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MU3554: MAKING SPACE: SPATIAL THINKING IN MUSIC (2023-2024)

Last modified: 05 Oct 2023 08:46


Course Overview

Any sound, to be heard, needs space. To think about, write, and perform music, you need to consider the space or place where it is to be played. In this course – taught by a team of researchers in musicology, composition, performance, and sound art – you will explore ways in which to investigate, imagine, design, and realise sound-in-space.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term Second Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Suk-jun Kim

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

  • Either Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Music with Honours (Education)
  • Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

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?

No

Course Description

In this course, you will survey a range of historical and contemporary case studies that highlight spatial thinking in different artistic and cultural contexts. You will study basic theories and techniques in immersive sound design, a form of practice gaining popularity in contemporary music and art as well as in the entertaining industry. In addition, you will compose and perform pieces that explore and thematise space and place in imaginative and provocative ways. By the end of this course, you will not only acquire a keen understanding of spatial approaches in the history of music, but you will also be able to demonstrate compositional and performance techniques that make creative use of space and place, which will be further enhanced by a strong technical knowledge in immersive sound design.


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

Workshop and Seminar Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Students’ participation in and contribution to the workshops/seminars. The feedback will be given verbally during the class.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandStudents will acquire an in-depth understanding of a broad range of historical and contemporary case studies that highlight spatial thinking in different artistic and cultural contexts.
ProceduralCreateStudents will be able to compose and perform pieces that explore and thematise space and place in imaginative and provocative ways.
ReflectionCreateStudents will gain knowledge in immersive sound design, a form of practice gaining popularity in contemporary music and art, and be able to apply them to their theoretical and creative portfolio
ReflectionEvaluateStudents will acquire an understanding of spatial approaches in the history of music and form critical perspectives on how contemporary music and sound practices engage with them

Final Project Proposal via Video Presentation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 31 Feedback Weeks 33

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Feedback

The student will develop the concept for the final project and explore ways in which it is to be realised. The student will present their final project proposal via video recording. The feedback will be given in writing.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandStudents will acquire an in-depth understanding of a broad range of historical and contemporary case studies that highlight spatial thinking in different artistic and cultural contexts.
ProceduralCreateStudents will be able to compose and perform pieces that explore and thematise space and place in imaginative and provocative ways.
ReflectionCreateStudents will gain knowledge in immersive sound design, a form of practice gaining popularity in contemporary music and art, and be able to apply them to their theoretical and creative portfolio
ReflectionEvaluateStudents will acquire an understanding of spatial approaches in the history of music and form critical perspectives on how contemporary music and sound practices engage with them

Final Project

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 70
Assessment Weeks 41 Feedback Weeks 43

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Feedback
  1. The project should implement at least two out of the four modes of spatial approaches (composition, performance, sound art and technology, sound studies (musicology) (6-8 minutes long for creative outputs, or an essay (3,000 words))
  2. The creative project should be accompanied with a critical commentary of the project (1,500 words)
  3. The essay should be accompanied with a showcase of creative examples

Students can do their own project or work collaborately. The submission format will differ by the type of the submission, but generally, it should include the video documentation as well as the score/sound file, etc.

Feedback will be given in writing.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandStudents will acquire an in-depth understanding of a broad range of historical and contemporary case studies that highlight spatial thinking in different artistic and cultural contexts.
ProceduralCreateStudents will be able to compose and perform pieces that explore and thematise space and place in imaginative and provocative ways.
ReflectionCreateStudents will gain knowledge in immersive sound design, a form of practice gaining popularity in contemporary music and art, and be able to apply them to their theoretical and creative portfolio
ReflectionEvaluateStudents will acquire an understanding of spatial approaches in the history of music and form critical perspectives on how contemporary music and sound practices engage with them

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Instructor’s written feedback.

Word Count 3500
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
ProceduralCreateStudents will be able to compose and perform pieces that explore and thematise space and place in imaginative and provocative ways.
ReflectionEvaluateStudents will acquire an understanding of spatial approaches in the history of music and form critical perspectives on how contemporary music and sound practices engage with them
ConceptualUnderstandStudents will acquire an in-depth understanding of a broad range of historical and contemporary case studies that highlight spatial thinking in different artistic and cultural contexts.
ReflectionCreateStudents will gain knowledge in immersive sound design, a form of practice gaining popularity in contemporary music and art, and be able to apply them to their theoretical and creative portfolio

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