MMus Critical and Experimental CompositionMMus

Year 1

(Award available for year: Master of Music)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the year/programme students should have provided evidence of being able to:
• demonstrate a systematic and comprehensive understanding of the nature of and processes involved in a musical composition;
• exhibit coherent and detailed knowledge of the discipline, which is at the forefront of, or informed by, contemporary musical and aesthetic thought;
• demonstrate an ability to deploy established compositional techniques in original ways, with appropriate critical and aesthetic reflection;
• demonstrate a practical understanding of how established techniques are used to create new work in a variety of media, and both small- and large-scale forms and structures;
• adapt a range of presentational skills appropriate to their own compositional practice;
• demonstrate an understanding of the composer-performer relationship in terms of practicality;
• manage long-term musical thought in original patterns and form-building;
• to take a proactive and self-reflective role in working, through the evaluation of own and others’ ideas, and to develop professional relationships with others

Transferable (key) skills

Masters (taught), Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities, as defined in the modules specified for the programme:
• the skills necessary to undertake a higher research degree and/or for employment in a higher capacity in industry or area of professional practice;
• evaluating their own achievement and that of others;
• self direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations;
• independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development;
• critically to engage in the development of professional/disciplinary boundaries and norms.

Assessment

Achievement for the degree of Master (taught programme) will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will include:
• evidencing an ability to conduct independent in-depth enquiry within the discipline;
• demonstrating the ability to apply breadth and/or depth of knowledge to a complex specialist area;
• drawing on a range of perspectives on an area of study;
• evaluating and criticising received opinion;
• making reasoned judgements whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data.