MUS20900 Traditional Music Practices 4

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module will train students to put traditional Irish music theory into practise. Students will be introduced to a wide range of traditional repertoire and practices, including composition and arrangement techniques, taught by our special guest Artist-in-Residence, the legendary Irish musician Dónal Lunny (co-founder of Planxty, The Bothy Band, and others). Students will then apply the skills learnt to their own performances, compositions or arrangements, which will be submitted at the end of the semester.

Students will work on one major project and one minor project throughout the semester. ONE of these projects must be a musical performance. The other may be a composition or an arrangement or an essay.

Performance:
A Major Performance Project involves performing the full collection of tunes taught in class, which will be performed and recorded in Weeks 11-12.
A Minor Performance Project involves playing an accompanying instrument (e.g. guitar) for the tunes taught in class, or else performing a small selection of the tunes, to be performed and recorded in Weeks 11-12.

Composition:
A Major Composition Project will be an original work or a set of tunes, exploring a variety of the instrumental and composition techniques studied in class.
A Minor Composition Project will be a single original tune demonstrating some of the techniques taught in class.

Arrangement:
A Major Arrangement Project involves creating an original arrangement of a set of traditional tunes, exploring the full creative potential of the full ensemble (harmonies, counterpoint, orchestration, etc.)
A Minor Arrangement Project involves creating an original arrangement of one traditional tune for any subset of instruments within the ensemble, exploring some of the ideas covered in class.

Essay
A Major Essay Project will be 5000 words, researching a topic covered in class (or closely related topics, to be approved by MC).
A Minor Essay Project will be a 500-1000 word commentary on the student's recording or composition or performance project, outlining the styles and techniques demonstrated, and reflecting on the material covered in class.

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Curricular information is subject to change

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

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
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

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. Less experienced performers may choose essay writing as their major project, although they will also be expected sing, play, compose or arrange some small amount of music for their minor project.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Practical Examination: The final presentation of major and minor projects should be of a high standard and may take the form of recordings, performances, music scores or essays. Week 12 n/a Graded No

20
Assignment: An additional minor project (performance, composition, arrangement or written commentary) which will demonstrate a deep understanding of the topics and skills taught in class. Week 12 n/a Graded No

30
Continuous Assessment: Regular ongoing evaluations of the student's major project (performance, composition, arrangement or essay) which will demonstrate a deep understanding of the topics and skills taught in class. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

50

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
      
Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 16:00 - 17:50