- Year of study: Years 1 and 2, over 3 semesters (autumn-spring-autumn).
- Final assessment: Exam Portfolio.
- Prerequisites: Admission to the Master of Music in Performance Degree Programme.
- Language of instruction: Scandinavian/English.
Course description
This course is for students in the following degree programme and concentration: Master of Music in Performance – Nordic Master: The Composing Musician (NoCoM).
The course takes place over three semesters. The student plans, completes, and evaluates one individual project in each semester, for a total of three-semester projects.
Learning objectives
The student will
- acquire the ability to initiate, complete, and direct an artistic project
- acquire the ability to complete interdisciplinary artistic projects
- demonstrate a reflective perspective on her/his role as a performer in a societal context
- be able to communicate critical issues concerning her/his field
- show insight into and critically assess ethical norms and issues of a musical and professional nature
Overview
Joint start-up modules
Each semester begins with an intensive (approx. 5 days) start-up module in which all the students in the programme meet at one of the three participating institutions. The hosting responsibility for these start-up modules rotates among the institutions.
Examples of content in the start-up modules:
- Workshops with ensemble play for students and teachers, creative work etc.
- Presentations of the students' ideas for the semester projects and Master's Project.
- Presentation of research and artistic development work.
- Presentation of the study opportunities at the participating institutions and external collaborators in various disciplinary/focus areas.
Semester projects
The student plans and completes, and evaluates one individual project in each semester, for a total of three-semester projects. Each semester project must be completed artistic projects developed to prepare the student for the Master's Project but must comprise no part of it. Projects are documented in a format (e.g. concert, recording) agreed upon with the local advisor. A short written reflection paper on the project processes is submitted at the completion of each semester project.
Semester project requirements:
- At least one of the semester projects must be interdisciplinary/combine multiple artistic expressions (for example by including elements such as dance, imagery, film, etc.).
- At least one of the semester projects must be performed/presented at en external venue (outside of the study institution).
- At least one of the short written reflection papers must discuss industry or business perspectives and the place of music in society.
- In at least one of the project performances/presentations, the student must partake as a musical performer.
Structure
Each student is assigned a principal supervisor at the home institution (the Norwegian Academy of Music, "NMH"); this supervisor is normally an internal member of the faculty. For the duration of the course, the principal supervisor provides individual advising, review, and assessment of student goals, artistic choices and focus questions for projects. In addition, each student is assigned a local advisor at each of the exchange institutions. The local advisor will partake in discussions and facilitate the coordination of courses and instruction while the student is at the exchange institution (second/third semester).
It is each individual student's responsibility to ensure her/his study progress. The student must take administrative charge of scheduling regular appointments with principal supervisor and local advisors, in addition to performing and submitting required course material (sheet music, recordings, project description(s) etc.), in order to ensure the expected course progression.
The student is responsible for the practical and financial management of all activities related to her/his project (incl. concert/presentation organization, audio/video recording(s), and project development) within the framework of the resources offered by the study institution.
Structure and recommended scope of instruction are further outlined (under Organisation) in the programme curriculum.
Students have registered automatically for instruction/supervision and assessment in the course, in accordance with the study progress requirements set out in the individual programme plan.
Course requirements
1. Compulsory participation in three start-up modules
At the beginning of each semester, the student must participate in the intensive (approx. five days) joint start-up module, three in total.
2. Presentation of the one-semester project
During one of the start-up modules, the student must present one of her/his semester projects for the other students.
3. Student folder of submitted of course work
The following submitted course materials are collected in a student folder:
- Project plans for each semester project submitted to principal supervisor (by 1 November / 1 April for projects to be completed in the following semester).
- Documentation of completed semester projects in an appropriate format (approximate duration: 45 minutes per project) submitted with a log/short reflection paper for each project (scope: approximately 1200 words per project) to the student's local advisor by a deadline determined by the advisor.
Deadline: 15 November in the third semester. All materials must be completed, submitted and approved by the principal supervisor by this deadline.
Final assessment
All course requirements must be fulfilled and attested before the student is given a final assessment.
Students are assessed in relation to the learning objectives. The final assessment will be given as a pass/fail mark, which will be determined on the basis of the submitted exam portfolio. Assessments will be carried out by at least two internal examiners. One of the examiners is normally the student's principal supervisor.
Exam portfolio
From the student folder the student selects the following materials to compile an exam portfolio for the final assessment:
- The project plan, documentation materials, and short reflection paper for one of the semester projects.
Deadline: 1 December in the third and final semester of the course is the deadline for the Exam Portfolio to be submitted in two copies (both clearly labelled with student ID, name and study programme) to the Exams Office at the student's home institution.
In the case of re-assessment, the same procedures as for an ordinary assessment will be followed.