Skip to main content

Unit information: Advanced Technical Studies in 2022/23

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Unit name Advanced Technical Studies
Unit code MUSIM0042
Credit points 20
Level of study M/7
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Scott
Open unit status Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)

None

Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)

None

Units you may not take alongside this one
School/department Department of Music
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

The unit continues and develops students' education in music theory, style analysis and pastiche composition beyond the undergraduate first and second year 'Technical Studies' units. The unit explores a specific historical/stylistic repertoire from Western music history in three different ways:

  • Through the exploration of the musical material and compositional procedures of the music of that repertoire;
  • through the analysis of representative pieces or movements;
  • through pastiche exercises in the style in question.

The choice of period and repertoire may change from year to year, and either builds on Technical Studies at level C, or widens the range of students' technical experience through the exploration of repertoires further away from the 'common-practice period' (medieval, renaissance or early baroque music; styles of Western popular music). Unit aims: This unit aims to introduce students to the study of musical material, compositional procedures, style analysis and pastiche composition and/or improvisation of a repertoire in greater detail than our levels 4 and 5.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to: 1. understand the range of musical material (with regard to features such as harmony, rhythm, melody, polyphony, voice-leading, texture, phrase structure) typical for the repertoire in question; 2. understand typical ways of developing basic musical material into extended, coherent musical structures; 3. understand the relation between the surface of the musical style in question to underlying structural principles; 4. analyse pieces of movements with regard to their use of musical material and structures; 5. compose pastiche pieces/movements or improvisations in the style in question.

How you will learn

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including seminars, tutorials, and self-directed exercises.

How you will be assessed

Four coursework exercises, two of which count towards the coursework mark. All exercises, however, must be completed and handed in on time for the award of credit points. At the end of the unit: an extended final assignment. The final mark for the unit will be reached in the following way:

  • Two coursework exercises: 25% each
  • Extended final assignment: 50%

Successful attainment of learning outcomes 1-2 (see below) will enable students to demonstrate learning outcomes 4 and 5.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MUSIM0042).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

Feedback