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MUS20900

Academic Year 2026/2027

Irish Traditional Music Practices Spring 2026-27 (MUS20900)

Subject:
Music
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Music
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Peter Moran
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 will train students to put traditional Irish music theory into practise. Students will be introduced to a wide range of traditional repertoire, styles and techniques, both ancient and modern, regional and international, as taught by leading artists in the field. Students will then apply these skills to their own performances, compositions or arrangements, which will be submitted half-way through the semester.

Students will work on one major project and one minor project, drawing on a combination of the following options:

1) Performance
2) Composition/Arrangement
3) Field Work

1) Performance
The Major Performance option entails learning tunes in class every week, and performing them all in a concert (usually performed in Week 11 or 12).
The Minor Performance option entails learning only the accompanying chords for the tunes, or else learning just a small number of the tunes in class.

2) Composition/Arrangement
Major Compositions will be an original work or set of tunes, arranged and harmonised for the full ensemble, submitted as a music score and parts, demonstrating a clear understanding of the modes and rhythms of traditional Irish music.
Minor Compositions will be a single original tune, performed solo (or in a small ensemble), which does not have to be notated or harmonised, and which demonstrates a clear understanding of the modes and rhythms of traditional Irish music.
Major Arrangements of traditional tunes will be arranged creatively and harmonised for the full ensemble, submitted as a music score and parts.
Minor arrangements of traditional tunes will entail only the melody arranged creatively for the full ensemble, which does not have to be notated or harmonised.

3) Field Work
Field Work projects will entail recording an interview with a living traditional Irish musician, and collecting a tune from them. Students will make their own recording of the tune they collected and/or write up their learning from the interview (ca. 800 words for minor projects, or 1500 words plus bibliography for major projects.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

All students completing this module will:

1. Learn to perform a broad repertoire of traditional Irish music
2. Learn to perform traditional repertoire from the Balkan region
3. Study the techniques of accompanying traditional Irish music
4. Learn skills of composing and arranging traditional music
5. Develop practical skills pertaining to the rehearsal process, including preparing scores and parts, recording, performing, and working together in a small ensemble

Indicative Module Content:

Performing traditional Irish music
Performing music from the Balkan region
Accompanying traditional Irish music
Composing and Arranging
Traditional Modes and Rhythms
Instrumentation
Notation
Rehearsing, Recording, Performing

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Not addressed

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Not addressed

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Not addressed

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Competent

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Competent

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Not addressed

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Not addressed

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Competent

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Practical

24
Autonomous Student Learning

76
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is delivered through:

1. Guest lectures from leading traditional Irish artists
2. Individual feedback on the recordings submitted by the students each week.
3. In-module supervision and feedback from Module Coordinator on students' performances and compositions
4. Autonomous Student Learning - students will work on their major project throughout the semester (rehearsing, composing, arranging, notating, or writing and researching)
5. Intensive rehearsals and recording sessions towards the end of term



AI Not Permitted: The use of AI tools is not permitted in this module. Students are
expected to engage directly with module materials and activities without the use of AI
tools.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Students in this ensemble must be proficient on a melody instrument (e.g. flute, violin, concertina, etc.). Students are expected to have a sufficient level of musical ability and experience that they will understand the terminology used in class (e.g. discussing scales, chords, rhythms, instrumental techniques, etc.) and be able to contribute to class discussions, rehearsals and performances. Specific experience of performing traditional Irish music is not required (although many students who join this ensemble tend to have some experience in that area). There are also a very limited number of spaces available for accompanying instruments (i.e. one place for guitar chords, and one place for piano). Students interested in these places should contact the Module Coordinator in advance to check availability.


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
Individual Project: Students will be expected to demonstrate that they are making clear progress either rehearsing, composing, or arranging a major project week-on-week, culminating in a public performance in Week 12. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
70
 No
Individual Project: Students will submit a minor project in the form of a small composition or arrangement, or a short essay, or fieldwork, or a performance on an accompanying instrument. (1st draft due in mid-term) Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
30
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

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, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive personal feedback from the Module Coordinator throughout the semester.

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, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 16:00 - 17:50
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