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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Music

Undergraduate Course: Creative Practice Music Project (MUSI10092)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits40 ECTS Credits20
SummaryOn this course, you will undertake a supervised, practice-led creative music research project on a topic to be agreed with a supervisor. Creative music practice research describes work which combines textual and musical outputs in the form of compositions/improvisations, performance, demonstration and/or recording - as well as theoretical work and documentation of the processes of invention (e.g. video, photographs, recordings, sketches, studies, web pages). Thus, the project output should involve some form of demonstration, exhibition, or performance, dependent on the approach and the topic.
The course culminates in the submission of a portfolio and commentary which together document and critique the output of the project.
Course description Through independent, supervised study, this course offers an opportunity for final-year undergraduate students to learn how to devise and undertake creative music practice research.

Creative music practice research describes work which combines textual and musical outputs in the form of compositions, performance, demonstration and/or recording - as well as theoretical work and documentation of the processes of invention (e.g. video, photographs, recordings, sketches, studies, web pages). For example:
1) Composition
2) Improvisation
3) Performance (either of original or pre-existing repertoire)
4) Installation
5) Sound design
6) Interactive music software, etc.

You will develop skills in formulating, proposing, developing and fulfilling your own brief, under the guidance of a supervisor. You will apply and develop existing technical skills and knowledge by engaging critically and practically with methods for creative practice, documentation and presentation. Public presentation (site-specific performance, demonstration or installation, for example) is encouraged; opportunities depend on the nature of the project.

The course spans both teaching semesters. Students are assigned to a supervisor who provides 6 x 30 minute tutorials over the year to support the individual programme of research, providing preparation advice, guidance and quality control.

In addition to individual supervision, students share work-in-progress according to a schedule of interim deadlines. This submitted work becomes the focal point of four whole-group seminars (two per semester), to provide formative feedback and facilitate peer-support.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements At the point of selecting their final-year Honours course options, students electing to take this course MUST email the Course Organiser a very short (50 word) outline of their proposed topic, and the names of two suggested supervisors. The suitability of the proposed project, and thus permission to enrol on Creative Practice Music Project, will be determined in a discussion of the proposal with the course organiser.
Additional Costs Purchase of recording media, plus any materials required for the project.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  6
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 400 ( Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 392 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Final project submission comprising portfolio and commentary (c.5000 words) - 100%.

The portfolio must document the progress and outcomes of the project through appropriate media. The submission also requires an extended written commentary of c.5000 words. The commentary derives from the portfolio. Therefore, the body of work represented in the portfolio must be substantial, reflecting development and accomplishment appropriate to the course's two-semester (six month) duration.

Final submission assesses all four Learning Outcomes.
Feedback a) Students receive written and verbal formative feedback throughout the year from their supervisor. Formative feedback is also provided by the Course Organiser and peer community based on interim submissions (proposal, work-in-progress presentation, draft commentary).

b) Summative feedback in the form of examiner comments and final grade outcome after May exam board.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Apply knowledge, skills and understanding in defining and executing a supervised research project.
  2. Exercise autonomy and initiative in practice-led research activities.
  3. Critically review and consolidate knowledge, skills, practices and thinking in relation to their topic.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of relevant existing bodies of knowledge and their relationship to the project's output.
Reading List
Biggs and Karlsson (2012) The Routledge Companion to Research in the Arts. Routledge.
Kaye (2000) Site-Specific Art: Performance, Place and Documentation. Routledge.
Nelson (2013) Practice as Research in the Arts: Principles, Protocols, Pedagogies, Resistances. Palgrave Macmillan.
Smith and Dean (Eds.) (2009). Practice-led Research, Research-led Practice in the Creative Arts. Edinburgh University Press.
Vaughan (2014) Multimedia: Making it work (9th edition). McGraw-Hill Osborne Media.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills To exercise autonomy and initiative in the development of projects;
To be able to devise, plan, document and bring to fruition an independent creative project;
To reflect on and act with social responsibility in community or public spaces.
KeywordsPerformance,composition,improvisation,site-specific,independent,supervised,technology,installation
Contacts
Course organiserProf Raymond MacDonald
Tel: (0131 6)50 2424
Email: Raymond.MacDonald@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Hugh Black
Tel: (0131 6)51 5926
Email: hugh.black@ed.ac.uk
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