COURSE IN DEPTH
Year one
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Principal Study 1
40 credits
This module lies at the heart of the course and of the learning experience for students on the BMus (Hons) Jazz. It is the first of a suite of principal study modules taken across the four years of the course and as such, it is therefore the first stage in realizing course aims 1, 2 and 4 (Pursuing excellence; practice-led, knowledge applied; employability) in preparing musicians for the profession; nurturing their creativity as performers; and developing high standards of musicianship and technique.
The module provides students with the opportunity to explore and develop their creative musicianship in the context of performance, and technical skills in relation to the jazz aural tradition. To learn and develop as a performer, an aspiring jazz musician needs regular playing opportunities that provide a forum for group improvisation. They also need contact with a mentor to help develop techniques and improvisatory language and need inspiration through example by leading performers in the field (aim 1. Pursuing excellence).
Essential to the culture and community of jazz music is the standard repertoire. This allows individual performers to share a common language with many other musicians and also provides a fundamental foundation in learning how to address forms (aim 2. Practice led, knowledge applied), elements that are addressed in preparing for the end-of year performance exam.
Students will have one-to-one tuition throughout the year, allocated to specific teachers and activities in negotiation with the Head of Department. This is complemented by departmental workshops and masterclasses on performance repertoire, where both the exposure to a range of repertoire and to the variety of approaches by a range of international practitioners contribute to course aim 5 (Internationalisation).
Praxis 1
40 credits
A central tenet of the programme philosophy is the development of informed jazz musicians equipped to enter the profession. This module recognises the need for jazz musicians to have a highly developed approach to creativity (aim 1: pursuing excellence) reinforced by a thorough grasp of musical techniques and theories which are realized in practice through composition and core associated skills as preparation for improvisation (aim 2: practice led, knowledge applied). In this module first year students have the opportunity to develop skills in composition, and to develop their harmonic knowledge through keyboard skills and ear training The nature of the small-band work promotes the development of personal and interpersonal skills with particular reference to the cooperative and collaborative environment of the music profession and encourages students to develop a view of jazz as an international discipline with important links to numerous world cultures (aim 4: employability; aim 5: internationalization)
In this module, students are introduced to a variety of compositional techniques and strategies and to key areas of jazz harmony through keyboard and aural work, designed to enable them to develop their improvisational language, compose melodic lines that work within the jazz vernacular, and to develop and refine skills and knowledge relevant to a career in the music profession.
Listening and Context 1
20 credits
A central tenet of the programme philosophy is the development of informed jazz musicians. This module contributes to this by providing an overview of the historical development of the music.
Students will employ listening skills and analytical skills to understand musical processes historically, socially and technically and to articulate their musical understanding in both written form and by aural examination.
This module contributes to the delivery of programme aims 1 and 2: pursuing excellence through a wider knowledge of jazz history and developing skills to employ knowledge-applied research, which will in turn inform the student’s own musical practice. With guidance from the lecturer, each student chooses their own topic for the essay, thus enabling students to develop as informed practitioners within their discipline, cultivating an appreciation of key historical concepts and analytical processes to enrich performance and composition. It also contributes to programme aim 5, internationalization, in exposing students to a range of research practices and musicological approaches that encourage a broad, global outlook, and to aim 4, employability, in the development of core research, writing and aural skills.
Professional Portfolio 1: Community Engagement
20 credits
Within the modern profession, most musicians will spend a proportion of their time working in educational and community outreach contexts, presenting live music/composition workshops and/or interactive performances in settings away from the formal concert platform, in venues such as schools, hospitals, care homes, and rehabilitation centres. This module aims to give you a practical and theoretical introduction to the wide range of music activities taking place in community/education settings [aim 2: practice-led, knowledge-applied] and therefore represents an aspect of preparing you for the profession as well as guiding you in your career aspirations by familiarising you with this important area of potential employment [aim 4 employability]. The activities within the module include practical tuition in conducting, and participation in a range of workshops with different interdisciplinary focuses including world music, jazz, composition-based, therapeutic, voice-led, and instrument-led [aim 3: interdisciplinarity]. This broad introduction to workshop facilitation strategies across different disciplines helps to promote an open-minded and enquiring attitude and enables you to build a ‘toolkit’ of workshop facilitation strategies, including musical warm ups, games, activities and communication techniques (musical, verbal, non-verbal), which will be useful for your future career. You will also critique video footage of professionals at work and reflect on your experiences during the module in order to inform a) a collaborative task where you will work with your peers to devise, deliver and engage your fellow students in a short interactive workshop; and b) your overall professional development [aim 1: pursuing excellence].
This module also continues to prepare musicians for the profession in respect of the personal and interpersonal skills required in the cooperative and collaborative environment of professional music making, and the qualities and attributes necessary for a career as a professional musician [aim 1, aim 4].
Year two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Principal Study 2
40 credits
This module lies at the heart of the course and of the learning experience for students on the BMus (Hons) Jazz. It is the second of a suite of principal study modules taken across the four years of the course and as such, it is therefore the next stage in realizing course aims 1, 2 and 4 (Pursuing excellence; practice-led, knowledge applied; employability) in preparing musicians for the profession; nurturing their creativity as performers; and developing high standards of musicianship and technique.
The module provides students with the opportunity to explore and develop their creative musicianship in the context of performance, and technical skills in relation to the jazz aural tradition. To learn and develop as a performer, an aspiring jazz musician needs regular playing opportunities that provide a forum for group improvisation. They also need contact with a mentor to help develop techniques and improvisatory language and need inspiration through example by leading performers in the field (aim 1. Pursuing excellence).
Essential to the culture and community of jazz music is the standard repertoire. This allows individual performers to share a common language with many other musicians and also provides a fundamental foundation in learning how to address forms (aim 2. Practice led, knowledge applied), elements that are addressed in preparing for the end-of year performance exam.
Praxis 2
40 credits
A central tenet of the course philosophy is the development of informed jazz musicians. This module recognises the need for jazz musicians to have a highly developed approach to creativity reinforced by a thorough grasp of musical techniques and theories which are realized in practice through composition and improvisation. In this module students have the opportunity to build upon the knowledge and skills gained in the Praxis 1 module and acquire further proficiencies in composition and improvisation which are essential for the aspiring jazz musician (aim 4: employability). The nature of the small-band work promotes the development of personal and interpersonal skills with particular reference to the cooperative and collaborative environment of the music profession and encourages students to develop a view of jazz as an international discipline with important links to numerous world cultures (aim 5: internationalization).
Listening and Context 2
20 credits
A central tenet of the course philosophy is the development of informed jazz musicians. This module contributes to this through the exploration and development of an in-depth knowledge of the key moments in the history of jazz. Students will employ listening skills and analytical skills to understand musical processes historically, socially and technically and to articulate their musical understanding and develop their own insights in both written form and through oral presentation.
This module contributes to the delivery of course aims 1 and 2: pursuing excellence through a wider knowledge of jazz history and developing skills to employ knowledge-applied research, which will in turn inform the student’s own musical practice. Alongside guidance from the lecturer, each student define their own specialist topic for the proposal and presentation, thus enabling them to develop as informed practitioners within their discipline, cultivating an appreciation of key historical concepts and analytical processes to enrich performance and composition. It also contributes to course aim 5, Internationalization, in exposing students to a range of research practices and musicological approaches that encourage a broad, global outlook, and to aim 4, Employability, in the development of core research, writing and presentation skills, including PowerPoint as required.
Professional Portfolio 2: Pedagogy and practice
20 credits
The course’s primary aim, central to its philosophy, is to equip students for a career in the music profession. Many Conservatoire graduates will teach as part of their professional life, and in the second year of the course you will study the pedagogical aspects of your principal-study discipline as an important aspect of preparing you for the profession. This will equip you with additional skills which are likely to prove useful in your future musical career [aim 4: employability]
Through devising and improvisation, the module also promotes an open and enquiring attitude to areas of music with which you may not already be familiar [aim 5: internationalisation]. This not only cultivates creativity for your performing and composing work: the materials and approaches used in the workshops contribute to a ‘toolkit’ of teaching strategies needed by successful educators in the 21st century [aim 2: practice-led, knowledge-applied].
Year three
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):
Principal Study 3
40 credits
This module lies at the heart of the course and of the learning experience for students on the BMus (Hons) Jazz. It is the third of a suite of principal study modules taken across the four years of the course and as such, it is therefore the next stage in realizing course aims 1, 2 and 4 (Pursuing excellence; practice-led, knowledge applied; employability) in preparing musicians for the profession; nurturing their creativity as performers; and developing high standards of musicianship and technique.
The module provides students with the opportunity to explore and develop their creative musicianship in the context of performance, and technical skills in relation to the jazz aural tradition. The process of acquiring a musical identity as a jazz performer is developed primarily through gaining experience of performing in the small band situation. In this module the student takes the role of leader of a group of improvising musicians and is required to choose his/ her own repertoire and personnel for the band (aim 1. Pursuing excellence). This is a great challenge that requires a sophisticated range of skills and a developing artistic sensibility. The process of working towards end-of-year performance provides the creative space in which the aspiring jazz performer has the opportunity to draw on their musical knowledge to experiment with different musical concepts, both in rehearsal and in performance, get constructive critical feedback from peers to facilitate reflection and instigate change and further development (aim 2. Practice-led, knowledge applied).
Music Production
40 credits
A central pillar of the course philosophy is the development of informed jazz musicians.
The current professional landscape dictates that practitioners require a broad skills base in multiple areas as: performers, composers and project instigators. Students are therefore encouraged to develop their entrepreneurial, enterprising, independent and professional approaches (aim 1: pursuing excellence; aim 4: employability).
As such, this module aligns two central components of: recording and composition/arranging. These two elements result in the production of both a studio recording project portfolio and a composition/arrangement portfolio. This offers the opportunity for students to arrange one piece for nonet, compose one piece for big band and perform and record one free choice piece for small ensemble. The portfolio will therefore include three recorded works (ca.15mins) and associated materials.
Music Promotion
20 credits
Artistic and creative qualities need to be developed alongside a pragmatic and realistic understanding of the music industry (aim 1: Pursuing excellence). Aspiring jazz musicians need experience and understanding of the means of projecting creative outputs into the public domain both for commercial returns and for the development of artist profile within the cultural landscape (aim 2: Practice led, knowledge applied)
This module provides experience in music promotion, which can take place in the context of either live performance events or publishing creative outputs via digital media (aim 3: Interdisciplinarity). Both aspects will involve developing an understanding of how to use digital media for marketing, distribution and promotion processes and their associated professional and legal practices. (aim 4. Employability).
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
Collaborative practice
20 credits
The ability to work collaboratively in a team is a vital employability skill within the Creative Industries. This module is an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of collaboration by enabling you to create a group project with students from complementary disciplines.
Live Project
20 credits
This module provides an opportunity for you to apply your knowledge and skills to an external, professional brief. The brief will be set by an external client/ agency, in consultation with your supervisor, and it could be a ‘real life’ problem to be solved, or a simulation. It is an opportunity for you to engage in a professional manner with an aspect of your subject area, which contributes to the development of employability skills within the supportive infrastructure of the University. Where appropriate, the project may involve interdisciplinary collaboration with students from other courses. In this way, it reflects the collaborative, flexible nature of employment within the Creative Industries.
Work Placement
20 credits
The purpose of this module is to enable you to develop professional attributes and subject skills through experience in the work place, and to critically reflect upon your learning in that context. You will normally be expected to arrange your own placement, with support from academic staff and ADM Careers+.
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Year four
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 120 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
Optional modules
120 credits
In Year 4, all students will select a total of 120 credits which must include at least 80 and no more than 100 credits from List A and at least 20 and no more than 40 credits from list B.
List A
- Principal Study 4: 40 credits
- Principal Study 4: 60 credits
- Final Project: 40 credits
- Final Project: 60 credits
- Major Project: 40 credits
List B
- Further Pedagogy: 20 credits
- Music, Community and Wellbeing: 20 credits
- Language of Music: Specialisms 2: 20 credits
- Contextual Studies: Specialisms 2: 20 credits
Professional Development: 20 credits
Work Placement: 20 credits
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
