ARTICULATION DOCUMENT
T315 Music Composition
MODULE STRUCTURE
Module Category: Specialisation
Level (year of study): Year 2
Credit Units: 4 Modular Credits
Curriculum Hours: 90
Contact Hours: 60 over 15 weeks (4 hours per week)
Module Assessment: Continuous Assessment: 40%
- 15 Daily Grades
Summative Assessment: 60%
Understanding Test 1: 15% (written, open book, online)
Understanding Test 2: 15% (graded assignment)
Understanding Test 3: 30% (written, open book, online)
SECTION 2: MODULE OVERVIEW
This module probes students to question their reasons for composing music and in doing so
defines compositional practices in relation to both music and sonic art.
Throughout the module, students will experience the process of composition from notation,
through execution, to reception, and question this process in terms of aesthetics and
communication. A variety of compositional structuring processes are introduced including
generative, stochastic, probability, chance, aleatoric and through-composed (both notated
and graphic).
School of Technology for the Arts, Republic Polytechnic
Music Composition
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Students will also gain familiarity of a wide range of tools for composing, including through
composed tonal pieces, atonal works, improvisation as well as electro-acoustic works.
Students will discover different ways of notating music. Additionally, they will be introduced
to a number of acoustic instruments starting with their own body (voice and body
percussion) as well as traditional Western instruments and South East Asian instruments.
Modern studio based scoring and sequencing technologies form the context for this
module.
Students will develop their creativity as well as their compositional style and technique as
they compose works which will be performed at the end of the semester. Products of this
course will be valuable additions to students’ portfolios.
MODULE OUTCOMES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this module, students would have acquired the ability to:
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Articulate the principles behind well-crafted music composition
Identify various musical attributes of different genre/musical styles, and hence be able
to compose true-to-style in fulfilling a project brief
Illustrate the application of various techniques such as elaboration and decoration, in
melodic composition
Discuss the basic tools (soft-skills) and processes in music composition
Apply textural manipulation in the music composition
Appraise quality of composition through developed critical listening skill
Prepare score for rehearsal and recording sessions through the use of professional
music notation
Illustrate DAW (such as Pro Tools or Logic Pro Studio) operational competency through
creation of compositional draft
Illustrate continuing development of general musicianship
Discuss works to greater details (such as historical and social influence) through
developed research skills
Allocated time per day
Module Coverage
Discussions in
Study Cluster
Articulate the principles behind
well-crafted music composition
Identify various musical attributes of
different genre/musical styles, and
hence be able to compose true-tostyle in fulfilling a project brief
School of Technology for the Arts, Republic Polytechnic
Music Composition
Resource
gathering
and team
work
Skills acquisition
and practice
2
2
2
3
2
1
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Illustrate the application of various
techniques such as elaboration and
decoration, in melodic composition
Discuss the basic tools (soft-skills)
and processes in music composition
Apply textural manipulation in the
music composition
Appraise quality of composition
through developed critical listening
skill
Prepare score for rehearsal and
recording sessions through the use
of professional music notation
Illustrate DAW (such as Pro Tools or
Logic Pro Studio) operational
competency through creation of
compositional draft
Illustrate continuing development of
general musicianship
Discuss works to greater details
(such as historical and social
influence) through developed
research skills
Total = 15 Problems = 90 hours
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2
3
2
2
2
1
2
3
2
2
2
1
1
4
1
1
4
1
1
4
2
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2
TEACHING AND LEARNING
This module equips students who wish to pursue a career in the Creative Industries with
necessary creative, critical, and technical skills. The module emphasise traditional
intellectual skills in terms of writing short reports, and conducting appropriate research
when preparing for projects. Students are routinely required to conduct seminar discussions
and presentations. The Module inspires and nurtures creative expression, in terms of both
form and content, and in the context of both individual and group productions. Students are
encouraged to analyse contemporary culture to develop their area of expertise. Throughout
the module, engagement with new, digital technologies is emphasised.
The module is predominantly delivered via a problem based learning style curriculum.
However, up to 15% of the module uses a blend of cognitive apprenticeship and technical
hands-on tutorials style curriculum. The module is predominantly taught in a classroom,
professional studio and space that simulates a realistic professional setting, and also
involves mini project with a simulated industry client and mini project with a real industry
client.
LEARNING RESOURCES
School of Technology for the Arts, Republic Polytechnic
Music Composition
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Specialised equipment
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Music Notation Software such as Sibelius, Notion, MuseScore
Digital Audio Workstation such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro Studio
Specialised facilities
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Computer music suite with midi keyboard controller
Sound synthesis suite with analogue synthesizer such as Doepfer.
Recommended readings or references
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Alder, S. (2002). The Study of Orchestration, 3rd Edition. New York: W. W. Norton &
Company, Inc.
Aldwell, E. (2011). Harmony & Voice Leading, 4th Edition. Massachusetts: Schirmer.
Collier, G. (1975). Compositional Devices. Massachusetts: Berklee Press Publishing.
Jarrett, S. and Day, H. (2008). Music composition for dummies. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.
Kostka, S. and Payne, D. (2004). Tonal harmony, with an introduction to twentiethcentury music. Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Schifrin, L. and Feist, J. (n.d.). Music composition for film and television.
Online resources
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Groove3.com, (2015). Learn Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live and more - Training and
Tutorial Videos. [online] Available at: http://groove3.com
Macprovideo.com, (2015). macProVideo.com - Streaming Tutorial-Videos & HD
Training Downloads for Audio, Graphics, & Video Editing Software. [online] Available at:
http://macprovideo.com
School of Technology for the Arts, Republic Polytechnic
Music Composition
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