2025/26 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

MUS2321 Composition

20 Credits Class Size: 40

Module manager: Oliver Thurley
Email: o.thurley@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2025/26

Pre-requisite qualifications

This module covers a wide range of compositional approaches and will include elements of notation, both traditional and graphic which students should have some experience of prior to taking the module.

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module uses a variety of approaches to the making and composing of music from a range of traditions from the past fifty years, including for example, concert music, experimental popular music, and electronic music to help students begin to build an individual creative and artistic voice. Students will encounter a wide repertoire of musics from artists working in these and other related areas, and will create new work for instruments, electronic media, or a mixture of both, in response to the ideas and methods studied. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.

Objectives

The module extends your knowledge of recent approaches to making and composing music, working from multiple approaches, considering how and why you might make use of these in your own creative work. You will demonstrate your learning through the creation of new work, reflecting on and contextualising what you have done in an accompanying commentary.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:

1. Apply a range of appropriate approaches to the making and composition of music.
2. Situate (their own) music with respect to a range of musical contexts and critical perspectives.

Skills Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:

3. Reflect analytically on their own learning, achievement, and personal/professional development.
4. Communicate ideas in clear and structured ways.

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Seminar 20 1 20
Independent online learning hours 30
Private study hours 150
Total Contact hours 20
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 200

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students on this module are asked in advance to produce and bring sketches to classes and these are then fed-back on by tutors and peers in the sessions (at least for minimum of 2 sessions per semester).

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Coursework Portfolio 100
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list

Last updated: 21/03/2025

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team