Director of Studies
Dr John Hopkins
The Course
Homerton College admits two or three undergraduates each year to read for the Music Tripos. John Hopkins is the Director of Studies in this subject, and is a Lecturer for the Faculty of Music. His main areas of expertise are in composition, analysis, and in 20th century and contemporary music (including jazz).
The Music Tripos, leading to the BA degree after three years, is examined each year. Part IA in the first year is a broad based course where all papers are compulsory, but also offering a choice of a short recital, a free composition or an extended essay. Part IB offers some opportunity to specialise, while for the final year, Part II, a greater number of options allow students to shape their courses more individually. The Music Tripos is described in detail in the Cambridge Admissions Prospectus, in the Music Faculty Prospectus and on the Music Faculty website (see below). Most undergraduates reading music will take all three parts of the Tripos, but there is some possibility to transfer into the course, subject to approval, usually at the beginning of the second year.
Lectures and seminars are arranged by the Faculty of Music, but the College provides excellent facilities and support for those reading the subject. There is a well-equipped library, which houses an extensive collection of CDs and scores, as well as books about music. The library also contains a large collection of chamber, choral and orchestral performance materials. Homerton College has an ample number of spaces for practice and rehearsal, and is equipped with thirteen pianos, including Steinway, Yamaha and Bluthner grands, a harpsichord and an extensive collection of orchestral percussion instruments, electronic keyboards and 2 drum kits. In addition to the Great Hall, there are several rooms where concerts and recitals can be given, and the College Music Society, which is run by the students, organises concerts and lunchtime recitals, and other less formal events, on a regular basis.
All our music undergraduates are provided with an allowance towards the cost of instrumental or vocal lessons, and a keyboard for private use in their rooms. A number of Choral Exhibitions and an Organ Scholarship are awarded each year; auditions are held in the first week of the academic year, and the resulting Charter Choir performs regularly both in College concerts and elsewhere. Pandemonium, the student-run steel pans group, is also an active element of the College's musical life, as currently, are several jazz ensembles.
Application and Interviews
Applicants are expected to be taking Music at A level (though we can certainly consider equivalent qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate and Grade 8 Theory of the ABRSM). If you are following an A Level curriculum, the usual conditions of the offer will be that you obtain specified grades at A Level: typically A*AA (without specifying which should be A*).
Those who are invited to attend for interview will have a general academic and a subject-specific interview as part of the admissions process: one interview will be with a Tutor or college officer who may well have an academic interest in one element of your subject, and the second with the Director of Studies in Music. Applicants will be asked to send in a marked essay and examples of composition work in manuscript, and if possible on disc.
We also ask applicants to take a short test in some musical skills (aural and 4-part harmony), and to look through some selected musicological text extracts and a score before meeting our Director of Studies.
Further information
