MU4002 - Performance 1

You will receive weekly one-to-one tuition from a specialist in your instrument or voice in which you will develop your technical capability, expand your repertoire develop the artistic, aesthetic and expressive skills need for the communication of each piece to an audience. This will be supported by fortnightly seminars covering topics such as effective practising, managing performance anxiety, and guidance on how best to research the history of your instrument. Just as importantly, seminars will provide a forum in which you will perform to your peers, and support them in turn through feedback on their performances. You will attend concerts, recitals and open rehearsals to experience a variety of music which will inform your diary/blog.

The Module Tutor acts as Student Performance Coordinator for all performance modules, and will offer guidance and support in identifying the most suitable Instrumental or Vocal tutor for you, and for supporting you in your performance studies throughout your degree.

Your instrumental/vocal tutor will provide expert advice on repertoire development and technique, and will encourage you to think about a stylistic approach to the interpretation of the music you will be performing.

Music staff contributing to the seminars will offer guidance on practising and performing. Music staff are accessible within publicised office hours and via email.

Your peers will provide you will a collaborative learning environment, providing support, encouragement and feedback on your playing or singing in the context of the seminars.

Your programme leader will guide you through the requirements and expectations of your course. You will also be supported through individual engagement with the resources available on the eLearning Portal.

Formative feedback will be on-going throughout seminar activities.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. You will demonstrate knowledge of repertoire for your instrument/voice from different periods, and an understanding of the history of your instrument.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. You will develop artistic, technical, aesthetic and expressive skills necessary to communicate music convincingly to examiners, and the ability to explore creative links between scholarly research, analytical reflection, and processes of performing.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

3. You will demonstrate a professionalism that embraces the ethical issues surrounding performing such as contractual obligations and commitment, respecting others, and copyright.

4. You will have the self-motivation to acquire new skills and consolidate existing ones through regular practice.

5. You will have a willingness to monitor and assess progress in a spirit of self-critical awareness, and you will exhibit the ability to respond positively to the feedback and criticism of others while maintaining confidence in your own ability.

1. FORMATIVE: there are regular in-class opportunities to perform and with formative feeback from both staff and fellow students.
2. In-course reflective work (diary, blog): 40%. You will reflect on your experiences, such as practising; what you learn through attendance at concerts and open rehearsals; your experience of performing; material related to a seminar presentation on the history of your instrument. You will also engage with a report on your progress to Christmas written by your instrumental/vocal tutor. MLOs 1, 2, 4, 5. Feedback will be through annotations to your work and/or a short report.
3. Performance Examination (closed, in front of two examiners): 60%. At the end of the module, there will be a performance examination where you will play or sing a short programme of your choice lasting no longer than ten minutes. As with all examinations, it will not involve everything that you have studied, and you will be expected to supply a list of additional repertoire that you have not included. MLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Feedback takes the form of an examiners’ report.

Entry to the BA (Hons) in Music

N/A

You will work with a specialist instrumental/vocal teacher in one-to-one lessons, consolidating your technique and developing skills in performance which will allow you to communicate with your audience while expanding your repertoire. This teaching will be supported by seminars in which you will practise performing in front of others, and which will also cover areas such as effective practising strategies and how to deal with performance anxiety. A knowledge and understanding of your instrument/voice is vital to performers, so you will research an aspect of the history of your instrument.