| Unit name | Composers and Performers |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MUSIM0055 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Pickard |
| 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 |
None |
| School/department | Department of Music |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
Composers write music to be performed; and performers, in most historical periods, have applied much of their time to performing new music. This unit helps today’s composers and performers understand and develop that relationship. It builds the professional skills and attitudes needed for composers to find performers for their music, and performers to find composers to commission; productive collaboration to enrich the creative processes; delivery of high-quality scores and materials from the composers; mutually supportive and respectful rehearsal; and responsible and committed realisation by performers. During the unit, composers will create new music balancing these practical concerns with the growth of their technical and creative skills and individual voice; and performers will gain experience of crafting meaningful interpretations, and solving the technical and expressive demands, of music which they are the first to perform.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit builds on Research Skills for Musicians, Readings and Repertoires 1 and 2, and your other units, to bring your learning and your creative work into very practical focus. For students on the Composition pathway, the unit is mandatory. It develops the professional attributes expected in your MA portfolio and to support your career. For students on the Performance pathway, this unit is optional but strongly encouraged. It builds understanding of the languages and working methods of new music, and gives students practical experience with composers and in conjunction with professional guest performers. It supports the inclusion of new music in your MA recitals, and enhances your career options as a performer.
An overview of content
This unit is intended to help composers develop the core skills needed to organise and work out a composition from conception to delivery of performance materials; for performers, to develop an interpretation of new music from first encounter to performance; and for productive composer-performer collaboration during this process. For composers, the main focus of the unit is not upon composing techniques (these are addressed in other units within the programme) but upon the practicalities of producing new music that can be performed by other musicians. The unit addresses contemporary ‘art music’ (it does not cover film music or jazz/pop) and deals with fully notated scores. We will focus on chamber music in order to facilitate study of instrumental usage and ensemble design. We also cover elements of repertoire, instrumentation and, where appropriate, conducting. A study of the contemporary new music scene and the profession will provide orientation on your prospects outside of the University. During the unit, composers create several new pieces working with student performers — those on the performance pathway taking this unit, and other high-calibre student performers — and culminating in a commissioned piece for workshop / recording with a professional guest ensemble. Performers work with the composers and alongside our professional guests. Composers and performers both learn to make good basic recordings of their music.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will have extensive knowledge of contemporary music notation, idiomatic instrumental technique, and professional standards of presentation, across a varied repertoire. You will understand the rationales for these conventions, and how they serve artistic creation. You will enhance this understanding through collaborative practice. You will have experience of applying this knowledge by composing or interpreting new original work.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to:
Tutor-led seminars on core topics and example repertoire. Tutor-led workshops, and student/professional demonstration of instruments and techniques. Student-led collaboration on creative work-in-progress and in rehearsal. Independent study of repertoire and techniques. Individual work on composing and private practice. Individual tutorials.
Tasks which do not count towards your unit mark but are required for credit (zero-weighted):
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Each project assesses aspects of ILOs 1 and 2. The projects individually and cumulatively assess ILOs 3-6. Each performer is assessed on c. 20-25 minutes of music in total.
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. 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. MUSIM0055).
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.
