Music and dance are an intrinsic part of the cultural life of this island being significant economically as well as artistically and socially. The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick has become a world leader in the study of these phenomena, situating music and dance in the centre of a number of critical approaches and disciplines in the study of culture and society.<br>This subject is designed to develop your academic and vocational skills. The main thrust of this subject in this context is the academic study of various music and dance practices. You will also engage in vocational studies directly relevant to music and dance. For example, you will have the opportunity to record CDs and videos, use digital media, write business plans, plan tours and organise performances.<br>You will also engage in specific academic studies in traditional music and dance, popular music and dance, histories of western music and dance, ethnomusicology, ethnochoreology, music and dance education and music and dance psychology. You will also have the opportunity to engage with the wider cultural, social and historical context of this island through a number of modules in Irish cultural studies.<br>This degree is designed to develop your performance, academic and vocational skills. To develop your performance skills you will work with resident and visiting tutors who are among the best performers in Ireland and beyond. The main bulk of performance work is solo but there is also a significant amount of ensemble work. You are encouraged to develop second performance skills making you more versatile as a performer. You will also engage in vocational studies directly relevant to traditional music and dance. For example, you will record CDs and videos, use digital media, write business plans, plan tours and organise performances. You will also engage in academic studies relevant to your performance skills in areas such as traditional music and dance studies, popular music and dance studies, histories of western music and dance, ethnomusicology, ethnochoreology, music and dance education and music and dance psychology. You will also engage with the wider cultural, social and historical context of this island through a number of modules in Irish cultural studies.