| Unit name | Choral and Orchestral Ensemble Performance |
|---|---|
| Unit code | UNIV10011 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Pickard |
| Open unit status | Open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Technical knowledge of music and proficiency on an instrument or voice, usually to the level of Associated board grade 8 or equivalent. Pre-requisites will be assessed during an audition at the start of TB1. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
n/a |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
n/a |
| School/department | Department of Music |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This Open Unit allows you to work as part of a university-wide musical ensemble led by highly experienced members of staff. Alongside performers from across the University, you rehearse and publicly perform as part of a large choral or orchestral ensemble, building several core competencies of practical musicianship. You will learn to work collaboratively as well as independently and be prepared to respond quickly and in an informed way to the challenges of musical practice, in rehearsal and performance.
Through a variety of teaching contexts, including performance rehearsals and workshops, this unit will deepen your appreciation of technique and its musical application in ensemble performance. You will learn about established as well less familiar repertoire, raise your stylistic awareness (including an awareness of historically informed styles of performance, where appropriate), be introduced to performance presentation, and hone your skills of co-operation with other musicians in an ensemble context.
Following an audition process, you will be offered a space in the appropriate staff-led university ensemble. Instrumentalists will be offered a place in a choir if they do not gain a place in the University Symphony Orchestra.
This unit will prepare you to engage in future Music opportunities within the University and also in a manner that invites and involves the wider local community.
An Overview of Content
Through a variety of teaching contexts, including performance rehearsals and workshops, this unit will deepen your appreciation of technique and its musical application in ensemble performance. You will learn about established as well less familiar repertoire, raise your stylistic awareness (including an awareness of historically informed styles of performance, where appropriate), be introduced to performance presentation, and hone your skills of co-operation with other musicians in an ensemble context.
You will gain experience and understanding in how ensemble performance can be a site of cross-cultural understanding within the University's student communities and beyond, and how a continuned engagement with music making can help you take a proactive approach to your wellbeing.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit, you will be able to
All ensembles normally have weekly sessions during teaching weeks, consisting of ensemble-wide rehearsals and section-specific workshops, as appropriate. The public concerts form an essential part of your learning. Depending on the ensemble, there will be at least two public concerts per academic year.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Non-credit-bearing formative tasks in regular full ensemble rehearsals as well as smaller-sized workshops, such as sectional rehearsals and individual practice of specified materials, will prepare you for a series of successful public performances.
One formative task will be a student submission of a brief reflection on what they have learned in rehearsals and concerts and how music can embed the University within the city's wider local context (0%, required for credit) [ILOs 2 and 4]
Tasks which count towards your unit mark
Public Concerts and monitored rehearsal attendance and participation (100%) [ILOs 1-3]
You will demonstrate successful participation in your allocated ensemble in regular public concerts. Depending on the ensemble, there will be at least two concerts across the academic year. Your successful participation in these concerts and the rehearsals preparing for them will demonstrate learning outcomes 1-3.
When assessment does not go to plan
If you qualify for reassessment, you will usually be required to do a pass/fail performance recital during the reassessment period. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
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. UNIV10011).
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.
