Course description
Introduction
This course is designed to enable students to pursue, at an advanced level, practical, creative and academic studies using interactive software. These studies are centred on the strengths of the Department of Music Technology’s existing provision in electronic music, interactive composition and electroacoustic music performance.
You will produce installations or other interactive works employing computer programming techniques developed in a suite of available software (Max/Msp/Jitter, PD, 3D-Max etc). Tutorials provide an opportunity for you to discuss creative and technical issues with your tutor and in particular the interrelation of technology and creativity. You will be encouraged to develop your aural and visual imagination for interactive works and immersive environments. For the postgraduate diploma you will create a folio of interactive works fusing a variety of techniques. The precise nature of the interactive works submitted is flexible to allow for differing creative interests but your tutor will advise you as to what is appropriate.
At the master's level you will create either a large-scale single interactive work or a multi-part work; in creating this work you must also demonstrate that you are capable of utilising interactive technology on such a scale and that you are capable of working without continuous tutorial support. The interactive works will be equivalent to the module tariffs set out within the School.
Course Structure
Full-time MA/PgDip
Postgraduate Study Skills
Interactive Arts Practice Today
Interactive and Digital Technologies
Interactive Sound Design 1 & 2
Part-time MA/PgDip
Year 1
Postgraduate Study Skills
Interactive Sound Design 1
Interactive and Digital Technologies
Interactive Arts Practice Today
Year 2
Interactive Sound Design 2
Students must accumulate 120 credits to be eligible for the award of postgraduate diploma in Music and a further 60 credits for the award of MA in Interactive Sound Design. The postgraduate diploma level comprises an integrated programme of taught elements which include tutorials/lessons in interactive sound design (Interactive and Digital Technologies) and guided project work. There are two modules of supporting studies taken by all students (Postgraduate Study Skills and Interactive Arts Practice Today, each 15 credits).
Teaching and Assessment
As far as possible all teaching on the MA in Music, MA in Computer Composition and MA in Interactive Sound Design is concentrated on a single day within each week (or fortnight for part-time students) so that postgraduate students are able to meet together socially as well as within the modules of supporting studies taken = by all students.
Contact time is normally about five to six hours per week at master's/postgraduate diploma levels for a full-time student. Formal assessment will take place at the end of the postgraduate diploma and MA levels of the pathway with some intermediate assessment for part-time students at the end of Year 1. The pass mark in all modules is 40 per cent. An overall mark of 70 per cent in modules to the value of 180 credits, or an aggregate mark of 70 per cent or above in modules to the value of 120 credits, constitutes a distinction.
Those students who are unable to complete the pathway but who can complete modules to the value of 60 credits may be awarded a postgraduate certificate in Music.
Other Information
Research Environment
The Music Department offers an outstanding research environment for both music and music technology. The Department scored a 5 in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, and all full-time staff are active researchers, as performers, composers or musicologists. The Creative Arts Building (newly completed in 2008) comprises purpose-built facilities, including concert hall, extensive studio facilities and sound-proofed rehearsal spaces. The University Library has an impressive range of research materials and multimedia resources, and houses special archival collections (including that of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival).
The School offers bursaries towards the cost of taught MA and MMus courses, which serve as ideal preparation for research degrees (MPhil and PhD), which are offered in all disciplines. A number of our postgraduates are employed as teaching assistants, providing a useful stepping-stone towards an academic career. In addition to subject-specific skills students will develop their intellectual selfconfidence and capacity for independent study and a portfolio of key skills that distinguishes all disciplines in Higher Education
