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MUS-20084 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

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

MUS-20084 - Digital Sampling
Coordinator: Manuella Blackburn Room: CKF07 Tel: +44 1782 7 33298
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

no.

Barred Combinations

N/A

Description for 2024/25

Are you curious about sampling in music and music production? Do you want to learn the practical skills to use sampling techniques effectively in your own music? Are you curious about the history and legacy of sampling? Do you know what you can and cannot sample in your own music making? This module opens up discussions on sample use and creative applications. You will learn and interact with software that encourages creativity with sound sampling, learning practical techniques and creating new music. You will consider the history, legacy and context of sampling, sampling technology and sampling techniques. You will assess a wide range of music genres, sampling types and discover landmark cases of legal rulings regarding music sampling that have shaped the way we work with samples.

Aims
To better understand the notion of digital sampling.
To establish a foundation for practical and theoretical implementation of digital sampling techniques for future exploration at Level 6.
To provide an introduction to the legal entities surrounding copyright law in relation to digital sampling for guidance and reference in future practical work.

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate a thorough understanding of digital sampling practices currently in use: 1,2
implement a variety of sampling tools, techniques and types within creative and theoretical situations: 1,2
demonstrate an understanding of copyright law in relation to sampling practices, current case studies and repertoire situations involving case law: 2
reflect critically upon repertoire involving sampling within contemporary times: 2

Study hours

24 hours of contact time, to include:
4 two-hour lectures
8 two-hours workshops
Independent study, 126 of private study and project work:
38 hours of preparation for workshops and tutorials
88 hours of preparation for the summative assessment

School Rules

All technical content / skills required will be covered in the lectures and workshops however students should have a basic level of previous experience with music production software (DAWs) and/or basic musical experience. If you are unsure whether you have the required background / skills for this module please contact the module convener.

Description of Module Assessment

1: Creative Brief weighted 50%
Production project employing a range of digital sampling techniques and processes accompanied by a programme note
A produced track, between 2-3 minutes in length, employing a range of digital sampling techniques and processes covered in the module¿s workshops and lectures. The track should demonstrate creativity and technical skill when integrating sampled material into composition and production work. A programme note (between 400-500 words) related to the creative work is required to provide detail about the new track. This should state the sampled work(s) and any transformation activity undertaken by the student in this assessment. The mark is derived from assessing the track. The programme note is there to assist the examiner in understanding what musical content has been sampled and what technical processes have been implemented to include this audio in a new context.

2: Essay weighted 50%
Essay on sampling examples chosen from the repertoire and genre of the student's choice (1500 words)
Essay topic and title will be negotiated between the student and the module leader. Topics could include: sampling techniques, transforming samples, historically significant cases of sampling, ethics and legalities of sampling, rationales for sampling. The essay should draw upon key theories and concepts relating to sampling culture, and intertextuality as covered in class

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