Unit information: Individual Project in 2026/27

Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.

Unit name Individual Project
Unit code MUSI30156
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director Dr. Heldt
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

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

This unit allows you to pursue a smaller independent project in composition, studio or musicology within one teaching block, in a different field than your major project in Extended Studies, and so to develop independent projects in different fields of music.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study?

In the final year of your degree, you have developed knowledge and abilities in different fields of music and are in a position to develop and carry out independent projects. The Individual Project allows you to do that on a smaller scale and timescale than Extended Studies and to balance your focus in that unit with another project that fits your own interests and abilities. (If you do an Individual Project, you must not choose the same pathway for it as for your MUSI30157 Extended Studies project.)

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

With advice from the unit director and the intended supervisor, students will develop an independent project in composition, studio or musicology. Most of the teaching will be take place in tutorials, though there will also be seminars for the different pathways.

  • The composition pathway aims to acquaint students with a selection of recent musical developments through detailed technical and analytical study of models; application of specified techniques in exercises and workshop compositions; and self-critical reflection and constructive comment on the work of peers.
  • The studio pathway allows students to focus on one of a range of areas of studio works, such as (but not limited to): recording techniques for 'classical' music; recording and production techniques for 'popular' musics; electroacoustic composition; music for screen media; development of software and/or hardware tools for sound transformation or interactivity; musical acoustics or psychoacoustics.
  • The musicology allows students to develop a suitably sized research project in a topic of their choice, resulting in an extended essay of up to 5,000 words. Students develop the topic together with their supervisor; one-to-one tutorial supervision will be complemented by seminars for the presentation of ideas, discussion and feedback.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

The unit offers the option of developing and completing a smaller-scale project in a field of the students’ choosing, in addition to their major Extended Studies project. This allows them to complement the specialism they have chosen for Extended Studies with independent, tailor-made work in another area of musical activity and thus to broaden the range of their ability to pursue independent musical study.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to

  • 1. Plan and carry out an independent project in composition, studio or musicology;
  • 2. articulate music and/or ideas about music in the relevant form (studio work, compositions or musicology dissertation) with awareness of relevant structural and contextual aspects of the music;
  • 3. respond constructively to feedback from lecturers and peers and build it into the development of the project;
  • 4. present and communicate the results of their project in a manner that conforms to professional standards in their chosen field.

Additionally for students on the composition pathway:

  • 5. Develop and apply technical competence and imaginative quality in response to given compositional tasks as well as in suitable works for small ensemble in a way that shows knowledge of relevant aspects of key 20th- and 21st-century compositions, but also merges influences and ideas into an emerging musical voice.

Additionally for students on the studio pathway:

  • 6. Develop and make creative use of core technical and creative skills in electroacoustic composition, recording engineering, or related applications of music technology in a practical project that shows critical awareness of the relationship between creative activity and appropriate contexts and/or genres and is documented in a professional manner.

Additionally for students on the musicology pathway:

  • 7. Synthesise existing knowledge effectively, discuss it critically, arrive at appropriate conclusions about the relevant musicological issue and present the research effectively in writing and in front of an audience of peers.

How you will learn

The majority of learning will take place in individual and group tutorials. These will be complemented by workshops and seminars as required by the different pathways.

Participation of all students at the Music Department’s Creative Performance and Musicianship classes and at the Research Seminars is strongly recommended, as is participation in ensembles run by the Music Department.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)

Composition pathway: A portfolio of prescribed miniatures addressing specific musical problems (0%, required for credit [ILOs 2 and 5]

Studio pathway: An oral presentation of ca. 7 minutes (0%, required for credit) [ILOs 3, 4 and 6]

Musicology pathway: An oral presentation of ca. 10 minutes (0%, required for credit) [ILOs 3, 4 and 7]

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)

Composition pathway: A commissioned portfolio of work for agreed ensembles of ca. 10-12 minutes duration (100%) [ILOs 1-4 and 5]

Studio pathway: A portfolio of work comprising recorded materials and/or computer software, according to the agreed topic, and supporting introductory essay and critical commentary (100%) [ILOs 1-4 and 6]

Musicology pathway: An essay of 5,000 words (100%) [ILOs 1-4 and 7].

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.

Resources

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. MUSI30156).

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.