Designed in discussion with a range of musical directors and musical theatre professionals throughout Britain and the US, this curriculum includes master classes and extended seminars from industry professionals from both sides of the Atlantic; MD students collaborate from the start with performance students and the course includes extensive professional advice about the business, an industry placement and the chance to MD a production; at the heart of the programme is an ongoing core class/lab that covers professional practice, technical knowledge, enhancing communication and solving creative problems; weekly technique classes in keyboard, scoring and arranging, working with singers and the fundamentals of conducting/rehearsal technique will run throughout the course; with support and advice from the Programme Leader, students also undertake a professional placement during the year; independent study allows for the building of repertoire and exploration in working on original material with writers and performers; the year culminates with students serving as a full member of a creative team on a musical production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.