This module provides the opportunity for you to develop key composing and arranging skills to support the development of your own compositional voice. Topics that will be explored include melody, rhythm, texture, dynamics, harmony, structures, riffs, beats, hooks, top line and lyrics. You will engage in technical, stylistic and historical aspects of compositional work across a broad range of popular music genres.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
This is a year-long module. Students will be taught at computer workstations equipped with keyboards and sequencing and notation software. These sessions will focus on the introduction of concepts followed by individual practical tasks in notation, composition, arrangement, analysis and aural training exercises.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Lectures and workshop/seminar sessions | 66 |
| Guided independent study | 234 | |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
The assessment for this module is designed to allow students to receive regular formative feedback on their progress which will feed forward to the summative assessment at the end of the year. Assessment comprises:
1) short targeted exercises will be set throughout TB1 and the first half of TB2. A selection of these will be submitted as a portfolio for formal assessment, worth 60%.
2) the summative assessment, worth 40% will be in the form of a composition or arrangement set to a specific brief. The brief will reflect the technical and historical aspects covered in the module curriculum.
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| demonstrate awareness of popular music compositional practice, and an understanding of melody, harmony, rhythm, instrumentation and form across range of genres | 1 |
| demonstrate good technical skills in the creation of popular music | 2 |
| make comparative and analytical judgements of popular music composition techniques | 1 |
| identify musical structures and patterns | 1 |
| demonstrate competence in the creation of staff notation as relevant to popular music practice | 1,2 |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| PRC | Portfolio of exercises | 60% |
| PRC | Composition / arrangement | 40% |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
Hewitt, M. (2008) Music theory for computer musicians. Boston: Course Technology.
Jackson, S. (2014) Music theory for producers. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Johnson, M. (2009) Pop music theory. UK: MonoMyth Music.
Alton Everest, F. (2007) Critical listening skills for audio professionals. Boston: Course Technology.
Butler, M.J. (2006) Unlocking the groove. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Machin, D. (2010) Analysing popular music. London: Sage.
Parker, B. (2009) Good vibrations: the physics of music. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press.
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