Music

The course

Music has been part of the intellectual life at Oxford for more than eight centuries. Today, our research and teaching ask big questions about the origins and meaning of human cultures, musics and values: how can we make sense of musical practices across the ages? Who owns music? How should we understand the global circulation music, knowledge and people in the past and in our digital age?

The course at Oxford offers the advantage of a very broad base without compromising the possibility of increasing specialisation in one or more areas – from performance to history, composition to analysis. In the first year, music history, analysis, techniques of composition and keyboard skills are core elements. In the second and third years there are a number of options available, including: solo performance, original composition, ethnomusicology, music theatre (etc.), and many other historical, theoretical, and practical subjects.

Why study Music at Lincoln?

Lincoln has a thriving music scene, with a host of events organised by the student-led Lincoln College Music Society including an annual Musical Revue, Oxmas Concert, regular recitals and open mic nights. There are also a number of fun non-auditioning ensembles including the Lincoln Chamber Orchestra and the Jazz Group. The College Choir (audition is required) has a reputation as one of the finest mixed-voice chapel choirs in the University, singing at a weekly Evensong as well as at special College events. In recent years the Choir has toured extensively throughout the UK, Europe and the US. Generous choral and organ scholarships are available, and more information about these can be found here.

There are excellent facilities in College for practical music, including the two practice rooms, a grand piano (housed in the Oakeshott Room, our main concert venue), and a clavichord. The magnificent Chapel organ was built by William Drake in 2010 and is used for weekly recitals during full term, as well as for every day practice. Music students at Lincoln are provided with a large College room, containing either a clavinova or an upright piano.