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MUS41270

Academic Year 2024/2025

Composition Portfolio (MUS41270)

Subject:
Music
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Music
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
30
Module Coordinator:
Dr Sean L Clancy
Trimester:
Summer
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The composition portfolio is an opportunity for students to define their own creative practice and projects in discussion with the module coordinator. Students are required to submit two separate works of different forces and duration. One work will be supported by performance from a visiting professional ensemble with a set instrumentation, the other piece is a self-defined project organised by the student themselves. The student is supported by one-to-one tutorials, where work-in-progress is analysed and reflected upon, and related scores, recordings and approaches are shared. Through one-to-one tutorials students hone their technical, creative, and presentation skills in preparation for life as a composer. Students are encouraged to work as creatively as possible with all forms of music-based creative practice welcomed be it notated, improvised, or recorded.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

- Employ an assured level of technical skill in the execution of original compositional work.
- Demonstrate creativity, imagination and individuality through composition.
- Use professional standard presentation skills to prepare and present a portfolio of works appropriate for public performance and dissemination.
- Articulate an informed awareness of contextual, technical and/or aesthetic issues in relation to the portfolio by means of a short written commentary.

Indicative Module Content:

Content will be defined by each individual student and their needs.

Students can expect to discuss:
- How to generate and develop musical material
- Form & structure
- Orchestration
- Different forms of notation
- Writing for acoustic and electronic instruments
- Inspiration from other art forms
- How to present work for performers
- How to contextualise their work

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Practical

10
Project Supervision

24
Autonomous Student Learning

566
Total

600

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Regular one-on-one or two-on-one tutorials
Workshop with musicians
Self-directed research, study, and composition

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Portfolio: Present a balanced portfolio of 2 creative compositional works. Portfolio must include an audio artifact and if applicable a score presented at a professional level. A commentary should accompany. Week 14 Graded No

100

 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be given individually to students, post-assessment by written and annotated remarks through the VLE

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