Programme Specification Single Honours: BA (Hons) Music Combin ned Honours: BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons) Valid from: January 2015 Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment
SECTION 1: GENERAL INFORMATION Awarding body: Teaching institution and location: Final award: Programme title: Interim exit awards and award titles: Brookes course code: UCAS/UKPASS code: JACS code: Mode of delivery: Mode/s of study: Language of study: Relevant QAA subject benchmark statement/s: External accreditation/recognition: (applicable to programmes with professional body approval) Faculty managing the programme: Date of production (or most recent revision) of specification: Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Single Honours: BA (Hons) Combined Honours: BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons) Music (Single / Combined Honours) Cert HE, Dip HE MD / MS W300 W300 Face to Face FT / PT English Music (2008) n/a Technology, Design and Environment January 2015 SECTION 2: OVERVIEW AND PROGRAMME AIMS 2.1 Rationale for/distinctiveness of the programme The Music degree provides a broadly-based grounding in, and diverse pathways through the subject, covering the music of the past and the present, both classical and popular, critically and creatively, through live performance and mediated through music technology, in such a way as to prepare its graduates for a life where music can be both a means of employment and a lifelong source of pleasure and intellectual challenge. 2.2 Aims of the programme
Aims of the programme The Music programme (single and combined Honours) equips students with the skills and knowledge to engage with a wide range of music through various media and creative practices; it opens new horizons into familiar and unfamiliar repertoires and places music in its social, historical and geographical contexts. Studying music enables graduates to negotiate scholarly and professional discourses confidently; to approach cultural practices with critical alertness and to reflect on cultural difference in the globalized world. Studying music enables students to become highly motivated independent learners, to build and lead teams and ensembles, and to inspire with their enthusiasm for human culture in all its diversity.
SECTION 3: PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES On successful completion of the programme, graduates will demonstrate the following Brookes Attributes: 3.1 Academic literacy detailed knowledge of, and engagement with a wide range of Western music, from the earliest notated music to the music of the present. basic theoretical knowledge of notated music and aspects of music theory sufficient to underpin further study in the course. an understanding of the relationship between notated scores and aural awareness. listening skills necessary for the understanding of music in recent technology-derived contexts, such as recording, film, and electro-acoustic music. an awareness of the relationship between textual and contextual study of music which draws on historical, social, political, and other extra-musical factors. awareness of the way in which music functions through direct engagement with aspects of music-related professions and contexts. technical and musical abilities in performance, as a soloist or in a group. a critical understanding of the practical and musical issues involved in performing at advanced level. an understanding of the contexts and associated forms of musical practice, such as art, drama, film and other technologically-derived areas. the ability to create new music, and to demonstrate an understanding of music-related information technology as the basis for creative work. an ability to create compositions and sonic art for purely-musical presentation (concert, recording), and also for interdisciplinary work, such as musical theatre, film, or other forms of collaborative art. 3.2 Research literacy engagement with scholarly research which is foundational and current in the academic institution of musicology. an ability to use a wide range of musicological sources and be able to interpret and present findings in an appropriate ways. 3.3 Critical self-awareness and personal literacy an understanding of the differences and similarities between the creation of music for purely-musical presentation (e.g. concert or recording) and situations where music is part
of a cross-disciplinary context, such as musical theatre, film, or other forms of collaborative artwork. critical self-awareness with regard to performance and creative work. musical literacy and theoretical understanding in reflective and prospective ways. effective communication skills when working with others. the ability to participate effectively in group or team work, such as large-scale ensemble performances (e.g. University choir) or a smaller-scale ensemble (e.g. string quartet, rock band or small vocal group). the ability to work independently, both critically and creatively. 3.4 Digital and information literacy the ability to use music-related information technology as the basis for creative work. understanding and expertise in music technology (e.g. for musical composition) 3.5 Global citizenship understanding of historical and cultural differences through the study of periods and cultural areas other than our own. Employ appropriate interpretative tools and tactics appropriate for those periods and cultural areas. SECTION 4: PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND CURRICULUM 4.1 Programme structure and requirements BA (Honours) Music Single modules are worth 15 credits and double modules are worth 30 credits. Modules printed in bold are compulsory or alternate compulsory for the Single Honours degree. Stage One modules (level 4) U66000 Introduction to Western Music History: 1800 to the Present Semester 1 U66001 Introduction to Contemporary Composition Semester 2 U66002 Introduction to Popular Music Semester 1 U66004 Music Performance (double) Semester 1 and 2 U66005 Notation and Harmony Semester 2 U66006 Musicianship Semester 1 U66007 Case Studies in Music History: The Middle Ages to 1800 Semester 2 Stage Two modules (level 5) Single honours Music students must take and pass 2 out of these 5 modules: U66020, U66021, U66022, U66023, U66024. U66020 Creative Approaches to Contemporary Composition (double) Semester 2 U66021 Electroacoustic Composition and Sonic Art (double) Semester 1
U66022 History, Music and Ideas (double) Semester 1 U66023 Popular Music in Society (double) Semester 2 U66024 Ensemble Performance (double) Semester 1 and 2 U66026 Words and Music Semester 2 U66027 Opera and Politics Semester 1 U66029 Creative Approaches to Electronic Music Semester 1 U66031 Music Theatre Practice Semester 1 U66032 Special Study in Musicology 1 Semester 2 U66033 Special Study in Musicology 2 Semester 2 U66034 Film Music Semester 1 U66068 Independent Study or Solo Performance 1 Semester 1 or 2 Honours Modules (level 6) All single honours Music students must take U66097 or U66098 (not both). All single honours Music students must take U66071 and U66085. U66071 Music Analysis (double) Semester 1 and 2 U66085 Professional Practice (double) Semester 2 and 1 U66097Dissertation (double) Semester 1 and 2 U66098 Composition Project (double) Semester 1 and 2 U66072 Independent Study or Solo Performance 2 Semester 1 or 2 Alternative Acceptable Modules for MD not more than 2 modules from U08860 Advanced Video Production Semester 2 U64029 British Cinema: Industry and Text Semester 2 U65526 Theory 3: Critical Issues in Contemporary Art Semester 1 U67121 Theatre and Theory - Modern and Post-modern Semester 2 U71728 Historical Perspectives on Education Semester 1 U71729 Core Texts in Education Semester 1 U75139 Audiences, Users and Producers Semester 2 BA/BSc (Combined Honours) Music Single modules are worth 15 credits and double modules are worth 30 credits. Modules printed in bold are compulsory or alternative compulsory for the Combined Honours degree. Stage One modules (level 4) U66000 Introduction to Western Music History: 1800 to the Present Semester 1 U66001 Introduction to Contemporary Composition Semester 2 U66002 Introduction to Popular Music Semester 1 U66004 Music Performance (double) Semester 1 and 2 U66005 Notation and Harmony Semester 2 U66006 Musicianship Semester 1 U66007 Case Studies in Music History: The Middle Ages to 1800 Semester 2 Stage Two modules (level 5) Combined honours students must take and pass 1 out of these 5 modules: U66020, U66021, U66022, U66023, U66024 U66020 Creative Approaches to Contemporary Composition (double) Semester 2 U66021 Electroacoustic Composition and Sonic Art (double) Semester 1 U66022 History, Music and Ideas (double) Semester 1 U66023 Popular Music in Society (double) Semester 2
U66024 Ensemble Performance (double) Semester 1 and 2 U66026 Words and Music Semester 2 U66027 Opera and Politics Semester 1 U66029 Creative Approaches to Electronic Music Semester 1 U66031 Music Theatre Practice Semester 1 U66032 Special Study in Musicology 1 Semester 1 U66033 Special Study in Musicology 2 U66035 Film Music Semester 1 U66068 Independent Study or Solo Performance 1 Semester 1 or 2 Honours Modules (level 6) A combined honours student can choose their six Honours-level modules from the two subjects 6 in Music, 6 in the other subject, or any combination in between. U66071 Music Analysis (double) Semester 1 and 2 U66072 Music Independent Study or Solo Performance 2 Semester 1 or 2 U66085 Professional Practice & Musical Entrepreneurship (double) Semester 2 and 1 U66097 Dissertation (double) Semester 1 and 2 U66098 Composition Project (double) Semester 1 and 2 U66090 Interdisciplinary Dissertation Semester 1 and 2 4.2 Professional requirements None SECTION 5: PROGRAMME DELIVERY 5.1 Teaching, Learning and Assessment The music programme uses a wide range of teaching, learning and assessment methods, which are constructively aligned and build upon each other in order to ensure the development of the Brookes Graduate Attributes. Teaching formats include interactive lectures, seminars and small-group instruction, workshops, individual tuition, independent study and other appropriate methods. All assessment is by coursework. We accommodate different learning styles and personalities through a variety of assessment methods, e.g. group work (U66024, U66031), debates (U66027), class tests (U66000, U66002, U66005) and work placements (U66085). Students gain experience in giving feedback and assessing others through reviewing the performances of their peers (U66004, U66024). In the final year peer feedback is taken to an advanced level in the dissertation forum and advanced composition workshops (U66090, U66098 and U66097). In accordance with the Brookes Assessment Compact students are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning by seeking advice on previous feedback. This is built into several modules (U66000, U66022, U66097) that allow for the submission of draft versions (U66000) or project proposals (U66022, U66097) and formalise feedback from the lecturers through individual tutorials. Guided independent learning is introduced through weekly tasks in the first year (U66000, U66001, U66002, U66004, U66007), leading towards greater independence in the second year and culminating in largely independent work in the final projects and the Independent Study or Solo Performance modules (U66068, U66072). Reflective portfolios develop critical self-awareness and skills of reflection (U66004, U66024, U66085). All modules utilise digital technology for delivery and assessment through the VLE; performance ensembles are encouraged to present their work to a wider audience through social media.
Several composition modules specifically develop digital and information literacy through the use of music-specific software (U66001, U66021) and the creation of podcasts and sound software (U66029). Throughout the music programme, academic and research literacy are gradually built up through assignments of increasing length and complexity. In the musicology strand, the introduction to library and study skills in U66000 and U66002 leads to extended essays on self-selected topics and negotiation of current research trends and methodologies in the elective compulsories (U66022, U66023) and the free musicology modules (U66026, U66027, U66032, U66033, U66035) towards the honours-level written dissertation. In composition, short technical and listening assignments are introduced in U66001, which are then developed into longer composition assignments (U66020, U66021) and the extended portfolio of compositions. Professional musicians are brought in to workshop, offer feedback and perform student compositions in U66020. In the performance strand, performance confidence, repertoire and expressive skills are gradually built up from two short recitals in the first year (U66004) through the collaborative effort in Ensemble Performance (U66024) and culminate in a 45-minute solo recital under professional conditions (U66085). Music Theatre Practice (U66031) adds an interdisciplinary aspect to these attributes. 5.2 Assessment regulations The programme conforms to the University UMP regulations. http://www.brookes.ac.uk/uniregulations/current SECTION 6: ADMISSIONS 6.1 Entry criteria Typical offers A-level: BCC or equivalent IB Diploma: 29 points BTEC: DMM Offers can also include music qualifications that attract UCAS Tariff Points (e.g. ABRSM, Trinity / Guildhal, Rock school), for example in place of an A level. Other typical offers include: BC at A-level (including Music) and CC at AS-level BC at A-level and Music Grade exams of 7 in Practical and 5 in Theory For combined honours, normally the offer will lie between the offers quoted for each subject. English language requirements Please see the University's standard English language requirements 6.2 DBS checks N/a
SECTION 7: STUDENT SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE Induction Electronic Handbooks Student Support Coordinators, Programme Lead, Subject Coordinator, Academic Advisors Student representatives Central support services Study skills development/support Careers Centre SECTION 8: GRADUATE EMPLOYABILITY The Music Degree course at Brookes allows for a wide range of possibilities for life after university. The following are examples of careers and postgraduate courses that Brookes Music students have gone on to do. Secondary School Music Teacher Primary School Teacher Professional song writer, singer and guitar player County Music Service Peripatetic Music Teacher Arts Event Management Arts Administration posts (at organisations such as Oxford Contemporary Music, Royal Opera House, English National Opera, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Wigmore Hall) Working in the Record Industry Music Journalism Publishing Teaching Music abroad MA in Composition MA in Performance MA in Musicology SECTION 9: LINKS WITH EMPLOYERS The programme includes a level 6 module that directly addresses the question 'what might I do after graduation?' During the final year, sessions are delivered by staff from the Careers Centre, and students have to complete a C.V. and a job or postgraduate course application form. The programme also features regular presentations from alumni and professionals in the music industry who introduce students to the wide range of potential career pathways in music. We also have an annual Career in Arts day. One of the possibilities the programme offers is to undertake work-based placements. These placements have grown over the years to include opportunities in concert management (e.g. Oxford Contemporary Music, Music at Oxford), music therapy (e.g. Soundabout), primary and secondary education, venue and artist management (Jacqueline du Pre Music Building), instrumental teaching (Oxfordshire County Music Service) and music journalism (e.g. Nightshift, BBC local radio). SECTION 10: QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Indicators of quality/methods for evaluating the quality of provision Our robust quality management practices include: Rigorous admission procedures with individual interviews / auditions Student Module and Programme evaluations External Examiners Annual Programme Reviews and 5-yearly Periodic Subject Reviews Subject Committees and Subject Away Days Student Representation System