Overview

The course content will be dictated by the student’s chosen field of study and area of interest.

Length Guidelines: • Dissertation: 15,000–20,000 words. The word count may be reduced if the dissertation contains extensive graphical or tabular material (e.g. Schenkerian analysis); • Edition: a portfolio of notated transcriptions of works agreed with the supervisor, together with a full commentary and prose study of normally 5,000–10,000 words; • Composition (notated): one large-scale work or a portfolio of works of substantial scope, resulting in about 20–25 minutes in performance, together with a commentary of around 2,000 words; • Composition (acousmatic/sonic art): a portfolio of work of substantial scope and length, resulting in about 14–16 minutes in performance, together with a commentary of around 2,000 words; • Recital: a public performance of around 50–60 minutes’ duration (excluding breaks), together with a programme note. For students taking MA in Music with Education who choose performance as their final project, this should last around 30–35 minutes (excluding breaks), together with a programme note (the performance and the programme note are weighted at 90% and 10% respectively); • Lecture-recital: a performance of around 50–60 minutes’ duration (excluding breaks), together with a written commentary of around 2,000 words (the performance and the commentary are marked as a single item of assessment). For students taking MA in Music with Education who choose the lecture-recital as their final project, this should last around 30–35 minutes (excluding breaks), together with a programme note (the performance and the programme note are weighted at 90% and 10% respectively); • Portfolio of education materials: 15,000–20,000 words, or 20–25 minutes of music, or a proportional combination of both, or equivalent. The scope will need to be approved in advance by the supervisor; – In certain circumstances (e.g. for students following the MA Music with Education programme), it may be possible to combine more than one mode of submission in a single project, or to define a completely different mode of submission. The precise nature of such projects must be approved by a subgroup of the Board of Examiners.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Threshold (50-59)Work which displays a good grasp of factual knowledge, with adequate ability at conceptual thought, and some awareness of methodological issues (albeit limited), and showing sufficient evidence of a generally intellectual approach, with fair expression.

-good -Good (60-69)Work which displays a sound grasp of the subject, a good level of conceptual thought, awareness of methodological and other issues, with evidence of intellectual acumen and good expression.

-excellent -Excellent (70+)Work which displays a thorough grasp of the subject, with evidence of extended study, profound conceptual thought, originality of approach and excellent presentational skills.

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of the module, students will be able to Illustrate a variety of skills in the chosen field of study.

• On successful completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of a variety of concepts and techniques in their chosen field of study.

• On successful completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate enhanced research skills and demonstrating a range of appropriate research methodologies in the area of musicology, refined editorial skills in the case of an editions with commentary; evidence of a range of creative and technical abilities in the case of composition; or technical competence, control and interpretative understanding of the music in the case of performance.

• On successful completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate originality of thought and/or creative independence.

• On successful completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate that they can execute and submit an extended piece of work that shows a detailed knowledge of the field of study in question. .

• On successful completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to think critically, independently and evaluatively.

• On successful completion of the module, students will be able to develop the ability to sustain an argument (written and/or musical) and to communicate persuasively and coherently.