MUS73010 - Specialist Studies VI (2020)

Not currently available in 2020

Provides the opportunity for students to consolidate their direction as musicians within their particular discipline, through advanced level performance and development of instrumental, songwriting and/or vocal virtuosity. This unit culminates in a final ‘live showcase’ event.

Topic 1: Analysis of repertoire with a high degree of difficulty and complexity, including original compositions and songwriting and arranging. Technical etudes and exercises to establish complex melodic lines and advanced harmony (polychord voicing and four-note voicings, and arpeggios).

Topic 2: Advanced methods of memorisation related to complex repertoire, chart interpretation and improvisation over harmonic progressions and 1 chord modal approaches. Scale syllabus (all modes, and a selection from world music scale).

Topic 3: Introduction to advanced harmonic progressions, rhythmic development techniques and repertoire development.

Topic 4: Advanced improvisation (melodic development, cyclic progressions, creative scale application ‘inside and outside’, rhythmic applications). Scale syllabus from a variety of genres.

Topic 5: Advanced stagecraft skills including (e.g. presentation, band volume, personal dynamics, time management and communication skills).

Topic 6: Scale and chord syllabus (all relevant modes, voicings and from a variety of genres) Advanced rhythmic techniques related to soloing (where appropriate).

Topic 7: Application of improvisation skills to selected repertoire. Chart reading, technical work and repertoire.

Topic 8: Continuation of approaches to improvisation in all genres and technical application.

Topic 9: Application of melodic skills to selected repertoire. Chart reading, technical work and repertoire.

Topic 10: Exam rehearsal preparation: for advanced performance

Topic 11: Exam arranging preparation: for advanced performance

Topic 12: Exam preparation: set design, lighting planning, advanced stagecraft, for final ‘showcase’ performance

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.