1
Music and Performing Arts Union School Committee
Meeting
Meeting held Fri 27th January 2012: 12pm-2pm
Twiverton TN.101
In attendance:
Chair: Richard Bidgood (SU President)
Deputy Chair: Joe Bennett (Head of School of Music and Performing Arts)
Secretary: Dani Glazzard (Representation and Welfare Assistant)
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Name
Representing
Name
Representing
Lottie Stevens
Performing Arts (1st yr)
Nick Toop
Performing Arts (1st yr)
Rosie Aylward
Performing Arts (2nd yr) Luke Davies
Drama (3rd year)
Grace Williams
Drama (3rd year)
Music (1st yr)
Alex Shaw
Heather Copeland Music (2nd yr)
Ewan Sourbutts Creative Music Tech (1st yr)
Chris O’Connor
CMT (3rd yr)
Stuart Nelson
Commercial Music (2nd yr)
Richard Taylor
School Librarian
Charles Wiffen
Head of Music
Apologies: Emma Waters, Ruth Sanders
Matters arising:
Students from Weston were able to attend extra stage combat classes so this issue has been
addressed.
Errors in module guides for Image and Product (deadline) – Stuart Nelson should notify David
Ray Moor.
Free Wednesday afternoons: Reps fed back that some modules (e.g. Music Analysis) still gave
the impression students would miss out by not attending Wed afternoon classes as notes were
not fully included on Minerva.
Choir Orchestra concert (14 December) went ahead. Reps fed back to staff about lack of
notice.
Chair’s Business:
SU Elections time frame announced – attached.
30 January is the launch of the National Student Survey (NSS) – StARs are asked to complete
and promote.
The Student Council voted that a Lead Student Representative for the University’s QAA
review should be appointed from StARs. This will be open to 1st and 2nd year and the work will
be undertaken between March and October 2012. Details to follow.
School-wide Items
2
Item
Points of discussion
Actions
Room bookings
Reps from various departments and courses fed back
improvements in room booking systems.
Assessment
time-table
Drama studies students reported that certain module
combinations meant that assessments collected
together. This was thought to be an issue across the
university but staff said they would encourage tutors
to be aware of this.
End of
term/teaching
First year PA’s officially stop teaching on 2nd June but
have been asked to be available for 10 hours of
teaching until 22nd June. Hungerford and Neville
halls of residence close on 4th June – approx. 10
students affected by this (some of whom do not live a
commutable distance away).
Music students also reported that they have
performances in mid-June (taking place off-campus
but for which students will need to be available).
JB to find out how necessary the
extra time is for PA students. CW
to check if Music students are
affected by this. RB will talk to
Estates if further arrangements for
student accommodation need to
be made.
First lecture of
a new module
Reps reported that students felt that lecturers/tutors
did not always make best use of the first session of a
new module. In particular, some staff dedicated the
entire lecture to reading through the module
handbook. Joe Bennett explained that it was school
practice that every module leader goes through the
module guidebook face-to-face but suggested reps
feedback comments to subject leaders.
Reps to feed back to subject
leaders where necessary.
Visits from
professionals
Reps reported that Professional Musicianship and
Music Think Tank were very popular. CM’s requested
more sessions with industry musicians (practical or
think tank). Performing Arts students also requested
professional speakers and suggested this had careers
benefits. Joe Bennett explained there are resource
limitations but wanted to encourage modules to
share speakers.
Charles Wiffen to re-send e-mail
publicising Music Think Tank now
that students are settled into new
term.
Department of Music Items
Item
Points of discussion
Actions
Monitor set-ups
in TN 115 and
TN116
The speakers are not appropriate for use in assessment due to
bandwidth. However 25% of final mark for Soundscape module
comes from class appraisal for which speakers are used.
Joe Bennett will discuss
with Nick Sargent.
Availability of
Native
Instruments
Native Instruments software is currently available on the macs
but not in Studios 1 & 2, which Commercial Music students
would find useful.
Charles Wiffen to
investigate possibiltiy of
extending software.
Instrumental
Lessons for CM
students
Commercial Music students are offered singing and drumming
lessons but not instrumental lessons.
Charless Wiffen to feed
back to department.
3
Can VSL
software be
more widely
available?
Feedback from Creative Practice Module students – it would be
useful if VSL was available more widely than the studios. Staff
explained limitations of software licence and expense but
would take into consideration.
Charles Wiffen to note.
Music Practice
Rooms
Various questions raised about missing or broken equipment in
Studios 1, 2, & 3. In particular 3rd year CMT’s in Production
Techniques module were spending significant amounts of time
trying to get mixing decks working before they could be used.
Joe explained that some equipment would be updated in Easter
but students are encouraged to report missing or broken items
promptly.
Stuart Nelson to
circulate Google doc for
reporting missing or
broken items in Music
Practice Rooms.
Macs in Control
Rooms 2&3
Students find Macs in these rooms are not as up-to-date as
student computers, which limits compatibility. Staff explained
that policy is to make sure students aren’t working on
computer older than 4 yrs. They requested more information
about the extent of the problem and encouraged students to
report individual problems to technicians.
Chris O’Connor to seek
more information.
Composition
Lectures
Positive feedback: Composition lectures have included more
student input.
Contact Time
3rd year CMT students (particularly those studying
Documentary Composition) reported that they were
dissatisfied with the amount of contact time they were
receiving. Some students had 45 mins in total – split into 3 x 15
minute tutorials. Students felt such short tutorials didn’t always
justify bus fare/journey to campus. There was a discussion
about whether online tutorials would be a solution to this
(some students prefer face-to-face) and what constitutes
‘contact time’.
Charles Wiffen to feed
back.
Availability of
library books for
Schoenberg
Schoenberg books were not available to all students. A
discussion developed as to whether tutors and librarians could
make more material available online (the library is currently
trying to increase no. of e-books). It was suggested that module
guides should make it clearer which books students are
expected to buy. Students are encouraged to report to library
where items are missing.
Heather to feed back to
module leader.
Richard Taylor to liaise
with module leader and
potentially buy further
resources.
Practice Room
Door Codes
When practice room codes were changed – Commercial Music
were notified but not Music or staff.
Department of Performing Arts Items
Item
Points of discussion
Funding for plays
and shows
A question was raised about the difference in budget between the
current Into the Woods and Midsummer Night’s Dream productions. Joe
Bennett explained that all productions were allotted different budgets
according to various factors including number of cast members.
Musical Theatre
Meetings
Reps fed back that the meetings had much improved – much less formal
and nerve-wracking.
Actions
4
Equipment in
Performance in
Media Module
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Students in this module are unclear of what equipment they are allowed
to rent from what departments as such the quality of equipment used by
each group has varied significantly.
Joe Bennett
to feed
back.
AOB:
Joe Bennett presented a guide to Google Scholar and EZ Proxy.
Richard Taylor notified reps that the music and DVD room in the library will be being refurbished which may cause some disruption but all resources should remain available.
Dani to make sure that staff have access to ‘Shaping Your Course’ module on Minerva.
Date of next meeting:
Music and Performing Arts School Board – 6th February
BA Music Board – 7th February