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Overview

This module acts as formal preparation for the 60-credit Masters Project taken by students across the MA Music, Society and Culture, MMus Composition and Sonic Art, and MMus Performance programmes. The Masters Project submission can take various forms depending on the programme followed, typically: dissertation, edition or analysis and commentary (MA Music, Society and Culture); portfolio of compositions (MMus Composition and Sonic Art); recital (MMus Performance).

This module will explore current research methodologies and methods and prepare students to undertake the extended summer project, with specific guidance relevant to the programme followed.

Students will be introduced to research techniques and methodologies in preparation for the extended summer project. Some sessions will be taught across all Music MA programmes, while others will be taught according to the programme followed. Indicative topics include: research essentials; reviewing literature; replicating studies; finding data; methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, mixed); methods of data acquisition; research ethics; conducting interviews; compiling questionnaires; planning an extended project; planning a recital programme; writing creative practice as research commentaries; academic writing style and scholarly conventions.

As part of the module students will submit their project proposal for the extended project (core 60-credit Masters Project), as well as any necessary ethical / copyright approval if required.

Assessment Strategy

Threshold (C– to C+, 50-59%) Work which demonstrates an understanding of the module content and the ability to think in an informed and logical manner, and which is expressed coherently.

Good (B– to B+, 60-69%) Work which demonstrates mastery of the module content and the ability to think in a considered manner, and which is expressed with clarity and acuity.

Excellent (A– to A*, 70-100%) Work which demonstrates new insight into the module content and the ability to think in an original and conceptual manner, and which is expressed persuasively.

Relevant Masters-level Explicit Marking Criteria (for Musicology, Composition, and/or Music Performance) will also be used when assessing student work on this module. These may be found on the Blackboard page for this module.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate the ability to critique research questions and the methodologies and methods used to address them.

• Demonstrate the ability to produce work written and structured in an appropriate academic style.

• Evaluate methodological and ethical issues pertaining to data collection and analysis and / or creative practice as research.

• Generate research questions and hypotheses relevant to issues in music research and / or creative practice as research.

• Produce a coherent and feasible research proposal, suitable for masters level.