Unit information: Extended Study: Studio in 2018/19

Unit name	Extended Study: Studio
Unit code	MUSI30060
Credit points	40
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Farwell
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Music
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Building on the technical and creative competence acquired in MUSI20057, this unit will offer an opportunity for detailed study involving hands-on use of studio technologies. Such a project might focus on (but not be limited to): recording techniques for 'classical' music; recording and production techniques for 'popular' musics; electroacoustic composition; development of software and/or hardware tools for sound transformation or interactivity; musical acoustics or psychoacoustics. The project will necessarily involve a substantial degree of independent study, but regular tutorial supervision will help focus the topic.

Aims:

This unit allows students who have identified a strong interest in pursuing electro-acoustic composition, recording or related studio practice at Levels C and I to devote themselves to producing an extended portfolio of work on an agreed topic in this area. Individual tutorial supervision will be provided as appropriate to the choice of topic and in addition, there will be small group seminars for all students taking this unit, to allow for discussion of general problematics and technical issues, discussion and presentation of ideas and work-in-progress, and formative feedback.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Successful completion of this unit will enable students to:

1. develop technical skill in an area of studio activity
2. devise and structure a complex practical project, from conception and source study, through studio activity, to finished product
3. document this process
4. demonstrate critical awareness of the relationship between your creative activity and appropriate contextualising practices and/or genres
5. present media and documentation to a high standard
6. demonstrate core skills for subsequent work in recording engineering or multimedia development; or for postgraduate study in areas such as electro-acoustic or film composition.

Teaching Information

Weekly 2 hour seminar (replaced by tutorials towards the end of the unit) 1.5 hours per week participation in department research seminar One hour per week of attending concerts within the department's concert series 44 hours of participation in group workshops and masterclasses within the Music Futures programme.

Assessment Information

Submission of an extended portfolio of recorded materials and/or computer software, according to topic agreed in tutorial (ILOs 1,2,5,6); and supporting introductory essay and critical commentary (2,3,4,5).

Reading and References

Readings, discography, computer software etc. will be identified tutorially, depending on the particular topic chosen.