Explore UCD

UCD Home >

MUS10230

Academic Year 2025/2026

Classical Music (MUS10230)

Subject:
Music
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Music
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Emma Kavanagh
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module serves as an introduction to the repertoire and key figures of the classical music tradition from 1700 to the present day. Each week focuses on a particular genre or musical style within instrumental or vocal music, including orchestral and chamber works, solo vocal and instrumental music, staged genres of ballet and opera, and ending with musical experimentations with technology. Through an exploration of a diverse and wide-ranging repertoire, students will gain new and deeper insights into the classical music tradition.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a knowledge of the major repertoire through a wide range of listening;
2. Show a familiarity with a diverse range of composers;
3. Analyse and compare musical works to understand shifts in musical style;
4. Form reflective opinions on their listening and apply this to their written work.

Indicative Module Content:

Week 1: Course Introduction: What Is Classical Music?
Week 2: The Orchestra: Power and Colour
Week 3: Chamber Music: Intimacy and Dialogue
Week 4: The Rise of the Virtuoso
Week 5: The Organ: A One-Person Orchestra?
Week 6: Choral and Sacred Music
Week 7: Programme Music: Music and Narrative
Weeks 8 and 9: Study Week [No Class]
Week 10: Solo Voice: Song and Story
Week 11: A Night at the Opera
Week 12: Attendance at UCD Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert [No Class]
Week 13: Ballet and Dance in Classical Music
Week 14: Music and Technology: New Directions

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Tutorial

10
Specified Learning Activities

32
Autonomous Student Learning

36
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Class discussions
Critical listening
Reflective learning

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
Participation in Learning Activities: Assessed by weekly in-class reflective listening worksheets, then summarised via Brightspace discussions Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 14 Graded No
20
 No
Reflective Assignment: Short review (800-1000 words) of concert performance attended in Week 12 Week 12 Graded No
35
 No
Portfolio: Cumulative end-of-course portfolio, based on expanding on worksheets completed in class and discussions on Brightspace Week 15 Graded No
45
 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
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Written feedback will be provided to individual students and to the wider group

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 12:00 - 13:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.