2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

MUSS2020 Interpreting Music

20 creditsClass Size: 111

Module manager: Dr Clive McClelland
Email: C.McClelland@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

Pre-requisite qualifications

Normally a pass in MUSS1020

Pre-requisites

MUSS1020

Understanding Music

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module seeks to introduce students to a variety of more advanced strategies for understanding music at Level 2, building upon the core matter covered in MUSS1020, but moving toward approaches which take an increasingly interpretative stance, rather than ones based upon accurate taxonomy. You will explore both classical instrumental works as well as Anglo-American popular music.

Objectives

The module seeks to introduce students to a variety of more advanced strategies for understanding music at Level 2, building upon the core matter covered in MUSS1020, but moving toward approaches which take an increasingly interpretative stance, rather than ones based upon accurate taxonomy.

Learning outcomes
Subject-specific
On successful completion of this module, students may be expected to…

• (SS1) Have demonstrated a developing engagement with increasingly complex musico-interpretative strategies, appropriate both for specific repertoires and for broader application;
• (SS2) Show an ability to apply the same strategies to musics (both familiar and unfamiliar) appropriately;
• (SS3) Evidence a more advanced understanding of musico-analytic terminology, building on the foundations developed at Level 1;
• (SS4) Have the capability to draw strong and cogent links between the techniques and strategies developed in this module and musics covered in the programme as a whole (this is not directly assessed in this module, but is nevertheless a core learning outcome)

Generic
On successful completion of this module, students may be expected to…

• (G1) Demonstrate a developing understanding of analytical modes of thought, which is to say the representation of complex information in a particular sign system (either the aural or written traces of music, in this case) in another format;
• (G2) Have a strong understanding of the relationship between in-class work, self-directed study and the ‘final’ scholarly product of published work (such that chains of information, in broad terms, are better understood);
• (G3) Have a developing ability to utilise graphical information (such as analytical tables and graphs) to communicate their thinking in more efficient modes

Syllabus

The module concerns the analysis of tonal music, with specific reference to classical instrumental music and Anglo-American popular music. The module foregrounds analytical questions and the ways in which analytical methodologies might be constructed in order to answer them: Schenkerian analysis, Formenlehre and recent approaches to popular music analysis are all examined in depth. Complementing these approaches, the module will also consider the ways in which analytical findings might be interpreted. Here, semiotic, narrative, critical, hermeneutic, and sociological approaches will inform interpretative responses to musical texts.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	20	1.00	20.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			170.00
Total Contact hours			30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Preparation for timetabled sessions:
Semester 1
• In preparation for the lecture, your time should typically be spent as follows:
o 2.5 hrs: completing set tasks (e.g. reading); listening to relevant extracts via playlists
• In preparation for the seminar, your time should typically be spent as follows:
o 3hrs – preparing for seminar; familiarizing yourself with extracts; completing exercises; preparing any questions you might have

Semester 2:
• Prior to the lecture, your time should be typically be spent as follows:
o 2 hrs – listening to the pre-lecture podcasts
o 2 hrs – preparing the seminar exercises, listening to relevant extracts via playlists
• After the lecture, your time should typically be spent as follows:
o 1 hr - Reviewing sample answers related to the lecture content
o 0.5 hrs - Completing on-line exercises

This means that each week you have roughly 5.5 hours of preparation work
5.5 hours x 20 weeks = 110 hours preparation

Preparation for assessment:

• Typically, this should be allocated proportionally to the assessment
o 10 hours – Assessment 1
o 20 hours – Assessment 2
o 30hours – Assessment 3
• This gives a total of 60 hours preparation for assessment

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Semester 1:
Following each lecture session will be a large-group seminar (the class being divided into two for these purposes), in which practical exercises will be carried out in groups following the model(s) presented during the lecture. Members of academic staff will lead these seminar sessions, helping students to develop their work and commenting upon progress.
Semester 2:
Following each lecture session there will be an optional on-line test on the VLE that provides formative feedback. These tests can be taken multiple times, and do not count towards the overall grade for the module.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	On-line assessment equivalent to 750 words	20.00
Essay	analytical essay (analytical diagrams plus 500–1000 word commentary)	30.00
Essay	analytical essay (analytical diagrams plus 1000–1500 word commentary)	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 02/08/2016

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD