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MU1527: PERFORMING AND COMPOSING 2 (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:04


Course Overview

Building on “Performing and Composing 1”, this course will guide students to developing their own range of interests in creative musical practice. Students will work towards a portfolio of creative outputs, which can include a range of compositions and musical arrangements, and recordings of solo / ensemble performances.

Students receive 10 hours of one-to-one tuition on their chosen instrument / voice, and attend lectures and tutorials focussing variously on issues related to performance, composition, and music technology.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 1
Term Second 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?

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

Building on “Performing and Composing 1”, this course will guide students to developing their own range of interests in creative musical practice. Students will work towards a portfolio of creative outputs, which can include a range of compositions and musical arrangements, and recordings of solo / ensemble performances.

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.

Students will continue to 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 in performance, expanding creative outlook, and individual performance interests. Tutors will help to select and prepare appropriate solo repertoire and will submit a short report on student progress, 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. Music Education students will be required to include at least 3 minutes of material related to keyboard skills in their portfolio.

Lectures will focus on more detailed approaches towards practice research and introducing students to a wide range of issues related to performance and composition. Topics will include setting musical goals, writing practice diaries, managing performance anxiety, interpretation and performance practice, stagecraft, compositional structures and writing effectively for different instruments and voices. There will be a music technology lecture introducing students to audio recording techniques and basic sound editing. There will be sign up slots for solo performance in lectures, and students will be given the opportunity to attend regular performance workshops.

Two tutorial sessions will give students a chance to discuss their individual creative portfolios with staff in performance and composition.  

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 and masterclasses by visiting performers / composers. 

Students wishing to progress to Performance in 2nd year will need to reach the prerequisite of C3 in the performance element of the portfolio.


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

Portfolio

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 80
Assessment Weeks 40 Feedback Weeks 42

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Written feedback, with annotated scores as appropriate.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyApply basic sound recording and editing techniques.
ConceptualApplyGain and demonstrate enhanced competence on chosen instrument / voice, with a focus on solo performance.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate an understanding of the fundamental approaches and methods in composition and musical arrangement, writing effectively for a selection of instruments and / or voices.
ReflectionEvaluateDevelop individual interests and goals as a practical musician, maintaining an effective practice regime by keeping a regular practice diary.
ReflectionEvaluateDemonstrate the ability to reflect on one’s own creative work, while taking on board advice and suggestions from peer group and teaching staff.

Attendance and Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 40 Feedback Weeks 42

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Attendance at lectures, lessons, supervised rehearsal, 4 concerts, 1 ensemble. Participation in workshops 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).

Written feedback.

 

 

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyGain and demonstrate enhanced competence on chosen instrument / voice, with a focus on solo performance.
ReflectionEvaluateDevelop individual interests and goals as a practical musician, maintaining an effective practice regime by keeping a regular practice diary.
ReflectionEvaluateDemonstrate the ability to reflect on one’s own creative work, while taking on board advice and suggestions from peer group and teaching staff.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Portfolio

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks 49 Feedback Weeks 50

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
  • A video recording (c. 7 minutes in length) of a selection of solo and / or ensemble performance. Where only ensemble repertoire is presented, the student must have a prominent role within the ensemble.
  • Scores and / or recordings (c. 3 minutes in length) of composition(s) and / or musical arrangement(s).

Written feedback and annotated scores as appropriate.

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
ReflectionEvaluateDevelop individual interests and goals as a practical musician, maintaining an effective practice regime by keeping a regular practice diary.
ReflectionEvaluateDemonstrate the ability to reflect on one’s own creative work, while taking on board advice and suggestions from peer group and teaching staff.
ConceptualApplyApply basic sound recording and editing techniques.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate an understanding of the fundamental approaches and methods in composition and musical arrangement, writing effectively for a selection of instruments and / or voices.
ConceptualApplyGain and demonstrate enhanced competence on chosen instrument / voice, with a focus on solo performance.

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