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Programme code | 1MUSI007U |
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Programme type | Joint Honours (UG) |
Programme director(s) |
Emma Hornby (Music)
James Hawkey (HiPLA) |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
School/department | Department of Music |
Second School/department | Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups |
Music (2019) (benchmark statement)
Languages, Cultures and Societies (2023) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
Music:
The programme aims to give a wide understanding of the European musical tradition from medieval times to the present day.
The programme provides an intellectual training through study of the historical, technical, analytical, compositional and performance aspects of music, examines contemporary cultural and social settings for music and provides opportunities for the acquisition of a broad range of intellectual, critical and creative skills in preparation for:
a career in the musical professions (including performance)
employment in a wide range of other musical and non-musical contexts
further study at postgraduate level.
Portuguese
The programme provides the opportunity to study the language, literature society, culture, politics and history of Portuguese and another subject.
For the Portuguese programme:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Acquisition of knowledge through lectures, seminars, tutorials and directed reading with emphasis, where appropriate, on primary materials and their interpretation. Independent learning is pursued through written coursework, supervised research projects and individual practice/rehearsal, as appropriate, for Performance units. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Examination (Level C/4 'Historical Studies'; Level I/5 'Approaches to Music History I' & Approaches to Music History II'; Level I/5 & H/6 split-level music-history options Coursework (Level C/4 'Historical Studies'; Level C/4 'Technical Studies I' & 'Technical Studies II'; Level C/4 'Practical Studies: Instrumentation and Conducting' (instrumentation coursework); Level C/4 'Composition'; Level I/5 and Level H/6 'Further Technical Studies' and 'Advanced Technical Studies'; Level I/5 'Compositional Strategy', 'Studio Composition Live' and 'Writing for Orchestra'; Lecel I/5 'Performance' (logbook); Level I/5 'Transcription and Editing'; Level I/5 & H/6 split-level music-history and analysis options; Level H/6 Extended Study Performance' (programme notes) The following units are wholly assessed by coursework submissions (written exercises, dissertation or portfolio): Level C/4 'Criticism and the Arts'; Level I/5 & H/6 options 'The Film Musical' and 'Discourses of Cultural Degeneration'; Level H/6 option 'Aesthetics and Criticism'; Level H/6 'Extended Study' (in 'Musicology', 'Composition' or 'Studio Composition'); Level H/6 'Musicology Project', 'Composition Project', 'Studio Project' and 'Editing Project' Recital or other demonstration of practical skill (Level C/4 'Practical Studies'; Level C/4 'Composition' (participation in workshops); Levels I/5 and H/6 'Performance' options) |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through seminars, tutorials, oral presentations and written assignments (essays and supervised research projects). All units are structured so as to develop the skills of analysis, bibliographical control, synthesis and critical evaluation (points 1-4). Additionally, specific units at all levels focus on other intellectual skills such as planning, problem-solving and research methods (5, 6). At all levels of the programme there are seminar settings in which students have the opportunity to develop oral presentation skills (7). Formative feedback on these seminar presentations, and tutorially in relation to written exercises provide occasions for contextual reflection (8). |
Methods of Assessment | |
All assessment tasks (written examinations, assessed coursework and supervised research projects) test powers of analysis, bibliographical control, synthesis and evaluation (points 1-4). Problem-solving (point 5) is assessed both by written examinations and coursework (written and oral). Research skills are assessed through written coursework and supervised research projects, which also provide opportunities for self-directed work (point 6). Common to the assessment of all these is the requirement for accuracy and clarity of expression (7). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Seminars and tutorials are used to develop oral communication by requiring students to engage in group discussions, make convincing individual oral presentations and act as a respondent to the presentations of others. Team-working exercises (eg seminar presentations) are integrated into specific units in each of the last two years of the programme. Written communication is developed through project assignments, regular coursework and supervised research projects, typically within the various historical options but also in Level H Aesthetics and Criticism. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessment is primarily through written media (examinations, assessed coursework, and supervised research projects) providing evidence of a variety of essential communication skills (1, 2, 4). Assessed coursework and dissertations are also used to test key skills in the following units: Level C Historical Studies I and II; Level I Core Units; Levels I and H List C options; Level H Extended Studies (3, 6,7,8). Performance skills are tested by ensemble work and solo recitals at all levels (4, 5, 6). A programme of lessons and rehearsals documented in a log book tests the ability to sustain development over time and to write reflectively about the experience (1, 4, 5, 6, 8). |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
By the end of their studies at level C, students are expected to be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the fundamental principles of musicology (including a grasp of appropriate repertoires and texts and a satisfactory level of competence in the relevant bibliographic skills) as well as an ability to apply these in written texts of different kinds; confidence in handling elements of musical notation and language (for example, intervals, rhythms, modes, metres and sonorities); competence in the memorising of musical materials sufficient to enable accurate realisation of notation in sound; where appropriate, demonstrate a degree of personal expression and creativity in practical music-making; foundational knowledge of composition (whether acoustic or studio), and including the basics of sound recording and manipulation, MIDI and notation software. The expectation is that their work may require substantial direction from members of staff at this stage (supplied tutorially and in dedicated support seminars). |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
At level I students are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge of the various sub-disciplines and their capacity to evaluate these using a variety of critical perspectives. They should also have developed a higher level of competence in the relevant technical and/or practical skills. At this stage, students should be developing a capacity for mature reflection on specific aspects of the subject and for self-directed learning (for example, through the researching and writing of approved seminar projects). It is expected that at least a part of this gradual process of absorption will occur in seminars, in which second-year students are taught together with third-years and have the opportunity to gain insight and confidence from observing the contribution of more experienced students. Composers are expected to develop a critical relationship to their evolving musical language such that a personal 'voice' can be recognized intuitively and rationalized in the specific handling of and inter-relation between musical elements. Analytical studies may play a part in the acquisition of this skill. Performers are expected to refine the technical and interpretative aspects of their craft both as soloists and in an ensemble situation. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
At level H students are expected to expand the breadth of their knowledge through their study of optional subjects and to develop further their ability to gather and assimilate information. They are expected to synthesise material in an appropriate way, engage in sophisticated critical evaluation of texts about music, construct effective and detailed arguments (both orally and in writing) that display competence in the practices, processes, techniques and methodologies that underpin musicological practice. As composers, they are expected to refine the creative imagination, lateral thinking skills, and disciplined objectification of original ideas in a practical form. As performers, they are expected to develop a sensitivity to the musical demands of pieces in a variety of styles, and/or an affinity with the relevant performance practices of one particular style, and to communicate their interpretations with confidence in a performance setting. At this level students are expected to be able to demonstrate their capacity for self-directed study using the skills acquired and developed at level C and I. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Knowledge and understanding are acquired through: lectures, seminars, tutorials, intensive language classes, directed reading, regular written coursework and practical language work (supported by the facilities of the Multimedia Centre), and a compulsory period of residence in the country or countries where the language is spoken. |
Methods of Assessment | |
A range of essay writing skills (short and extended essays). Project work. Seminar presentations. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through seminars, tutorials, oral presentations and essay writing. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Essay writing and examinations test the students' ability to analyse information and present reasoned arguments. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Seminars and tutorials are used to develop oral communication by requiring students to engage in class discussions and to give short introductory talks/presentations to initiate discussion. These oral skills are further developed in the language classes. |
Methods of Assessment | |
All units are assessed through written coursework in the form of essays of varying lengths and requirements. These require a detailed and expansive handling of literature and extensive reading in support of their conclusions. |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
Year 1 of the course has been expressly designed to lay the foundations which will allow students to fulfil the course's aims and objectives. Core units in language are geared to lead the student in the development of their language skills. Foundation units introduce students to the literature, society, culture, politics and history of Portuguese-speaking countries, with an emphasis on the modern period. The expectation is that their work may require considerable direction from members of staff at this stage. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
In Year 2 students are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge in various areas of the discipline and their capacity to evaluate their work. The themes and language readings will be of greater depth and substance. Students will develop their analytical skills, their ability to structure their work and present it fluently. They will be encouraged in group work skills through active participation in seminars and oral language classes. They will be developing a capacity for self-directed learning (for example, through the researching and writing of essays and projects). The grammatical and lexical knowledge of the Portuguese language will be tested, as will their specialist knowledge of specific periods/topics within the language, literature, society, culture, politics, history of the Portuguese-speaking world. In Year 3, students will develop their command of spoken and written Portuguese during the mandatory period of residence abroad when they either follow a formal programme of instruction at an academic institution in a Portuguese-speaking country or take up an approved placement in a business or administrative organisation in a Portuguese-speaking country. Their linguistic, critical, research and presentational skills will also be enhanced through the writing of a dissertation in Portuguese during the year. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
Students are expected to have expanded the breadth of their knowledge through the study of optional units, which are more closely linked to staff research interests and which aim to develop conceptual and methodological approaches in more complexity.Students will be expected to develop further their ability to gather and assimilate information, to synthesise these in an appropriate way, to engage in sophisticated evaluation of texts. The students' ability to assimilate and synthesise material, organise their ideas, weigh conflicting interpretations, marshal arguments, form judgements and present their thoughts in written and verbal forms with precision and clarity will be further developed. There will be an emphasis on independent learning, self-directed study and research skills. The grammatical and lexical knowledge of the Portuguese language will be tested, as will their specialist knowledge of specific periods/topics within the language, literature, society, culture, politics and history of the Portuguese- speaking world. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
UG Workload Statement
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. Programmes are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual research-based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive. At the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing and it is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Most programmes use credits and a 20 credit unit broadly equates to about 200 hours of student input. This includes all activities related to the teaching, learning and assessment of taught units.
A component of this is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes activities such as lectures, laboratories, tutorials and fieldwork. Some of this activity may be online and could consist of activity that is synchronous (using real-time environments such as Blackboard Collaborate) or asynchronous (using tools such as tutor moderated discussion forums, blogs or wikis).
In some programmes there are field courses and/or placements that will take place in concentrated periods of time.
Outside scheduled activities you are expected to pursue your own independent learning to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include, reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks, working on examples sheets, completing coursework, writing up laboratory notes, preparing for in-class progress tests and revising for examinations.
We recognise that many students undertake paid employment. To achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
Professional Programmes
Many undergraduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences will be following the professional programmes of:
For these professional programmes, full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week and student workload is around 40 hours per week on average. Where possible, students in the early years are permitted Wednesday afternoons for sport and extra-curriculum activities. This may not be available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through the curricula there is an increasing exposure to clinical and professional activities. Students in clinic or on placements may need to stay later than core times of 08.00 – 18.00 or even overnight to observe out-of-hours activities. This increasing exposure to clinical activities means that students on these professional programmes often have longer term dates than the University standard. Individual years within programmes are likely to vary in length (for example because of the timings of placements) and further information on this will be found in individual programme regulations. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside of the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent meaning that students will more oftentimes be engaged in revision activities and self-directed learning.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty Assessment and Feedback Statement for Undergraduate Students. University of Bristol access only.
Music:
The BA Joint Honours programme in Music and French is a full-time (4 year) programme. It requires 480 credit points including 240 from levels I and H and 120 from the year abroad. All students take 60 credits at Level C, 20 of which are Mandatory (see Section 18). The remainder of the programme (240 credit points) is made up of optional units at Levels I and H (though there are certain limitations on the combination of these). The particular permutations of credits obtainable from the Music Units are shown in Section 18 above. Credit points are awarded for satisfactory completion of each unit (ie. attendance, undertaking the prescribed exercises and passing the assessments, in accordance with current Arts Faculty regulations and ordinances). The study of a 10 credit point unit should involve 100 hours of learning effort (including contact teaching hours); the study of a 20 credit point unit should involve 200 hours of learning effort (including contact teaching hours). Virtually all aspects of the BA (Hons) programme in Music taken by Joint Honours students offer the opportunity to acquire and develop transferable skills much valued by employers, and reflected in the encouraging employment statistics relating to recent graduates.
Portuguese
The Department also offers single honours programmes in Spanish and Hispanic Studies (Spanish with Portuguese or Catalan) and through the School of Modern Languages, joint programmes in Portuguese with one of the following: Czech, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and in Spanish with one of the following: Czech, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Drama; History of Art, Philosophy and Politics.
The Department has SOCRATES links/exchanges with universities in Evora and Oporto. The University has an agreement with the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil to take students during their year abroad. Further links with Brazilian universities are being established
http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Music or e mail to m.e.peirson@bris.ac.ukand see relevant websites for Language departments.
Mandatory Unit Portuguese Language is must pass. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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List A - Take MUSI10047 and one of the Portuguese language units | |||||
Portuguese Language | HISP10302 | 40 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Portuguese Language - Post A Level | HISP10307 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Technical Studies I: Harmony and Harmonic Analysis | MUSI10047 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 | |
List B - Take HISP10015 and either MUSI10045, or MUSI10060 in list D | |||||
Music and Society 1 | MUSI10061 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Key Moments in Lusophone History and Culture | HISP10015 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 | |
List D - Choose 20CP from this list – or choose 40 CP to include MUSI10060 if you did not choose MUSI10045 in list B | |||||
Practical studies: Performance | MUSI10058 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Music and Society 2 | MUSI10060 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Composition | MUSI10059 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
List E - Take this unit only if you take HISP10307 in list A | |||||
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
Mandatory Unit HISP20302 is must pass. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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You must take at least 40CP of HISP-coded units and at least 40CP of MUSI-coded units | |||||
List A -Take 20CP or 40CP from this list | |||||
Approaches to Music History I | MUSI20142 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Portuguese Lang for Joints/ML | HISP20302 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 | |
List B - Choose 20 CP from this list. Across Lists B, C and E, you must choose at least one of MUSI20099, MUSI20141, MUSI20058, MUSI20126, MUSI20056, MUSI20124 and MUSI20047. | |||||
Further Technical Studies | MUSI20099 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Writing for Orchestra | MUSI20141 | 20 | Optional | B,E | TB-1 |
Composing Live Electronics | MUSI20126 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
African-American Music in the 20th Century | MUSI20066 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Opera & Politics | MUSI20120 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Medieval Music Palaeography | MUSI20123 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin America in the Twentieth Century: A People's History | HISP20119 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
World Cinemas: from national to transnational | MODL23016 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
General Linguistics | MODL20016 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Woman and Nation | MODL23017 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
List C - Choose 20 CP from this list. Across Lists B, C and E, you must choose at least one of MUSI20099, MUSI20141, MUSI20058, MUSI20126, MUSI20056, MUSI20124 and MUSI20047. | |||||
Performance | MUSI20058 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Transcription and Editing | MUSI20056 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Composing Live Electronics | MUSI20126 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
African-American Music in the 20th Century | MUSI20066 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Music in Soviet Russia 1917-1991 | MUSI20073 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Music in Times of War | MUSI20119 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Catalan Language (Elementary) | MODL23014 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Czech Language (Elementary) | MODL23015 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Woman and Nation | MODL23017 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Introduction to teaching Modern Languages as Foreign Languages | MODL20021 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Beginners Portuguese | MODL20022 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Migrations of Culture | MODL20024 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
List D - Choose 20CP. You must choose MUSI20143 if you did not choose MUSI20142 in list A | |||||
Approaches to Music History II | MUSI20143 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Languages of the Iberian Peninsula | HISP20088 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Introduction to Latin American Cinema | HISP20114 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
List E - Choose 20 CP from this list. Across Lists B, C and E, you must choose at least one of MUSI20099, MUSI20141, MUSI20058, MUSI20126, MUSI20056, MUSI20124 and MUSI20047. | |||||
Performance | MUSI20058 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Compositional Strategy | MUSI20047 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Transcription and Editing | MUSI20056 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Music recording and production | MUSI20124 | 20 | Optional | E | TB-2 |
Further Technical Studies | MUSI20099 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Writing for Orchestra | MUSI20141 | 20 | Optional | B,E | TB-1 |
World Cinemas: from national to transnational | MODL23016 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
List F | |||||
Choose 20 CP unit from the Bristol Futures list, the UWLP list or the faculty-wide list - OR choose one additional unit from lists A-E | OPEN | 20 | Optional | ||
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
Mandatory Year Abroad units MODL20014 and MODL20015 are must pass. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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Year Abroad TB-1 | MODL20014 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR | |
Year Abroad TB-2 | MODL20015 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR | |
120 |
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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