| Unit name | Further Technical Studies (Postgraduate) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MUSIM0054 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Scott |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
MUSIM0042 Advanced Technical Studies |
| School/department | Department of Music |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
The unit develops your training in music theory, style analysis and pastiche composition and aims at allowing you to engage with musical repertoires through the combination of analysis and imitation, which will strengthen your understanding of historical repertoires and your ability to create music in a particular style.
The unit explores a specific historical/stylistic repertoire from Western music history. The choice of period and repertoire may change from year to year, and explores examples from 18th- and 19th-century Western art music, or widens the range of students' technical experience through the exploration of repertoires further away from the 'common-practice period' (e.g. medieval, renaissance or early baroque music; styles of Western popular music).
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The unit is suitable for MA students who already have a foundation in musical notation and basic music theory, but who have not yet had the opportunity to study or practise formally how knowledge of the musical procedures and structures typical for a particular repertoire can be brought together and understood through pastiche composition.
An overview of content
The unit focuses on the theory, stylistic features and structures of a musical repertoire (repertoires studies vary from year to year - please see above under 'Unit Information') in three different ways:
What difference will the unit make?
The unit will advance your knowledge in music theory, the analysis of music of different repertoires and styles and your ability to compose music in those styles. This will equip your analytical toolbox, improve your historical understanding of different musical styles and your compositional ability through the application of your insights in pastiche compositions.
Learning outcomes
1. demonstrate an understanding of the range of musical features (such as harmony, rhythm, melody, polyphony, voice-leading, texture, phrase structure) typical for the repertoire in question; and also incorporate extended chords and techniques
2. demonstrate an understanding of typical ways of developing basic musical material into coherent musical structures; creating idiomatic and authentic pieces
3. demonstrate an understanding of the relation between the surface of the musical style in question to underlying structural principles;
4. analyse shorter pieces or movements with regard to their use of musical material and structures
5. compose pastiche extracts or short pieces/movements in the style in question in the final exercise, embellishing an example of their own choosing under tutorial guidance.
Teaching will be delivered through lectures, dedicated tutorials and self-directed exercises.
You will study the theory of the repertoires in question, analyse representative pieces and compose pastiche exercises in the respective styles. The unit will be taught alongside MUSI20099 Further Technical Studies and will share lectures with that unit, but students studying the M-level unit will have dedicated tutorials throughout the teaching block. Your own activity in self-directed exercises is crucial for the unit in order to be able to translate demonstrations and examples from the lectures into your analyses and pastiche compositions.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Three projects, equally weighted, the first two submitted over the course of the teaching block and the final one submitted in the assessment period at the end of the teaching block (ILOs 1-5).
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MUSIM0054).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
