Further courses
Alongside the courses taught in a single semester students may work towards the following courses, the first three listed are either taken in semester one or two or in the case of Indervidual Research Project over the whole year. The rest of the courses listed below are taken over the summer, subject to succesful completion of the taught aspects of each programme.
Special Project: Musical Acoustics and Audio Signal Processing (20 Credits)
This course for the MSc Acoustics and Music Technology Programme may be taken either in Semester One or Two. This is an independent study course for MSc students, in the area of musical acoustics and/or audio signal processing. Topics of interest are: audio synthesis, physical models of musical instruments, audio effect design and emulation.
Negotiated Taught Course (20 credits)
This course gives students the opportunity to take advantage of specialist courses offered in music or in other areas of the university. It allows them to deepen their knowledge in an existing area or to broaden their learning into an area not covered in their undergraduate study. In consultation with the MMus programme organiser students choose a 20-credit honours undergraduate course in music or in another relevant area. They also negotiate an individual learning contract with the relevant course organiser. This learning contract will ensure that learning outcomes and assessment are at the appropriate Master level.
This course may be taken either in Semester One or Two as available.
Individual Research Project (20 credits)
This is a full year course, undertaken over both Semester One and Two. This course provides an opportunity for students to undertake a limited amount of research, under supervision, into a topic of their choice, related to their programme of study. If not it will provide the student with the opportunity to undertake research in a different, but probably related, area. The topic will be chosen in consultation with the course organiser who will arrange for an appropriate supervisor. Students will be asked to present their research findings in a 20-minute seminar and an extended essay of c. 5,000 words.
MMus Dissertation (60 credits)
Students on the MMus Musicology and Musical Instrument Research programmes prepare a 15,000 word dissertation for submission in August. Students are assigned to a supervisor who will direct the research and writing-up. The dissertation should include the appropriate scholarly apparatus (such as footnoting, musical examples, tables, a properly-organised bibliography), utilising appropriate forms of word and music-processing software. As an alternative to the dissertation, Musicology students may submit an edition of a musical document which should be accompanied by a commentary of c. 5,000 words.
MMus Final Recital (60 credits)
Students on the Early Keyboard Performance Studies programme will continue to work under supervision towards a 60-minute recital in August. The programme will be chosen in consultation with the teacher and should demonstrate advanced technical and interpretative qualities appropriate to Masters level.
MMus Portfolio of Compositions (60 credits)
On satisfying the assessment requirements in coursework students proceed to prepare a portfolio of compositions for submission in August. Supervision for this continues over the summer months. The portfolio might consist of a single extended composition or of a number of contrasting pieces; it should, in any case, demonstrate a full exploration of the student’s creative horizons and clear competence in relevant technical areas. There is no requirement for an accompanying commentary.
Acoustics and Music Technology: Final Project (60 Credits)
This course comprises a supervised individual research project, in which the principles and techniques developed during the taught component of the programme are applied in an area relevant to music technology. At the start of the Project, the student and project supervisor(s) will define the topic to be addressed and develop a plan for its performance. This course centres on the execution of that plan, through to the production of a c.15,000 word dissertation describing the project and the delivery of a short presentation outlining its important features.
MSc Composition for Screen Final Project
This is a project in creating a music composition for a screen media environment. It will be a product of individual work and development. The result will culminate in a composition or musical project that can be produced and performed in a concert (e.g. film music event) or published form (e.g. YouTube video, etc.) as part of the assessment process. Work should continue to the August submission date.
Community Project and Dissertation (60 credits)
A final, supervised community music placement, combined with a related dissertation (6,000 words). Students will demonstrate their ability to successfully organise and conduct an imaginative community music project, while reflecting on the theoretical and practical issues involved and/or conducting research into the outcomes of the project.
Digital Composition and Performance: Final Project (60 Credits)
This is a project using digital sound technology that will be a product of individual working. It will result in a composition or some such similar musical work which will be performed in a concert which forms part of the assessment process. Work should continue to the August submission date.
MSc by Research in Music - Dissertation (140 Credits)
Throughout the academic year, the student will conduct research into their chosen topic, under supervision, resulting in the submission of a dissertation. Students will have carried out an extended period of research into their chosen topic and will have learned how to present the results in an appropriate scholarly way in order to produce a dissertation of approximately 25,000 words.
MSc by Research in Music - Portfolio (140 Credits)
The student will complete a number of small-scale, supervised, research-based projects either in one area of investigation, or in a number of related areas of investigation. The intention of this course is the development of appropriate research skills and the completion of small-scale projects in one area, or in a number of related areas of research. The portfolio of research-based project reports or papers will be equivalent to, but not exceeding, 25,000 words.
This article was published on Jul 27, 2011