Course Catalogue

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This course introduces students to experimental music practices such as improvisation, socially-mediated composing and devising, interpretation of graphic and text scores, and extended instrumental and vocal technique. It considers the problems, challenges and opportunities arising from these practices, and encourages students to combine practical approaches with contextual research. It also provides opportunities for ensemble playing.

8 x 2 hour practical workshops plus 4 x 1 hour seminars as scheduled in MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in Music and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into Music, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

Contemporary Music Ensemble (MUSIC4012)

None

The standard assessments for this course:

■ Semester 1:

Research review: (1250 words) - 25%

10 minutes of recorded solo or ensemble performance - 25%

■ Semester 2:

Contribute to a 30-minute live performance - 25%

Critical commentary (1250 words) - 25%

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 research review, but flexible deadlines and extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

■ A written listening comprehension task in relation to an existing performance of experimental music as an alternative to the recorded performance.

■ A written performance pitch as an alternative to the live performance.

■ There is no alternative to the critical commentary, 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.

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ develop practical, critical and research skills relevant to contemporary music performance

■ examine relationships between composition, interpretation and improvisation

■ enable students to develop their own identity as creative musicians

■ introduce students to a range of approaches used in contemporary music-making

■ develop students' ensemble skills

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ devise experimental musical performances, both solo and in an ensemble context

■ listen critically to identify key features of relevant musical idioms 

■ undertake research to inform and transform their own musical performance

■ perform using a range of methods relevant in experimental music of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries such as improvisation, socially-mediated composing and devising, interpretation of graphic and text scores, and extended instrumental and vocal technique

■ contextualise, evaluate and critique their own performance in writing