MUS1058 : Performance Studies 1
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Larry Zazzo
- 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 | |
Aims
- To develop performance skills on the individual’s chosen instrument / voice.
- To develop healthy and safe approaches to playing and singing
- To guide and assist the student to choose and prepare suitable repertoire
- To develop effective private practising procedures
- To develop reflective learning practices
- To develop critical listening skills
A series of group workshops will help students to develop basic principles of performing, including warming up, listening and constructive interaction with other musicians; effective private practising; and issues of health and safety. In particular these sessions will help students prepare for the technical assessment(held at the end of Semester 1). Students are also assigned a specialist tutor with whom they work in regular one-to-one lessons to develop technique and repertoire, concluding with a short solo recital at the end of Semester 2.
Outline Of Syllabus
Syllabus guidelines for individual study are set out in the Performance Studies Handbook and vary according to instrument or voice.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 12 | 1:00 | 12:00 | 1:1 instrumental & vocal lessons (arranged individually with tutors) |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 8 | 1:30 | 12:00 | Attendance and synchronous participation via Canvas Discussion Boards with live, weekly student concerts (minimum 4 per term--but students are encouraged to attend ALL weekly student concerts) |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 1 | 157:00 | 157:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Attendance and synchronous participation via Canvas Discussion Boards with live, weekly professional lunchtime concerts (minimum 4 per term--but students are encouraged to attend ALL weekly lunchtime concerts) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | Group Masterclasses led by Head of Studies/outside guests |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 6 | 0:30 | 3:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Group learning (masterclasses and workshops) and one to one teaching provide a focused basis for the development of performance skills on the student’s main instrument or voice and provide concentrated support and guidance for the student’s own private practice, research, listening and self-reflection, which is the core of this module. Students are encouraged to consolidate previous technical skills and also to stretch their horizons and experiences through a variety of encounters with unfamiliar genres and performance situations, including regular attendance at (and critical reflection on) student and professional concerts. Individual tutorials are offered on a drop-in basis to aid students in their practice and develop skills of self-reflection and research.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 10 | 1 | A | 20 | Interim presentation, to include technical aspects, may include a viva voce discussion |
| Performance | 12 | 2 | A | 70 | Live solo recital of 12 minutes; may be followed by a viva voce discussion [please see Assessment Rationale below for length penalties] |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective log | 2 | A | 10 | Self-assessment form. Submitted at time of final recital. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The interim presentation will require you to demonstrate the musical and technical skills you have developed during the group workshops. The end-of-year recital allows you to demonstrate musical, technical and presentational skills developed through your individual and group lessons and in private practice.
The written self-assessment form, submitted at the time of your final recital, requires you to evaluate your progress against an appropriately formulated plan of study; to explain your choice of repertoire; to document your working processes in tuition, practice and research as well as your regular participation in student performances and in workshops; and to respond critically to professional concerts you attended using your own comments from the weekly performance event Discussion Boards.
Your one-to-one tutor will also write a progress report which will be available to the assessment panel for consultation at the time of your end-of-year recital.
Recital underrun/overrun penalties:
In accordance with practice at other conservatories, the Dean has approved the use of fixed penalties in marking for recital underruns and overruns, as follows:
1.Recitals that over-run by more than 10% will lose 3 points off their final mark and will be stopped in order to try and keep to the published schedule.
2.Recitals that under-run by more than 10% but less than 20% will lose 3 points off their mark.
3.Recitals that under-run by 20% or more will lose 10 points off their mark.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MUS1058's Timetable