Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

ABRSM Grade VIII or equivalent; successful audition

Co Requisite Comment

None

Aims

- To develop performance skills on the individual’s chosen instrument / voice.
- To develop healthy and safe approaches to playing and singing
- To guide and assist the student to choose and prepare suitable repertoire
- To develop effective private practising procedures
- To develop reflective learning practices
- To develop critical listening skills

A series of group workshops will help students to develop basic principles of performing, including warming up, listening and constructive interaction with other musicians; effective private practising; and issues of health and safety. In particular these sessions will help students prepare for the technical assessment(held at the end of Semester 1). Students are also assigned a specialist tutor with whom they work in regular one-to-one lessons to develop technique and repertoire, concluding with a short solo recital at the end of Semester 2.

Outline Of Syllabus

Syllabus guidelines for individual study are set out in the Performance Studies Handbook and vary according to instrument or voice.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students should acquire:

- An understanding of musical performance as both an individual and a collective act
- Well balanced and appropriate repertoire
- An awareness of the links between the technical, interpretative and presentational aspects of
performance
- Preparation of skills required to take performance modules at Stage 2

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students should acquire:

- A variety of appropriate skills in their chosen voice/instrument.
- Aural and other skills which may be applied to the improvement of critical musical awareness.
- Ability to reflect constructively on their own and others’ performances.
- Ability to practise unsupervised in effective and healthy ways.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Group learning (masterclasses and workshops) and one to one teaching provide a focused basis for the development of performance skills on the student’s main instrument or voice and provide concentrated support and guidance for the student’s own private practice, research, listening and self-reflection, which is the core of this module. Students are encouraged to consolidate previous technical skills and also to stretch their horizons and experiences through a variety of encounters with unfamiliar genres and performance situations, including regular attendance at (and critical reflection on) student and professional concerts. Individual tutorials are offered on a drop-in basis to aid students in their practice and develop skills of self-reflection and research.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The interim test will require you to demonstrate the musical and technical skills you have developed during the group workshops. The end-of-year recital allows you to demonstrate musical, technical and presentational skills developed through your individual and group lessons and in private practice.

The written self-assessment form, submitted at the time of your final recital, requires you to evaluate your progress against an appropriately formulated plan of study; to explain your choice of repertoire; to document your working processes in tuition, practice and research as well as your regular participation in student performances and in workshops; and to respond critically to professional concerts you attended using your own comments from the weekly performance event Discussion Boards.

Your one-to-one tutor will also write a progress report which will be available to the assessment panel for consultation at the time of your end-of-year recital.

Recital underrun/overrun penalties:
In accordance with practice at other conservatories, the Dean has approved the use of fixed penalties in marking for recital underruns and overruns, as follows:
1.Recitals that over-run by more than 10% will lose 3 points off their final mark and will be stopped in order to try and keep to the published schedule.
2.Recitals that under-run by more than 10% but less than 20% will lose 3 points off their mark.
3.Recitals that under-run by 20% or more will lose 10 points off their mark.

General Notes

n/a