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MUS-20082 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 09 May 2024

MUS-20082 - Augmenting Live Performance
Coordinator: Tim Canfer
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

In this module you will have the opportunity to learn leading-edge modern live music performance techniques, to build your own digital performance devices and to apply them live. You will explore current and historic issues in the area of liveness and learn the semiotics of performance. This is our critically engaged, digital performance playground; come join us!

Aims
To establish an awareness of liveness as a critical factor in modern music performance event production.
To explore current and historical performance and production practice in the context of musical expression and semiotics.
To develop the music production concepts and techniques needed to augment a live performance event.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate a critical awareness of liveness and musical-visual agency in modern music performance events: 1
Critically analyse examples of creative practice showing different approaches to liveness and musical-visual agency in modern music performance events: 1
Apply music production concepts and techniques in augmenting a live performance event: 2
Demonstrate an awareness of musical-visual agency in augmenting a live performance event: 2

Study hours

Active Learning Hours:
12 hours of lectures, seminars and demonstrations
12 hours of workshops
6 hours of small group tutorials
Independent Study Hours:
30 hours of preparation for workshops, group work and tutorials
90 hours of preparation for the summative assessment

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 40%
Case Study Report
Students will demonstrate awareness of the key concepts, including liveness and the semiotics of modern musical performance events. These concepts will be explained and discussed in a 1500-word report in the context of at least two examples of notable live performance events. One or both of these performances must be appropriately referenced and accessible on a broadcast platform (i.e. iPlayer or YouTube). One performance event may be attended over the semester and must be evidenced by the student's observation notes from the event. These notes should be transcribed and included in an appendix. Students should reflect on the following factors in their consideration of the performance events: - Genre, musical context, and benchmark performance conventions - Exchange of energy between performers and audience (e.g. elements that demonstrate musical-visual agency - Relevant venue-based specifics (e.g. sound reinforcement and lighting) This report should critically analyse the examples and explore how they could inform the student's own practice.

2: Performance weighted 60%
Augmented Live Performance
In small groups, students will create a live music performance. This performance will demonstrate modern music production techniques that augment a live performance event and engage the audience. Performances will last between 10-15 minutes for each group member. A second marker will be present at the performances. Students will complete a 1000-word report each, detailing the techniques used, the concepts behind them and an evaluation of the performance. Students need to make it clear what their own contributions, roles and responsibilities were (and these need to be consistent within groups). Assessment weighting is 70% performance, 30% report.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 09 May 2024