Module Catalogue 2024/25

MUS2195 : Professional Practice for Music

MUS2195 : Professional Practice for Music

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Jane Nolan
  • Owning School: Arts & Cultures
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module provides a basic knowledge of arts and music professional practices and offers the opportunity to develop skills as preparation for future careers in music, in particular self managed and portfolio careers. In addition to gaining appropriate knowledge and developing skills through a lecture and speaker programme, the module provides the opportunity to practice those skills through putting on a music related event, working in small teams.

The first semester will provide key learning through a programme of lectures, supporting materials, workshops and activities, including talks by visiting speakers. Students will form teams and begin generating, researching and evaluating ideas for their events. The programme would normally include:
Working in music – perspectives provided by musicians and people working in a variety of roles within the music industry
Entrepreneurship in a music context
Marketing and promotion
Finance and realising value
Team working and collaboration
Creative problem solving, idea generation, negotiation
Intellectual property and copyright, including royalty collection systems.

The second semester will be spent working in teams to organise and carry out an event, mentored by the module leader. This is supported by workshops, lectures, resources and activities concerning practical aspects such as presentation skills, risk assessment, an introduction to self-employment, tax and legal aspects.

Assessment will consist of an essay in semester 1, and a group presentation and reflective report in semester 2.In addition regular participation in the learning and teaching activities of the module and the team work associated with the events is deemed to be a crucial indicator of engagement with the module.

Outline Of Syllabus

The first semester will provide key learning materials, including lectures, supporting materials, workshops and activities, including talks by visiting speakers. Students will form teams and begin generating, researching and evaluating ideas for their events. The programme would normally include:

Working in music – perspectives provided by musicians and people working in a variety of roles within the music industry
Entrepreneurship in a music context
Marketing and promotion
Finance and realising value
Team working and collaboration
Creative problem solving, idea generation, negotiation
Intellectual property and copyright, including royalty collection systems.

The second semester will be spent working in teams to organise and carry out an event, mentored by the module leader. This is supported by lectures, supporting materials, workshops and activities concerning practical aspects such as presentation skills, risk assessment, an introduction to self-employment,tax and legal aspects.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of this module students who have successfully completed the module should have gained:

1 A basic knowledge of arts and music professional practices
2 A basic knowledge of contracts, key aspects of self-employment (including invoices and taxation), royalty collection systems and how to access support and advice on these areas in the future
3 A critical understanding of how to work with the media; publicity and marketing

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of this of the module students who have successfully completed the module should have gained practical and organisational skills, such as:

1. Self-awareness and self-reflection, to identify your strengths and areas for development, interests and motivations
2. Networking and negotiating skills
3. Team working
4. A creative approach to problem solving and developing new ideas and applying these within a business context
5. Report writing

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials20:301:00Pre-recorded learning materials (online, non-synchronous)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture142:0028:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyProject work140:0040:00Team-working on project
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops32:006:00Activities; skills practice
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery21:002:00Either present in person or on Zoom
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1123:00123:00Directed research, reading, assessment prep
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

In semester 1 Learning and teaching resources including lectures, supporting materials, workshops and activities involving the module leader and visiting speakers from the music industry and arts organisations provide you with information about organisations in the professional world, and the practicalities of making a living through an involvement in music.

In semester 2 organising an event provides the practical hub of the students learning experience. Students will work in small teams generated from within the module to organise an event. This will facilitate problem based learning with students gaining practical insight and direct experience of organisation, negotiating, networking, public relations, marketing and budgeting

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Oral Presentation152A1010 minute group presentation with 5 minutes questions at the end
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay1A40Submission of essay (1800 words) to lecture content
Reflective log2A50Individual reflective report (1800 words)
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Rationale and relationship of assessment methods to learning outcomes:
a) Essay reflects engagement with the course and critical awareness of enterprise and entrepreneurship within the context of music and in relation to establishing a music career/creative practice
b) Presentation demonstrates contribution to the event planning process; the reflective report demonstrates individual learning and report writing skills
Formative feedback on an essay plan (Semester 1) and a report plan (Semester 2) will be offered.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.