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Psychology of Music Masters at the University of Sheffield


Hello all! Emily here.

I am a proud graduate of the Master’s programme in Psychology of Music at the University of Sheffield. I have recently been invited to write a piece reflecting on my experience of the course and post-course life. 

The fact that I remain based in Sheffield and continue to work within the Music Department five years later speaks volumes about the quality of teaching, the depth of expertise, and the genuine care shown by professors, lecturers, and support staff in enabling each student to gain the most from their studies. I can say with confidence that I would not be where I am today without having undertaken this Master’s programme.

I completed the Masters Programme in Summer 2022. For my collaborative dissertation (supervised by Prof Renee Timmers), I was partnered with Mir Jansen, the Arts Coordinator at Arts in Health (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), an organisation who provide craft activities for hospital staff, patients and visitors. We ran a project called VoiceWorks involving group singing-related technique workshops for people with inducible laryngeal obstruction (an upper airway disorder). The workshops were led by Karen Esposito (Speech and Language Therapist) and Dr. Michael Bonshor (Vocal Tutor). This project was hugely rewarding as I got to witness first hand the power of music to positively impact people's lives, socially, physically and mentally. I then published a shortened version of my Masters Dissertation to the Music and Science SAGE journal: https://journals-sagepub-com.sheffield.idm.oclc.org/doi/10.1177/20592043241251991

Once I graduated, I was encouraged to apply for a PhD to continue researching Singing for People with Respiratory Conditions, something I never thought would be possible! I am now 2.5 years into my part time PhD (alongside working as the Music and Liturgy Administrator at Sheffield Cathedral). I still get to have hands on experience observing, researching and running my own singing sessions for people with health conditions which I find hugely rewarding. I am doing something new each week and never stop learning!

I would highly recommend considering an application if you have an interest in areas such as music psychology, music and wellbeing, cognition, learning and development, or music and health.

Please feel free to share this post with anyone who may find it relevant. An additional benefit, of course, is the opportunity to live in wonderful Sheffield!!

Further information can be found here: 
https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/2026/psychology-music-ma?fbclid=IwY2xjawQv-zFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFQRmRGdEVuaDM4TUZJOVRLc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHshB859BBg8jc6whQz8JMaR24kwjjTzuxVZl-NwcNnjBchyxlin8D2xWy3JA_aem_iubfzQt1L_d97OqP3Figzw#apply

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You are also welcome to contact the Course Admissions Tutor, Stephanie Pitts: s.e.pitts@sheffield.ac.uk


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