Explore UCD

UCD Home >

MUS31470

Academic Year 2026/2027

Techniques of Composition (MUS31470)

Subject:
Music
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Music
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Sean L Clancy
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is a practical module that concludes the suite of compositional study at UCD. Students develop their technique of musical composition drawing from a broad variety of traditional and experimental approaches and styles within Western art music from the past 50 years. In tandem with other compositional study at UCD, this module will equip you with the tools to compose, and will establish a firm grounding for those that wish to pursue composition as a career, and/or those that want to go on to further study at masters level.


You will explore and learn about the mechanics of composition through a combination of your own creative practice, alongside lectures that critically examine the works and practices of established national and international composers. Topics such as pitch & harmony, time (pulse, metre, rhythm, tempo), line & texture, colour (instrumentation, timbre, noise), and structure will be examined systematically week-on-week, first in solo-instrumental and chamber-music contexts—including multidisciplinary works as well as compositions incorporating electronic components—before progressing to composition for larger ensembles and orchestra.

Working with industry experts, you’ll gain practical insights into the process of how a composition evolves, from initial periods of research and sketches to feedback and appraisal, to rehearsal, to performance, offering a real-world view of how new music comes to life.

Students are expected to experiment within the framework of the indicative content, and will be encouraged to respond as creatively as possible to find their own compositional language and to push this language into exciting territory. As such, the module welcomes students interested in contemporary classical music, electronic music, improvisation, jazz, film music, left-field songwriting, and all the places in-between.

* Please note that from the academic year 2027/2028 students wishing to undertake this module will have to have completed MUS10260: Introduction to Composition.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of compositional techniques from ca.1975 to the present day.
- demonstrate a contextual knowledge of these techniques through the critical discussion of repertoire in class.
- deploy with precision these techniques in a self-directed free composition that is technically adept, creatively engaging, and presented to a high standard.
- reflect upon their own creative process in a mature manner in a written commentary.

Indicative Module Content:

Week 1: Introduction. Process – concept/sketch/composition/production
Week 2: Writing for solo instruments I
Week 3: Writing for solo instruments II
Week 4: Writing for 2, 3, or 4 players I
Week 5: Writing for 2, 3, or 4 players II
Week 6: Group discussion, presenting works-in-progress
Week 7: Structure – expanding sketches to piece
Week 8: Reading week (no class)
Week 9: Writing for 5-12 players I
Week 10: Writing for 5-12 players II
Week 11: Writing for Large Ensemble or Orchestra I
Week 12: Writing for Large Ensemble or Orchestra II

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. Proficient

Critical Thinking

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

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. Proficient

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. Proficient

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. Proficient

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
Lectures

24
Project Supervision

12
Autonomous Student Learning

164
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
- In-person lecture 2 hours per week
- Regular tutorials with the module lecturer, tutors , and/or the module coordinator (upon discussion)
- Self-directed research, study, and composition
- In-class discussions and peer feedback

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Students taking this module should have already taken at least one of the following modules: Composition Ensemble, Introduction to Composition, or Performing Process. Those students who have not met this requirement but still wish to be considered can contact the module coordinator directly for entrance assessment.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: Participate in lectures & tutorials by engaging in weekly group discussions, exercises, and practical activities. 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
10
 No
Individual Project: Submit a short portfolio of 6-8 individual ‘sketches’ (minimum 10 seconds each) for a larger composition. Sketches should demonstrate an exploration of select approaches/techniques discussed in class. Week 7 Graded No
30
 No
Individual Project: Complete a composition of 3-5 minutes utilising approaches learned in class. This can be an extension of sketches from your preparatory portfolio, or it can be new work. A commentary is also required. Week 14 Graded No
60
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring 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
• 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. Feedback will be offered by peers in week 6 in a supportive and structured way.

Name Role
David Coonan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Satchel Henneman Tutor
Viktória Šinkorová Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Tues 13:00 - 14:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Tues 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
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.