from 16th-century German dance music to 20th-century Austrian opera and American film scores, from North Indian classical music to 19th-century European compositions and contemporary Western popular music. Through carefully selected readings and resources, you’ll deepen your understanding of these traditions and various musicological approaches.
Above all, the primary focus for Block 1 is developing your own research project on a subject that interests you, culminating in a formal proposal outlining your plan.
Blocks 2, 3 and 4 guide you through the process of researching your subject and writing your dissertation. You’ll receive structured support on organising your research, developing your arguments, and refining your work. Throughout these blocks, you’ll participate in seminars featuring current musical research and workshops where you can discuss your work with peers. At the end of Blocks 2 and 3, you’ll submit draft extracts of your dissertation for tutor feedback, preparing you for the final submission of your completed dissertation at the conclusion of Block 4.
By studying this module, you will:
If you’re a musician seeking to develop skills in conducting independent research on subjects that interest you, this module will be valuable to your professional development. You’ll also develop transferable skills relevant to a number of careers, including music teaching and positions within arts organisations.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module. Your tutor will:
We also offer online tutorials, seminars, and workshops throughout the module, and we encourage you to participate in these. Where appropriate, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You will have access to a module website that includes:
Good-quality headphones or loudspeakers to help you gain the most from the various listening activities.
You can only study this module as part of specific Open University qualifications.
A891 is a compulsory module in our:
Sometimes you cannot count a module towards a qualification if you have already counted another module with similar content. To verify any excluded combinations with this module, check with an adviser before registering.
MA Music part 2 starts once a year – in September.
This page describes the module that will start in September 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in September 2036.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
To register for this module, you are required to have successfully completed MA Music part 1 (A890).
This module has no printed materials and is delivered online as a series of web pages via the module website. You will be asked to listen to music and study a variety of visual documents. Where such activities are not accessible, we are happy to propose alternatives. However, some activities may not be available in other formats: for example, those involving studying music manuscripts, listening to musical examples, or watching video recordings of musical performances. Some materials may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader, particularly where musical notation or original historical documents are involved. The module may, therefore, be challenging if you have a severe visual or hearing impairment.
Please note that the module demands a high level of independent study, including locating sources relevant to your dissertation project. The module also requires extensive use of research databases.
If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in using a computer or the internet and have concerns about accessing module materials, we advise you to contact us about the support we can provide to meet your needs.
StartEndRegister byEngland fee
05 Sep 202630 Jun 202713 Aug 2026£4,200
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.
Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
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