Course Catalogue

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This course introduces students to the process of thinking critically about musical and cultural questions and problems.

10 x 1 hr lectures and 10 x 2 hr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into MA and BEng Music, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes.

MUSIC2001

The standard assessments for this course are:

• Two 2000-word essays, worth 50% each.

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

• There is no alternative to the essays, but flexible deadlines and extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

The aim of this course is to facilitate the practice of sustained critical thinking with respect to fundamental musical and cultural ideas and assumptions. Students will also come to understand the role that critical thinking has in the field of musical and artistic practice.

By the end of the course students will be expected to be able to:
1. Analyse philosophical arguments, particularly in relation to music
2. Demonstrate critical thinking
3. Understand how philosophical concepts are formed and deployed
4. Demonstrate discrimination and precision in their use of philosophical concepts
5. Present, in both written and verbal form, coherent philosophical arguments relating to music and supply ample support for their positions through reference to published material
6. Formulate and respond to philosophical and cultural questions

7. Demonstrate familiarity with some of the key ideas in music aesthetics