Keele University Prospectus Undergraduate | 2016 | Page 170
HUMANITIES
Music
Overview
Music at Keele provides you with advanced musical
training while stimulating critical and creative
thinking, teaching key study skills, and developing
your abilities to work independently and as part of a
team. We teach in the early 19th century Clock House,
a listed building in a scenic part of the campus, and
the modern Lindsay Studios complex with seven
designated electronic studios, performance spaces
and purpose-built practice rooms.
There is a strong performing tradition at Keele.
You will be expected to actively participate in
performing groups such as the Keele Philharmonic
Orchestra, Keele Voices, Keele Bach Choir and Keele
Concert Band. Many other performance opportunities
also exist with student directed ensembles ranging
from recorder groups to rock bands.
Music runs a programme of recitals and research
seminars with visiting speakers and performers and
there are regular opportunities for participation in
workshops and concerts. Keele Concerts Society
runs an additional professional concert series which
feature an international array of critically acclaimed
performers. In addition, there is an increasing
range of events and concerts in the local area,
with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, for instance,
being a regular visitor to the Regent Theatre. The
major concert halls in Liverpool, Manchester and
Birmingham are also within easy reach, and Music
runs regular trips to concerts and musical events in
the surrounding area.
Course content
Instrumental lessons
Instrumental or singing lessons are available to you
during the first year at the rate of 12 hours of tuition
per year, while all students taking recital electives
receive lessons in subsequent years. Currently,
students taking Solo Performance in the second
year receive 12 hours of lessons and 24 hours of
small group work, and finalists taking a double
recital receive 14 hours of lessons in addition to
a significant amount of additional small group
teaching and coaching throughout the academic
year. Most lessons are given at Keele by visiting
instrumental and vocal teachers.
First year
You will take core modules and optional electives
designed to equip you with knowledge and expertise
in a broad range of music while developing your
analytical, practical, theoretical and scholarly skills.
Core modules are:
• 20th Century Musics
• Active Listening
• Sonic Arts Repertoire
170
Unless you opt for the non-performance route from
the first year, you will be expected to take the
elective Instrumental Lessons, a module in
performance relating to vocal or instrumental tuition.
Additional optional modules currently include:
• Popular Music
• Introduction to Composition
• Sound Recording
• Composing with Sound
• Surround Sound
• Audio Fundamentals
Second year
In the second year you will begin to weight your
studies towards your key interests. You can choose
from a range of modules including:
• Solo Performance
• Chamber Music
• Composition Studies: Intermediate Composition
• Orchestration
• Music in German Culture
• Stravinsky
• Theory and Analysis
• Unheard Melodies? Music in the Narrative Film
• Indian Music
• Creative Sound Design
• Real time Sound Processing
• Record Production in Theory and Practice
Third year
During your third year you will be able to specialise
in performance, composition and musicology.
The core modules are:
• Recital
• Composition
• Dissertation
The third year electives include:
• Approaches to Music Analysis
• Analysis Project
• Paris 1889-1939
• Contextual Studies
• Colloquia in Electronic Music
• Music Programming
• Digital Arts Creative Portfolio