2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

MUSS2020 Interpreting Music

20 creditsClass Size: 111

Module manager: Dr Edward Venn
Email: e.j.venn@leeds.ac.uk

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

Year running 2017/18

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 introduces students to major trends in contemporary analysis. It is divided into two ten-week blocks, each of which cumulatively build skills and techniques. The module foregrounds analytical questions and the ways in which analytical methodologies might be constructed in order to answer them. The specific focus of these blocks will be announced each year; indicative content includes, but is not limited to:

- the analysis of tonal music, with specific reference to classical instrumental music and Anglo-American popular music.
- Schenkerian Analysis
- Formenlehre and recent approaches to popular music
- Semiotic, narrative, critical, hermeneutic, and sociological approaches.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	20	1.00	20.00
Independent online learning hours			20.00
Private study hours			160.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Because analytical methodologies differ, so too do the teaching methods used to deliver them. For this reason you will find in this module that a range of study methods are used to support the lectures. These methods include seminars and online resources that you are required to study independently. Full details of the supporting methods will be given in the module handbook each year.

Typical weekly study in addition to the lectures is thus:

1 hour in the seminars or engaged in online learning using resources on the VLE (as directed)

plus private study:
2.5 hours preparing for the lectures (this might include listening to set works, podcasts, reading etc.)
2.5 hours preparing for seminars/completing on-line formative assessments

This gives 5 hours per week private study = 100 hours

Preparation for assessment:

• Typically, this should be allocated proportionally to the assessment
o 20 hours – Assessment 1
o 40 hours – Assessment 2

• This gives a total of 60 hours preparation for assessment

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will be monitored on a weekly basis, either in seminars or through completion of on-line tests and responses to discussion forums, padlets etc

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	Analytical Assignment (equivalent to 1800-2200 words)	40.00
Assignment	Analytical Assignment (equivalent to 2700 - 3300 words)	60.00
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: 04/10/2017

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