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MU1027: PERFORMING AND COMPOSING 1 (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:06


Course Overview

This course will engage students in practical music making, developing skills in performing and composing. Students will receive 10 hours of tuition with a specialist instrumental / vocal tutor, and attend lectures on genre, performance style, composing / arranging techniques, rehearsal etiquette, and stagecraft.

In groups of 5-8 performers, students attend a series of rehearsal sessions, where they will plan and manage a group creative project, culminating in a 10-minute performance as part of a mini festival in December. 

Students will be expected to attend concerts, join an ensemble, and participate in occasional workshops.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 1
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Aaron Mcgregor

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Programme Level 1
  • Any Undergraduate Programme

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

Yes

One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.


Course Description

This course will engage students in practical music making, developing skills in performing and composing. Lectures will introduce a research-led approach to practical music, including ideas around genre, performance style, and basic compositional and arranging techniques, as well as more practical considerations around practising, rehearsal etiquette, and stagecraft.

Aligning with the University’s 2040 strategy, this course is interdisciplinary in that it brings together various aspects of music making - notably composing and performing music. Students are also encouraged to work across genre / style, and to experiment in different musical practices.

In supervised practice sessions and individual rehearsals, students will conceive a creative group project, combining work in performance, composition and musical arrangement. Students will be divided into ensembles of 5-8 performers, chosen to combine a range of instruments / voices, as well as bringing together musicians from different performance backgrounds / genres. Each group will decide on a central theme or concept, selecting, composing and / or arranging repertoire, managing a rehearsal schedule, and undertaking marketing. Groups will then present a 10-minute public performance, as part of a mini-festival at the university in December.

Students will also receive one-to-one lessons on their specialist instrument / voice (10 x 1-hour lessons per term), or they can double on two instruments with either a 70/30% or 50/50% split. Instrumental and vocal tutors will develop an individually tailored programme of study, focussing on core technical and musical skills and on gaining confidence as performers, expanding creative outlook, and individual performance interests. Instrumental / vocal tutors will submit a short progress report at the end of term, though this will not form part of the overall course grade. 

NB students on the Music Education degree who are not first study pianists will be required to take keyboard skills as a second study.

Students will be expected to attend at least 4 performances as part of the university concert series, to join and attend rehearsals with at least one university (or external) instrumental ensemble or choir, and to participate in occasional workshops / masterclasses by visiting performers and composers. 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Group Project Performance

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 80
Assessment Weeks 19 Feedback Weeks 21

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Word Count: 300

Length: 10 Minutes

 

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyGain and demonstrate enhanced competence in chosen instrument / voice, including application of basic stagecraft.
ConceptualCreateConceive and perform a 10-minute group performance.
ConceptualUnderstandCollaborate effectivity with other musicians, including working across different genres.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate an understanding of the fundamental approaches and methods in composition and musical arrangement, making effective use of musical notation.
ProceduralApplyTake part in the planning, management, and marketing of a successful group performance.

Attendance and Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 19 Feedback Weeks 21

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Attendance at 5 concerts and at least 1 ensemble. Participation in performance workshops, including masterclasses with visiting performers / composers as appropriate.

Attendance at university concerts will be taken via a register.

Students will also submit a short form outlining their attendance, ensemble activity, and any other relevant performance activities, including a short description of each (max 300 words).

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyGain and demonstrate enhanced competence in chosen instrument / voice, including application of basic stagecraft.
ConceptualCreateConceive and perform a 10-minute group performance.
ConceptualUnderstandCollaborate effectivity with other musicians, including working across different genres.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks 25 Feedback Weeks 26

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Content to be agreed with course coordinator.

Written feedback.

Word Count 2000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualCreateConceive and perform a 10-minute group performance.
ProceduralApplyTake part in the planning, management, and marketing of a successful group performance.
ConceptualApplyGain and demonstrate enhanced competence in chosen instrument / voice, including application of basic stagecraft.
ConceptualUnderstandCollaborate effectivity with other musicians, including working across different genres.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate an understanding of the fundamental approaches and methods in composition and musical arrangement, making effective use of musical notation.

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