Music

The Music pre-degree course will aim to strengthen and broaden current musical skills in preparation for undergraduate study. There will be two main areas of focus: Critical musical analysis: the cultural environment, genesis, musical legacy and reception of a chosen ground-breaking piece/composer/musical giant/musical style/specific focus (woman composer) (a), and 18th Century counterpoint (b). These investigative topics will be designed to give our students an opportunity for a higher level of musical challenge and experience in two crucial areas of undergraduate first year Music degree courses.

Lesson Outline: 2 sessions per week, 1 each for (a) and (b)

Week 1:

(a) Critical musical analysis

Discussion/selection of topics and university approach to units of work. How to begin the research How to get inside the pieces quickly Planning strategies for research and presentation model/platform

(b) 18th Century counterpoint

Selecting a subject Composing a real or tonal answer

Week 2:

(a) Critical musical analysis

Review and extend research thus far and plan the next stages with 1:1 support

(b) 18th Century counterpoint

Investigation of countersubjects Composing a countersubject

Week 3:

(a) Critical musical analysis

Planning and reviewing content/structure/quality of resources of the presentations with 1:1 support

(b) 18th Century counterpoint

Creating your exposition Ordering the entries of the subject and its answer Composing the exposition

Week 4:

(a) Critical musical analysis

Presentation of chosen topic/discussion and evaluation

(b) 18th Century counterpoint

Completion of the contrapuntal composition Evaluation

Project Outcome:

(a) Critical musical analysis: A 5-minute presentation in podcast style or PowerPoint on chosen area of study and evaluation.

(b) 18th Century counterpoint: A presentation and evaluation of 18th-century-style musical counterpoint composition.