SEMESTER 1
MD6231: Workshop in Creative Music Practice
The Workshop in Creative Music Practice introduces students to a range of contemporary acoustic and electronic music practices. Composition, improvisation and performance practices from within and outside of oral traditions, both non-notation-based and notation-based, are explored, broadening the student’s experience of diverse concepts, methods and techniques, towards the development of their own distinctive creative practice.
MD6241: Peer Forum 1
Peer Forum 1 provides students with regular opportunities to present work-in-progress to their fellow students, receiving and offering valuable feedback on their creative output. Students share their work through performance or recordings, scores or other means. Learning from each other in a supportive environment, students develop their skills in creative practice, presentation/performance, listening, analysis, constructive critique and reflexivity.
MD6271: Composing Traditions Seminar
In this seminar students explore a range of historical and contemporary composition and creative music practices, styles and repertoires. Students contextualise their own practice and reflect on what it might mean to be a creative musician today. The seminar also addresses contemporary issues, such as the emerging creative dialogue between orality/aurality and literacy in music making, the development of interdisciplinary music practices, and the evolving relationship between music composition, performance and improvisation.
Select From Creative Pathways 1 Modules
Students choose one of following Creative Pathway Options:
- MD6261 Creating for the Voice
In Composing/Arranging for Voice students explore a variety of principles, practices and approaches regarding composition and arrangement for voice. Students study the analytical and compositional tools necessary to conceive original works as well as arrange existing music for solo voice and mixed vocal ensembles, as well as for voice(s) in the context of mixed instrumental ensembles.
- MD6251 Performance Practice 1 (Individual Tuition and Academy Ensembles)
In Performance Practice 1 students choose two performance classes from a diverse range of instrumental tuition and ensemble options. Students develop their individual instrumental (or vocal) performance practice and/or gain practical experience of diverse music ensemble practices and repertoires.
- CS6301 Realtime Audio and Video
In Realtime Audio and Video students explore sound and image synthesis and composition through real-time generative procedures. It includes classical synthesis techniques, live sound and image processing, and composition principles for live performance. These techniques are realised in the most recent, commonly-used software.
MD6091: Professional Development for the Performing Arts
In Professional Development for the Performing Arts students engage with various aspects of planning and management for professional artists. Students learn about the development of business plans, effective communication and pitching strategies, as well as core skills for the creative industries, such as financial planning and management.
SEMESTER 2
MD6212: Inter-Arts Music Making
The Inter-Arts Music Making module introduces students to collaborative, inter-arts music making, with the aim of developing interdisciplinary creative practices. Collaborating with professional artists working in diverse art forms, such as theatre, dance, performance art and visual media, students study interdisciplinary, collaborative artistic practices and strategies, and study and engage in co-creation and co-devising of artistic works.
MD6222: Peer Forum 2
Peer Forum 2 provides students with regular opportunities to present work-in-progress to their fellow students, receiving and offering valuable feedback on their creative output. Students share their work through performance or recordings, scores or other means. Learning from each other in a supportive environment, students develop their skills in creative practice, presentation/performance, listening, analysis, constructive critique and reflexivity.
Select From Creative Pathways 2 Modules
Students choose one of following Creative Pathway Options:
- MD6252:Composing/Arranging for Strings
In Composing/Arranging for Strings students explore approaches to composition and arrangement for strings (violin, viola, cello, bass) in an inclusive range of music genres. Students develop analytical and compositional tools necessary to conceive original works, as well as arrange existing music, for solo stringed instrument, string ensembles and string instruments in mixed-instrument ensembles. MD6232: Performance Practice (Academy Ensembles and Individual Tuition)
2. MD6251 Performance Practice 1 (Individual Tuition and Academy Ensembles)
In Performance Practice 2 students choose two performance classes from a diverse range of instrumental tuition and ensemble options. Students develop their individual instrumental (or vocal) performance practice and/or gain practical experience of diverse music ensemble practices and repertoires.
- MD6242: Improvisation
In Improvisation students explore a range of aesthetic and technical approaches to improvisation in current music and inter-arts practices. Students develop their knowledge of improvisation and their skills in applying that knowledge in their own practices.
MD6062: Critical Contexts of Arts Management and Cultural Policy
In Critical Contexts of Arts Management and Cultural Policy students are introduced to key ideas, issues and current debates in arts management and cultural policy, with an emphasis on interpretation and engagement with these important areas from the perspective of the professional artist. Students learn skills for effective preparation of funding applications and grant writing.
Electives
In Electives students choose two options from a diverse range of modules including: Independent Study, Irish World Academy Ensembles, Writing and Documentation of Arts Practice, Colloquium, Choreography for Camera, and Interdisciplinary Practice.
SEMESTER 3
MD5522: Final Project
For the Final Project each student devises and delivers a music composition/creative music-making project that demonstrates artistic originality and excellence in presentation and documentation skills. Final Project outputs may include one or more of the following: 1. portfolio of original compositions, presented in appropriate format(s), such as audio and video recordings or music scores. 2. performance of original music or inter-arts work. 3. thesis submission or written documentation.
