Integrated Degree in Music (including foundation year)

This module will develop your understanding of music studies, and introduce you to a series of established musical works that have acquired importance in Western culture. The works will be chosen to demonstrate a variety of forms, performance forces, styles and cultural functions. You will reflect on why these works have become accepted in the way they have, and whether things might have been different.

As an integrated part of this module, you will be expected to develop your English skills to the standard appropriate for entry to the BMus course by writing and speaking about music in a coherent, informed way. 

You will be introduced to the development of music in its historical and cultural context. The module explores musical repertoires of all kinds (from classical, electronic, to popular) and of all periods (from medieval, renaissance to contemporary). You will focus particularly upon the stylistic/formal changes in music. As part of the course, you will develop your understanding and aural perception of diverse musical styles, and familiarise yourself with technical terms and definitions important in musical studies.

You will be introduced to a number of compositional techniques and develop basic musico-technological skills.

This module's focus is on research methodologies, firstly by giving a comprehensive overview of some of the main ways that knowledge is added to within academia. Aspects studied include:

• refining research questions
• qualitative and quantitative approaches
• questionnaire design
• conducting surveys, using software where appropriate
• semi-structured interviews
• ethnographic approaches
• textual analysis
• and ethical considerations

The focus then shifts to students collaborating in group projects to design and conduct their own research project. This is done with close supervision from the module lecturer, and can relate to, and extend, students’ pathway studies or learning from the interdisciplinary modules LS50003B Globalising Cultures and LS50004B Understanding Images, as well as the theoretical frameworks introduced in LS50001A Academic Reading and Writing.

Students will present their work to the wider IFC cohort and lecturers in a post-presentation session explaining their approach and results, which they will collaborate. Input is given on registers and genres for the dissemination of results, expressing conclusions and evaluating the quality of research.

There will be an opportunity for some off-site sessions, using sites in London, such as museums and exhibitions as a resource for learning opportunities.

Music at Level 4 and beyond, with particular reference to the ways that those skills can be developed in partnership with—and are supported by—the facilities and departments available within Goldsmiths. Students will consider their academic and personal development as holistic and interlinked, producing a portfolio of short pieces of work that reflect their individual interests and development across aspects of academic research, critical writing about music, software skills and personal reflection. As such, they will prepare themselves for the range of assignments offered in Music at level 4 and consider how their musical interests and academic work might be developed co-dependently as an aspect of their academic study. This module will also consider how academic study is not only linked to research and study skills, but to personal wellbeing, and will explore how students can be supported by the college and support themselves and each other in their academic journey.

The module aims to develop your skills in two areas:

Musical performance
As part of the module, you are given 12 hours of individual instrumental/vocal tuition, while the tutor(s) of this module will monitor your progress. In addition, separate guidance is given during the module in the form of a ‘performance platform’ concerning questions of technique, repertoire and presentation. This platform will also be used in the preparation of the final performance exam.

Musicianship and musical literacy
The module will consolidate and develop skills in these areas, by introducing various types of scores from different styles and genres. It will equip you with tools of musical analysis in terms of harmony, structure, instrumentation, texture, genre, thematic links, style and traditions.

Overall, the module aims to develop a dynamic connection between your musicality and your knowledge of musical theory and literacy and lead you to become a more confident performer and interpreter who is fully aware of various musical issues and the ways to solve them.