Semester 1
MD6171 Framing Irish Music: Sources and Discourses 1
The purpose of this module is to explore the printed, manuscript, and audio-visual sources of Irish Music, and to examine the main discourses around this music over the past three centuries.
MD6021 Introduction to Fieldwork Techniques
In this module you will learn appropriate methods and techniques for research and documentation of performance practices in the field. Topics relating to fieldwork, ethical principles, participant observation, interview techniques, and fieldnote taking are covered. Key issues in epistemology and methodology for such research will be raised and discussed and will be informed by supporting literature.
MU6061 Music Ethnography
This module introduces students to the theory, methods and techniques for sustained ethnographic inquiry into music and music cultures. Students are introduced to fieldwork practices and the values underlying good practice in ethnographic inquiry. Students develop documentation skills and approaches to writing about music performance, and explore strategies for effective listening and transcription.
MD6161 Irish Traditional Music Performance Research Seminar
This module will introduce students to current research in the area of traditional music studies. This research will be engaged through the critical assessment of current publications in the field, examining developments in the epistemology and phenomenology of current critical academic engagement with this historical artistic practice. The module will particularly examine the impact, real and potential, of these developments on the performance practice.
MD6041 Introduction to Ritual Studies
This module provides an introduction to ritual studies as an inter-disciplinary discourse drawing on anthropology, sociology, religious studies, ethnomusicology, ethnochoreology, festive arts and performance studies. It introduces a number of ritual case studies including historical and cross-cultural examples, with an emphasis on Irish ritual practices.
Electives
MD6111 Colloquium 1
This module exposes students to scholarship and performance practices from a wide variety of music and dance and related disciplines, enabling students to broaden their perspectives on their own specialization as well as experience presentations from scholars and performers in cognate disciplines. Students are expected to attend a minimum of five seminars from the various series offered in the Academy.
MD6051 Independent Study 1
This module provides a space to engage in the study of a topic/subject of their own choice. Students organise their tuition and the assessment mechanism in consultation with their course director. A broad range of existing modules from the various postgraduate offerings at the Academy are also available for students to chose from.
MD6031 Media Technologies for Performing Arts and Arts Research
This module provides an introduction into current media technologies as they are used in the fields of performing arts, creative arts therapies, and arts research; to develop essential skills and fluency in these technologies in order to use them competently, creatively, and effectively in one’s own specific discipline.
MD6071 Writing & the Documentation of Arts Practice 1
This module explores the documentation of performance practices, with a focus on writing. It introduces forms of documentation emerging from personal memory data, self observation + reflection, and the collection of data from external sources. Registers of writing and the role of writing in the creative process are examined.
Semester 2
MD6152 Framing Irish Music: Sources and Discourses 2
The purpose of this module is to explore the printed, manuscript, and audio-visual sources of Irish Music, and to examine the main discourses around this music over the past three centuries.
MD6081 Critical Engagements with Irish Traditional Music
In this module students will examine writings on and sources of Irish traditional music to enhance their understanding of this tradition. They will critically engage with texts relevant to Irish traditional music studies and related fields.
MU5022 Anthropology of Music
An advanced level seminar in which students actively engage with contemporary theoretical discourse in the field addressing such issues such as: music and identity; music and gender; music and nationalism; globalization and localization of traditional musics; music and minorities; applied ethnomusicology; and others as appropriate for students’ research interests.
OR
MU5612 Traditional Irish Music Practicum 2
In this module students create, design and manage their own performance programme under the supervision of the Course Director. To this end students attend instrumental / voice classes with tutors in a variety of teaching contexts, adopted in accordance with the needs of the student and the optimum teaching environment for the tutor. These classes will be masterclass style. As part of this module there is also an emphasis on various ensemble performances, which are constructed in workshops led by the students and visiting tutors.
Electives
MD6111 Colloquium 2
This module exposes students to scholarship and performance practices from a wide variety of music and dance and related disciplines, enabling students to broaden their perspectives on their own specialization as well as experience presentations from scholars and performers in cognate disciplines. Students are expected to attend a minimum of five seminars from the various series offered in the Academy.
MD6052 Independent Study 2
This module provides a space to engage in the study of a topic/subject of their own choice. Students organise their tuition and the assessment mechanism in consultation with their course director. A broad range of existing modules from the various postgraduate offers at the Academy is also available for students to chose from.
MD6062 Critical Contexts for Arts Management and Cultural Policy
As part of this module, students are introduced to key ideas, issues and current debates in arts management and cultural policy. There is an emphasis on the interpretation and engagement with cultural policy from the perspective of a practitioner, and its relation to funding applications. The development of effective funding application skills and grant writing are also covered in this module.
Semester 3
MD5522: Final Presentation
The Final Presentation may take the form of a written thesis of 15,000 words with accompanying media or it may incorporate a final performance together with a shorter written component. Topic proposals are generally finalized early in the Spring semester and investigation of its theoretical perspective undertaken as a part of the Spring semester modules. Students work independently over the summer and the submission is presented late in August.
