- Year of study: Year 2, over one semester (autumn).
- Final assessment: Term paper
- Prerequisites: Admission to the Master of Music in Practice-Oriented Music Analysis Programme
- Language of instruction: Norwegian or English.
Course description
The course deals with musical ear in connection with the study of cognitive processes where humans perceive, react to and create music. The course will provide basic knowledge in music cognition and a basis for artistic, scientific and pedagogical approaches related to aural skills.
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student is expected to
- have knowledge of cognitive processes in musical performance
- be able to articulate and discuss ear-related issues concerning music performance
- know and demonstrate varied learning and practice strategies for aural training, and reflect on these in light of music perception, music cognition and learning psychology
- have knowledge of central literature and current research in the field of music cognition
Overview
The course addresses issues related to music cognition, aural skills and musical performance:
- Listening, musical memory, audiation, memorization, auditory analysis
- Music notation and note reading
- Intonation and standardized temperaments
- Learning strategies, social and cultural impact, concepts such as ear types, absolute ear, talent and musicality
- Music, the ear and the brain
- Work on your own ear skills
Structure
The course is mainly conducted as seminars, practical assignments and literature studies. In connection with the seminars, a common syllabus of approximately 300 pages is normally arranged. Reading list will be available at the start of the semester.
Course requirements
The student will write three abstracts as draft essays (see point on Final assessment below). Each of the summaries should be 150–200 words. The topic of the summaries is given by the lecturer in the course. Deadline: All three abstracts must be submitted by 15 November.
All course requirements must be met in order for the student to be given a final assessment.
Final assessment
Term paper
The student will be judged on the basis of the learning objectives for the course. The student will write an essay on a given topic based on the course syllabus. The essay should be based on one of the abstracts the student wrote in the work requirement. Scope: 2000-3000 words (parts of the written material may be analyses, transcripts, etc.).
Deadline: The semester assignment must be submitted to the teacher in the course by 15 December. The assessment is expressed in the form of a pass/fail.
Reassessment
The same rules apply to reassessments as to ordinary assessments.