MA Music is a 2-year postgraduate degree program that deals with the study of music. The course offers both theoretical and practical aspects of the study. It covers everything from understanding the origin, history to the form of music practiced in present times. Check out: MA Music in Abroad
There are people who are passionate about music and who want to take up music professionally in the future. MA offers them a degree-based education in education, that can help them set up a career in various areas of music. This is mainly a specialization course for those aspiring to study the theory and roots of music and also practicing music for its value.
The syllabus includes topics like two theory papers, namely History and Aesthetics in Music and History of Indian Music, along with two practical papers on Stage Performance.
The eligibility criteria for MA Music is that the candidates should have studied one of the music subjects in their graduation from any reputed institute. The admission process can be either Entrance Exam based or merit-based.
There are various institutes that offer MA Music. The fees for this course ranged from INR 1,180 - INR 1,10,000. This course can also be pursued through correspondence. There are institutes like Annamalai University, Jaipur National University, etc. who offer MA Music through distance learning.
There is a wide range of job opportunities for those pursuing MA Music. Some of the jobs include performing in bands & orchestras, teaching in performance arts schools, colleges and universities entertainment companies, music producers, or sound engineers in music and film studios, to name a few.
After the completion of the degree, the graduates may pursue higher degrees like M.Phil. or Ph.D. or take up any of the jobs mentioned above. The average salary of a MA Music graduate ranges from INR 6,500 to INR 18,000 per month and increases with time and experience.
Table of Content
- MA Music: Course Highlights
- MA Music: What is it about?
- Why Study MA Music?
- MA Music Admission Process
4.2 Entrance Exams
8.1 Books
MA Music: Course Highlights
MA Music is wide-ranging and deep in the subjects it explores and is sure to catch the fancy of all music-lovers. The basic information about the course is mentioned in the table below:
| Course type | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Examination type | Semester Type |
| Eligibility | Any Student with a graduation degree in Music Honours or Music as a subject in their bachelor's level course is eligible for the Masters' course in music |
| Admission process | Merit-based/ Entrance exam |
| Course fees | INR 1,180 - INR 1,10,000 |
| Recruiting sectors | Bands, Orchestras, Film and Music Studios, Performance Arts Centres, Schools, Colleges and Universities |
| Job roles | Performing Artist, Conductor in an orchestra, Music Producer, Sound Engineer, Radio Jockey, Music Professor, Music Journalist, etc. |
| Average initial salary | INR 6,500 to INR 18,000 per month |
MA Music: What is it about?
- The Master's course provides a roundup view of the history and origins of different kinds of music as we hear today.
- It helps discover the roots in music and gives time and exposure in the practice of all forms of music.
- Students opting for this course should be dedicated and hardworking and should have the patience and passion for practicing their art and honing their skills to perfection.
- They also need to learn how to be cooperative and be in sync with other fellow musicians and learn the spirit of teamwork through group projects and performances.
- Teamwork, hard work, and dedication are the core attributes needed to excel in this course.
- The course is compulsory for researching music and also for further higher studies.
Why Study MA Music?
- This course is a comprehensive study on music theory, the cultural history of music, and performance art.
- More individual direction, continuous and constant multidisciplinary exposure, the opportunity to focus
- If you're looking for a job as a professional musician, this is the best course for you.
- It will be a supplement to your existing skills and will help you hone your talent in the field of music.
- There are plenty of specialization opportunities that help you focus on your area of interest.
MA Music Admission Process
The admission process in most of the institutions offering this course is conducted either through an entrance exam or is merit-based.
- In merit-based admission, the candidates are evaluated based on their previous academic records. But in such cases, the candidates will have to go through an audition, where they can show their expertise.
- Universities like Ramjas College, Daulat Ram College, Miranda House, University of Madras, Andhra University offer merit-based admission.
- In the Entrance exam-based admission, the candidates are expected to secure the cut-off mark in the entrance examination, which is also specified by the specific university or college.
- Institutes like Tripura University, Bangalore University, BHU, University of Kerala, conduct entrance exam based admission.
- Interviews and auditions will also be taken based on the selection done through the entrance exam or merit-based method, depending on the institute.
MA Music Eligibility
The candidates planning to pursue this course should fulfill the minimum eligibility criteria as mentioned below:
- Graduation degree with honors in music or studied music as one of the subjects in their graduation.
- Should have scored a minimum percentage between 45 to 50.
MA Music Entrance Exams
Entrance exams for MA Music are usually conducted on the university level. The entrance exam has multiple sections that test different parts of your knowledge like communication, reasoning, current affairs, quantitative skills, and they may even add questions relating to the chosen field. The exam dates have mostly been postponed due to the current situation.
- BHU PET: The performing arts faculty of Banaras Hindu University conducts an entrance exam for all aspirants of performing arts, candidates who wish to be a part of their music course must take this entrance exam.
- DUET: Delhi University is one of the premier universities in India. Admissions to colleges under DU are most sought after. It consists of the top colleges in the country.
- MGU CAT: Mahatma Gandhi University is a prominent university in Kerala, there are several colleges under it. The previously announced date for the online entrance exams had to be postponed.
- Kerala University Entrance exam: Kerala University is another major university in Kerala with several arts and science colleges under its supervision. It offers multiple courses, especially in music.
| Entrance exam | Application Period | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| DUET | February 2024 – March 2024 | 15th – 31st May 2024 |
| BHU PET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| MGU CAT | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| Kerala University entrance exam | To be Announced | To be Announced |
How to prepare for the Entrance Exam?
- To prepare well for the entrance exams the candidates should be aware of the syllabus, exam pattern, and the books to equip the knowledge required.
- Practice solving previous years’ papers and mock tests to understand the type of questions asked. It also helps to improve and prepare yourself for the actual exam.
- Solving as many papers can help you gain speed and accuracy.
- Finish preparation well in advance, to have enough time for revision of the content.
How to get admission in a good college?
- Preferably try to take admission in a government college or an aided institution. It is an economical option. It is imperative to score good marks in merit and the entrance examination.
- Also, try to make a video portfolio for the interview or audition round.
- Nowadays, most colleges offer their application form online. Stay updated on when the application form is released and fill it up on time before the deadline.
- Ensure that all necessary documents are scanned and attached to the application form. Also, make sure it is available for verification by the college as and when required.
- Follow the admission process carefully and ensure that you are aware of any updates regarding it.
- Preparing well for the entrance exam is also highly necessary.
Course Comparison
- MA Music vs PG Diploma Music
The course comparison sheds light on the similarities and differences between MA Music and Post Graduate Diploma courses in music.
Check here: Top Music Diploma Colleges in India.
| Criteria | MA Music | PG Diploma in Music |
|---|---|---|
| Course Level | Post Graduate | Post Graduate |
| Duration | 2 Years | 6 months to 1 Year |
| Examination Type | Semester Based | Unit System |
| Eligibility | Graduates in music honors and those who had music as a subject in their graduation course | Bachelor's degree in any stream with music as a subject. |
| Admission Process | Entrance Exam (might require cut off) / Merit Based | Required grade or equivalent marks obtained in any Undergraduate program or based on entrance exams. |
| Course Fee | INR 11,800 to INR 1,10,000 | INR 10,000 to INR 1,00,000 |
| Recruitment | Bands, Orchestras, Film and Music Studios, Performance Arts Centres, Schools, Colleges and Universities | Commission of Fine Arts, Cultural Affairs, Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Archives, National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, Reality TV Shows and Talent Hunts like Indian Idol, All India Radio, Bollywood |
| Job Positions | Music Professor, Assistant Researcher, Sound Engineer, Music Producer, Musician, Music Journalist, Artist Manager, etc. | Artist and Repertoire (A&R) Person, Bands, Composer/Arranger, Music Attorney, Asst. Art Director, Concert Promoter, Music Teacher, Recording Technician, Music Publisher, Singer/Performer, Writer/Music Journalist |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 per annum | INR 2,00,000 to 9,00,000 per annum |
MA Music Specialisations
After the completion of the Master's degree, students can opt for specializations that help in their career prospects. Some of these include:
- Music Composition: This mainly focuses on the composition of music, it will be highly useful if you are planning to take music composition as an occupation
| Average Course Fees | INR 12,000 - INR 13,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 5,00,000 - INR 10,00,000 |
- Music Management: Music managers handle the careers of performers, bands, DJs, etc. If you are looking for a job in this field, this specialization is optimal.
| Average Course Fees | INR 17,000 - INR 18,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 3,00,000 - INR 7,00,000 |
- Carnatic Music: if you are interested in learning in-depth about Carnatic music, this is the optimal specialization.
| Average Course Fees | INR 10,000 - INR 15,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 3,00,000 - INR 5,00,000 |
- Hindustani Classical Music: Focal point in Hindustani Classical Music, you will be learning the history, roots, performance, etc.
| Average Course Fees | INR 9,000 - INR 15,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 2,00,000 - INR 5,00,000 |
- Vocal Music: students planning to pursue an occupation along the lines of being a vocalist, this will be a sound specialization.
| Average Course Fees | INR 12,000 - INR 14,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 1,00,000 - INR 6,00,000 |
- Instrumental Music: instrumentalists of all types will gain a higher knowledge in this art by pursuing this specialization.
| Average Course Fees | INR 13,000 - INR 18,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 4,00,000 - INR 7,00,000 |
MA Music Top Colleges
There are a wide variety of colleges and universities in India that offer MA Music. The average fee structure of these institutes can vary from INR 2,000 to INR 2,00,000.
| Name of the Institute | Location | Total Fees | Average placement offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | INR 7,290 | INR 1,38,000 |
| Andhra University | Visakhapatnam | INR 10,200 | INR 1,42,000 |
| Banasthali University | Jaipur | INR 88,000 | INR 1,40,000 |
| Bangalore University | Bangalore | INR 11,640 | INR 1,55,000 |
| Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University | Aurangabad | INR 18,400 | INR 1,45,000 |
| Kurukshetra University | Kurukshetra | INR 9,026 | INR 1,47,000 |
| Queen Mary’s College | Chennai | INR 1,180 | INR 1,40,000 |
| Miranda House | Delhi | INR 21,660 | INR 1,56,000 |
| Ramjas University | Delhi | INR 9,380 | INR 1,39,000 |
| Rabindra Bharati University | Kolkata | INR 8,180 | INR 1,35,000 |
| Nehru Gram Bharati University | Allahabad, UP | INR 14,000 | INR 1,55,000 |
| Dr. Hari Singh Gour University | Madhya Pradesh | INR 9,840 | INR 1,42,000 |
MA Music College Comparison
A basic comparison between the top three institutes in India offering a Master of Arts in Music is provided below.
| Parameters | Miranda House | Andhra University | Queen Mary’s College |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | Miranda House is a college for women established in 1948. It initially started with six departments, and now there are eighteen. It is a well-known institution for science and liberal arts. | Andhra University is a public university established in 1926. The university at present offers about 313 courses in Arts, Science & Technology, Commerce, Management, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy and Education. | Queen Mary’s College was established in 1914. Initially, it offered courses. Later on undergraduate courses in subjects like History, Economics were offered along with intermediate courses in Geography, Indian Music, Home Science, Physics, and Chemistry. |
| Affiliation | Delhi University | - | University of Madras |
| Location | Delhi | Visakhapatnam | Chennai |
| NIRF Ranking 2020 | 1 (among colleges) | 19 (among universities) | 41 (among colleges) |
| Total Fees | INR 21,660 | INR 10,200 | INR 1,180 |
| Salary | INR 80,000 - INR 1,56,000 p.a | INR 78,000 - INR 1,42,000 p.a | INR 75,000 - INR 1,40,000 p.a |
| Top Recruiters | StarIndia, entertainment companies, radio stations | Intra college placement, music firms | Radio stations, music companies |
MA Music Distance Learning
Undergraduate degree holders can also pursue post-graduation in music through distance learning. The duration of the distance learning course is also 2 years. Some of the top institutes that offer MA Music Distance Learning are :
| Name of the Institute | Location | Duration | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subharti University | Meerut | 2 years | INR 6,400 |
| Annamalai University | Chidambaram | 2 years | INR 3,800 - INR 5,200 |
| Jaipur National University | Jaipur | 2 years | INR 16,550 |
| NIMS University | Jaipur | 2 years | INR 6,000 |
| Periyar University | Salem | 2 years | INR 4,620 - INR 5,000 |
MA Music Syllabus
The subjects related to this course varies according to specializations and the institutes. For example, subjects in Music-Vocals include Raag, Taal, Folk Songs, classical Hindustani music, Carnatic music, compositions of individual artists, etc. It involves criticism, the study of the history of music, and aesthetic examinations.
The curriculum includes both theoretical and practical papers. The compulsory subjects include:
- History and Aesthetics in Music
- Revision of Ragas and Sessional
The syllabus varies according to specializations. However, there are some compulsory courses taught throughout the four semesters. It comprises both Theory and Practical Papers. The basic structure of the semesters and the syllabus is as follows :
| Semester I | Theory (History and Aesthetics in Music) |
| Practice paper I (Stage Performance) | |
| Semester II | Theory (General and Applied Theory) |
| Practice Paper II (Viva – Voce) | |
| Practice Paper III (Revision of Ragas and Sessional) | |
| Semester III | Theory (History of Indian Music) |
| Practice Paper IV (Stage Performance) | |
| Semester IV | Theory (Applied Theory and Musical Competitions) |
| Practice Paper V (Viva- voce) | |
| Practice Paper VI (Revision of the Ragas and Sessional) |
MA Music Books
Books on music for academic purposes differ according to specializations. However, some common titles are :
| Name of the Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Nad: Understanding Raga Music | Sandeep Bagchee |
| Music in North India: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture | George E. Ruckert |
| The Dawn of Indian Music in the West | Peter Lavezzoli |
| The Raga Guide | Savarnalata Rao |
| Music and Musical Thought in Early India | Lewis E. Rowell |
| South Indian Music | P. Sambamoorthy |
MA Music Job Profiles and Career Options
Career prospects for a postgraduate degree holder in music greatly vary. It depends on the respective specialization and demand.
- The graduates are usually hired for profiles as teachers, performers, composers, music managers, music directors, songwriters, music publishers, music therapists, disk jockeys, radio jockeys, etc.
- They can find jobs in areas like entertainment companies, music and film industry, education sector, FM channels, media companies, music clubs, and so on.
- The salaries and annual earnings depend on the specific kind of music, the methods of practice, expertise, and other related aspects.
The details of job descriptions of a few job profiles are given below along with the expected salaries :
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Lecturer or Professor | It involves teaching musical instruments or the basics of specialized music. It includes teaching a class at schools, universities, or in private classes. | INR 3,09,134 |
| Music Manager | It involves managing music bands, individual singers, or DJs and their respective career prospects by communicating with the clients. It includes building the brand image and hence requires good communication skills as well as experience in career planning. | INR 2,64,000 |
| Radio Jockey | It involves hosting music programs on the radio. It may also include crowd performances. | INR 3,32,868 |
| Music Director | It involves creating and directing music streams and background scores for an entire film. The earning often depends on the commercial success of the film. | INR 9,82,635 |
| Singers in Films | It involves singing tracks for a film. It can include either solo or duet tracks. The earning greatly varies in cases of individual singers depending on the experience, popularity, and commercial success. | INR 6,00,000 per project (varies) |
Source: Payscale
MA Music Future Scope
After completion of MA Music, the candidates can choose to take up jobs or can continue with their higher studies.
- Specialization: The graduates can specialize in a specific area in music by taking up PG Diploma courses or certificate courses in areas like instrumental, Music Therapy, etc.
- Advanced courses: The have options to go for research field through advance courses like Ph.D. Music and M.Phil Music
- Students who have a postgraduate in music can apply for the UGC-NET or JRF exam; clearing these exams provide options like teaching and research.
- Taking up jobs in several media organizations, studios, music companies advertising agencies are also great options.
- It is also possible to apply for as a music teacher in music learning institutions.
Check out the top Ph.D. Music Colleges and M.Phil Music Colleges in India.
MA Music FAQs
Ques. What are the eligibility criteria for pursuing MA Music?
Ans. The minimum eligibility criteria for pursuing MA Music is a graduation degree in music with a minimum of 50% marks for general candidates, and 45% for reserved candidates.
Ques. What types of jobs will I get if I have a postgraduate degree in music?
Ans. A postgraduate degree in music can land you with different types of jobs, ranging from the education sector to the entertainment sector. Some job profiles are - music teacher/professor, composer, music director, singer, songwriter, music/band manager, disc jockey, radio jockey, and many more.
Ques. Why choose this course?
Ans. This course is a comprehensive study on music theory, the cultural history of music and performance art
Ques. What is the basic fee structure for a MA course in music?
Ans. The basic fee structure of this course can vary according to the college or university. It can range between INR 1,180 to 1,10,00.
Ques. Is distance learning available in MA Music?
Ans. Yes. Some reputed universities like Periyar University, Jaipur National University, among others offer MA Music through distance learning.
Ques. What is the average starting salary in the job profiles of MA Music students?
Ans. The average starting salary is about INR 4 LPA. But it depends on the job profile and individual talent.
Ques. What is the admission process for colleges offering MA Music?
Ans. The admission process for this course can differ from college to college. It can be either merit-based or based on entrance examinations. Many reputed institutes rely on both as a selection procedure.
Ques. Do I need to have a MA degree in music to become a Music Therapist?
Ans. You can become a Music Therapist if you have a MAMA degree in music, but ideally, you can pursue a certificate course or diploma in Music Therapy from a reputed institute.
Ques. Can I do a Ph.D. in Music?
Ans. Yes. There is enough scope for pursuing an advanced course like Ph.D. in Music after completing Masters. It can be done in accordance to your field.
Ques. Are there different degrees in Music courses?
Ans. Yes. MA Music Vocal, MA Music Instrumental, MA Music (Vocal & Instrumental) are a few examples of different MA Music degrees. Many colleges offer degrees specific to the regions, e.g., Rabindra sangeet, classical Hindustani, classical Carnatic, and other instrumental specializations.
Ques. Are there any specializations in a MA Music degree?
Ans. The specializations depend on the various institutes. There can include specializations in instrumental, vocal, classical Hindustani, Carnatic, Rabindra sangeet, etc.
Ques. What are the employment areas?
Ans. The employment areas for students having a MA Music degree are versatile. They include college and universities, schools, film and music industry, music companies, advertising agencies, entertainment companies, media firms, orchestras and bands, production companies, etc.
Ques. Why is a MA Music course beneficial?
Ans. MA Music degree can provide a basis for further advanced studies and research. The qualified candidates can apply for jobs of a music teacher or instructor in schools. It can land a career in the music and film industry as well. This degree is particularly for those students who want to pursue a career through their passion for music.
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