MUS1001 : Essentials of Music Theory
- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Dr Paul Fleet
- Owning School: Arts & Cultures
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
This module is designed for students new to music theory. The module will enable them to recognise, notate and compose features of music essential to common practice tonality. By the close of the module the student should have achieved a level of attainment equivalent to ABRSM Grade 5 Theory.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module begins with an exploration of written musical materials both by hand and by digital notation software, moving onto nomenclature and terminology, clefs and pitches, key signatures, primary and secondary triads, modulations and key triangles, transposition, time signatures and metric rhythms, four voice (SATB) harmony, Roman numerals and figured bass, and three chord cadences.
Within these scheduled learning and teaching activities, there will be also be Take Away Learning Exercises (TALEs) where students will learn and practice aural skills through embodied learning strategies. The themes of these workshops will begin with intervals, and move onto rhythm, melody, bass, harmony and the short score.
Finally, students will also undertake an E-Learning journey, using the software Musition (with a specifically created online curriculum authored by the module leader) in support of the weekly lectures to enable the students to practice and embed their skills outside of the immediate learning environment, and to monitor their own learning gain through weekly and incremental formative assessments.
Teaching Methods
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 9 | 2:00 | 18:00 | Inbetween sessions - reflect on learning outcomes and skills in relation to the assessment |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 8 | 2:00 | 16:00 | Asynchronous online lecture material with associated tasks. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Introductory online video/lecture and materials |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 9 | 2:00 | 18:00 | Weekly - expected to practice handwritten & digital notation skills |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 1 | 0:30 | 0:30 | Introductory online video by the student introducing themselves to the learning group. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured non-synchronous discussion | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Asynchronous online learning using the MUS1001 customised package Musition |
| Guided Independent Study | Reflective learning activity | 9 | 0:30 | 4:30 | Asynchronous. Related to aural training learning exercises demo'd in online lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 26:00 | 26:00 | Used by student to analyse and evaluated learning & create from skills being explored |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Synchronous online lecture talk with discussion of the associated tasks. |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
To bring a student up to a level of conversational music theory and literacy and to be able to pass a Grade 5 ABRSM Music Theory paper the lectures, workshops, and on-line delivery of materials targets the students’ different modes of ‘learning and performing’ (following the Eduardo Briceño pedagogical model) inside and outside of the classroom. The curriculum is devised to enable the student at the close of the twelve weeks to be able to communicate, construct and create musical materials with their peers in a professional and/or undergraduate academic environment.
Assessment Methods
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case study | 1 | A | 100 | This will be a take away paper that will assess the intended knowledge outcomes 1-5, and the intended skill outcomes 1 -7. |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | A | These will be weekly assessments undertaken on the software package Musition. |
| Written exercise | 1 | M | Intended Skill Outcome 8 to 10 explored & demonstrated during synchronous online activity |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The students are being tested on their abilities to write music (by hand and by software), talk about music using the correct terminology, listen and comprehend musical materials, and then close the circle by writing and writing-about the materials to which they have just listened. The rationale is to enable the student to engage with music theory and literacy to a standard that then enables them to work with other literate musicians.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MUS1001's Timetable