Overview

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

Length Guidelines: • Dissertation: around 15,000 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 18-22 minutes in performance (20–25 minutes for popular music and film submissions), 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: for students taking MMus Performance, a public performance of around 50–60 minutes’ duration (excluding breaks), together with a programme note • 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 commentary are marked as a single item of assessment)

The course content will be dictated by the student’s chosen field of study and area of interest. First a project plan is submitted, then the student completes the project under the supervision of a staff member in a relevant area.

Length Guidelines: • Dissertation: around 15,000 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 18-22 minutes in performance (20–25 minutes for popular music and film submissions), 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: for students taking MMus Performance, a public performance of around 50–60 minutes’ duration (excluding breaks), together with a programme note • 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 commentary are marked as a single item of assessment)

Assessment Strategy

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 (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 (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

• Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of concepts and techniques in their chosen field of study.

• 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.

• Demonstrate originality of thought and/or creative independence.

• Demonstrate that they can execute and submit an extended piece of work that shows a detailed knowledge of the field of study in question.

• Demonstrate the ability to sustain an argument (written and/or musical) and to communicate persuasively and coherently.

• Demonstrate the ability to think critically, independently and evaluatively.

• Illustrate a variety of skills in the chosen field of study.