| Unit name | Ensemble Performance |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MUSI30131 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Scott |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites | |
| Co-requisites |
Students must combine this unit with MUSI30066 or MUSI30061, with the same instrument/voice being assessed in both units. |
| School/department | Department of Music |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit is for suitably-qualified students who wish to offer ensemble performance as an element within their final-year study. Through a variety of teaching contexts, including individual instrumental or vocal lessons and ensemble coaching, it aims to develop technical and interpretive abilities to a high level, sufficient to carry off a public ensemble concert, organised by the ensemble in a Bristol venue beyond the university.
Challenging repertoire will be examined alongside appropriate stylistic considerations for its presentation (including an awareness of historically-informed styles of performance). Each ensemble is required to include in the public concert one 5-7 minute piece by a current student at the University of Bristol, which they will commission.
Students will be responsible for generating their own ensembles, and all members of these ensembles must be taking the Ensemble Performance unit. Each ensemble will comprise three or more people. Both jazz and classical styles can be accommodated. Each ensemble will be assessed as a unit, with all members of that ensemble receiving the same unit mark.
On successfully completing this unit, a student will demonstrate their ability to:
1. Collaboratively organise, prepare and present a 30 minute public ensemble concert with confidence and professionalism
2. React positively and constructively to criticism of their ensemble performance
3. Develop music interpretation skills in a collaborative context
workshops: Two hours of intensive specialist coaching for each ensemble from professional musicians, attended by all students taking the unit. Two 2-hour staff led workshops, setting up the unit expectations and monitoring progress.
Weekly departmental concerts, demonstrating good practice to the students (22 hours across the year)
44 hours of participation in departmentally-run choirs or ensembles (Symphony Orchestra, University Singers, or Choral Society)
Students also taking MUSI30061 on the same instrument will receive 2 additional hours of individual instrumental tuition. Students also taking MUSI30066 on the same instrument will receive 4 additional hours of individual instrumental tuition.
Assessed coaching session. (ILO 2 and 3; 20%)
A video of a 30 minute public ensemble concert in a venue outside the university. The students are responsible for organising and publicising their ensemble’s concert, and for commissioning a suitable student to video it using the department’s recording equipment. The group's practical organisation skills (as evidenced by the smooth running of the concert event, presentation to the department of their programme and evidence of publicity materials, and their communications with the Music department) will be taken into account in the mark, as well as the quality of the performance itself (ILOs 1 and 3; 80%).
• Brendel, A., Musical Thoughts and Afterthoughts (London, 1980)
• Dunsby, J., Performing Music: Shared Concerns (London, 1993)
• Le Huray, P., Authenticity in Performance (Cambridge, 1990)
• Rink, J. (ed.), The Practice of Performance: Studies in Musical Interpretation (Cambridge, 1995)
• Stowell, R. (ed.), Performing Beethoven (Cambridge, 1994)
• J.Rink (ed.), Musical Performance: A Guide to Understanding (Cambridge, 2003)
