A course for innovators who want to develop their creative work with sound.

The MA Sound Arts is an intensive, focused and specialised programme in sound art. Its main aim is to enable each student to develop a personal and distinctive approach to sound art practice.

The course is designed for students who have a substantial background in producing sound-based work within the context of contemporary arts and media practice. You may have studied some aspect of sound arts - such as sound design, music technology and sonic art - at undergraduate level. You may come from other disciplines, such as fine art, digital arts, or time-based or performance art. Or you may have no formal qualifications but have significant experience of producing creative work with sound and wish to develop this work in an academic context. The main characteristic of a successful applicant is that they will already have achieved a distinctive and enquiring approach to and understanding of the aspects of sound arts that they wish to develop further in a creative and experimental academic environment.

The course includes a strong taught component combined with providing students with ample opportunities for practical work. You will be able to extend your portfolio within an academic context, engage in theoretical and practical research, develop your creative and critical skills, explore personal areas of interest in sound arts and engage in practice-based research. The aim of the course is to facilitate individual practice and guidie you towards a professional career as a sound artist or into research.

The course culminates in a curated show and a public symposium where you will get the opportunity to present your work and research to an audience. One advantage of studying at LCC is that there are opportunities for collaboration with students from other disciplines, such as Film and Video, both inside and outside the college.

All staff delivering the course are active practitioners and researchers who bring their specialist insights to their teaching. Specialist areas of interest within the department include the following:

• Composition
• Sound recording and mixing
• Phonography
• Field recording and acoustic ecology
• Interactive work
• Sound installations
• Live performance
• Radiophonic practices
• Sound for film
• A variety of cross platform work

There is also an extensive programme of visiting speakers and performers and both undergraduate and postgraduate students are extremely active in promoting their work both inside and outside the college. The sound arts department is constantly developing new links with other institutions and other disciplines and is committed to extending the boundaries of this developing discipline.

For more information about sound arts at visit the departmental website to find out more. For information about research in sound arts visit the CRiSAP website.

This course is taught within the School of Media

Who teaches the course

Dr. Salomé Voegelin is a Swiss artist and writer based in London. She has a doctorate from Goldsmiths College, London University. Her practical work plays with visual perception through sound and encompasses single screen and installation video and audio work, as well as radio productions and sonic pieces for CD. Her work has been shown in the UK and around mainland Europe. Her writing focuses on the articulation of an aesthetics and philosophy of sound. Some recent texts include 'Sonic Memory Material as "Pathetic Trigger" ' in Organised Sound (2006) , 'Völlig Losgelöst', a chapter in Autumn Leaves: Sound and the Environment (Double Entendre, 2007) and 'Night Train', a chapter in Nachtschichten (Edition Fink, 2008). Her monograph Listening to Noise and Silence: Towards a Philosophy of Sound Art, will be published by Continuum Press later this year.

All staff delivering the course are active practitioners and researchers and include Professor David Toop, Peter Cusack, Thomas Gardner, Cathy Lane, Aki Pasoulas and John Wynne.

Read a full list of staff and their research interests as well as visiting speakers and performers.

Further information

For course queries contact Salomé Voègelin
Email: s.voegelin@lcc.arts.ac.uk

For fee/application information call the postgraduate admissions team on 020 7514 6400 or email pgadmissions@lcc.arts.ac.uk

Phase 1

• Induction
• Practice based Research
• Contemporary themes in Sound Arts practice

In Phase 1 you will gain a practical understanding of contemporary themes in sound arts practice and explore how they relate to and situate your own practice. At the same time you will begin to develop a critical understanding of the relationship between research and practice in relation to your own work and carry out an applied research project in response to an external organisation or institution.

Phase 2

• Project Development + workshops
• Curatorial Contexts for Sound Art

During Phase 2 of the course, exceptionally you may opt to exit at PgDip level or continue your studies to MA by discussion with the course team. In Phase 2 a taught programme will help you to explore issues around the curation, exhibition and perception of sound art in a contemporary context. You will also have the opportunity to choose two short elective courses. Throughout this time you will also develop your creative project through a process of experimentation and research culminating in the presentation of a Development Proposal. You will be supported by a taught programme related to professional practice and issues concerning the presentation of work in the public domain. In the case of PGDip students this will be assessed as the final element in their coursework. MA candidates may wish to develop this creative project further as the basis of their Phase 3 work.

Phase 3

• Major Project

Phase 3 is devoted to the completion and presentation of the Major project in the context of a curated show and symposium.

During the course you will have the opportunity to develop both your research profile and creative practice. Upon graduation there are a number of options. You might wish to apply for a research degree. Or you might decide to work in the theatre, films, television, animation, games production or websites. Some of our students work as freelance sound artists or musicians in a chosen area which which could include performance, composition, sound art installation or curation. Others set up their own businesses.

Applicants will have a good honours degree and be able to demonstrate relevant experience and an aptitude for sound arts, sound design or music. We also welcome applications from prospective students with a background in fine art or other fields. Applicants with relevant professional experience will be considered.

Portfolio advice

You should provide examples of creative work in any medium.

International and EU students: If your first language is not English you should check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English. Further information is available on our International Applications page.

Admissions enquiries

For enquiries about admissions please call the postgraduate admissions team on +44(0)20 7514 6569 or email pgadmissions@lcc.arts.ac.uk (for UK and EU student enquiries) or v.gavulic@lcc.arts.ac.uk (for international enquiries).

UK and EU students will need to use this application form (PDF - 4MB). International students should use the international postgraduate application form which is available to download on the international office's web pages. Applications should be sent to Postgraduate Admissions, Central Administration Office, 5th Floor Tower Block, London College of Communication, Elephant and Castle, London, SE1 6SB.

Home/EU student fee discounts

If you have successfully completed a UAL undergraduate degree, PgDip or PgCert you will qualify for a £1000 discount from your tuition fees. For further information please contact pgadmissions@lcc.arts.ac.uk