Aims

This module aims to help students:
• build on music-analytical skills acquired earlier in their studies
• deepen their understanding of the workings of music in a variety of styles and genres
• develop their ability to represent musical knowledge in written, graphical and other relevant forms

Outline Of Syllabus

This module is aimed at helping you explore the workings of music: how pieces of music hang together, how music as sound organised around events is meaningful in musical (as well as in any other) terms. The case-study approach is intended to foster coverage of various musical pieces.

Each case study is explored as a freestanding project. Projects will typically last four weeks, beginning with a lecture or plenary session, followed by one or more workshops (e.g. an extended seminar around the reading of a text; a group presentation related to the case study) and, where relevant, other types of session.

The module is intended to benefit composers, performers, creative practitioners, or students simply interested in what makes music tick. Assessment is through two portfolios, one submitted in each semester.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures introduce content and approaches for each project / case study. Workshops facilitate further study from a student perspective (as extended seminars e.g. around readings and methodologies, or in the form of group presentations). Small group teaching sessions offer short, focused group tutorials in which students receive formative feedback on assignments in progress, which are submitted as part of the summatively assessed portfolios.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Portfolio requires students to engage with the module as a whole, digesting the materials, and producing assignments in response to each project. Students, may, however, be given the opportunity to submit a selection from the majority (rather than the entirety) of the project assignments.