Composition Workshop MUSIC5098

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Culture and Creative Arts
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

The course will provide students with an opportunity to develop their skills as composers, including the critical stage of rehearsing their music with professional musicians. They will develop an original composition during the semester which will be performed by a professional ensemble. Whilst in the process of creating their pieces, students will share ideas and knowledge (about working methods, repertoire, techniques) in the context of regular seminar meetings and 1-1 tutorials. 

Timetable

7 x 2 hr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus

4 x 30 minute tutorial

1 x 4 hr workshop

Requirements of Entry

Standard entry to Masters at College level

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Composition (6 mins and programme notes of 200 words) - 40%

Reflection on workshop (1000 words) - 20%

Presentation (15 mins) - 40%

Main Assessment In: April/May

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ Provide students with the opportunity to work with professional musicians in developing notated music compositions.

■ Equip students with skills relating to rehearsing and workshopping a piece with an ensemble (including oral communication).

■ Provide students with a forum for sharing knowledge about contemporary composition techniques and approaches.

■ Equip the students with a range of writing, technical and critical tools to communicate compositional knowledge and research to academic and non-academic audiences

■ Foster reflection on ideas surrounding emergent artistic identity

■ Provide guidance and support to students with the process of framing composition as research

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Prepare to professional standards a newly-composed work for chamber ensemble.

■ Communicate professionally with musicians in the context of a rehearsal.

■ Communicate compositional knowledge to non-academic audiences in accessible and clear language in the context of writing a programme note about their piece.

■ Communicate compositional knowledge to academic audiences, including the articulation of emergent research questions relevant to their work.

■ Contextualise through spoken and written formats their music in contemporary musical practices and repertoire.

■ Identify opportunities (both self-directed and driven by external partners) for future performances and commissions of new work.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.