Francis Knights

Studying music without going to university Francis Knights

Traditional academic music degrees in England only date from after the Second World War, but are now the invariable way of studying the subject at tertiary level in this country, at both universities and conservatoires. Rising concerns about the cost of such study, and the uncertainty of the careers that may follow it, has left the long-term future of the subject under question. This short book suggests an alternative model of private study, which is both flexible and economical, but sufficiently rigorous and comprehensive to give the student a thorough education in music. The method describes a syllabus designed for classical music, but it could easily be adapted for the study of any other style of music, such as jazz or pop.




Francis Knights is a specialist in Renaissance and Baroque music, and his research interests include music analysis, history, source studies and performance practice. For more than 20 years he has taught at several of England's leading universities, and he is also a very active editor, conductor and recitalist.