Overview
Creative music composition, including songwriting, music for film and theatre, arranging and writing idiomatically for instruments.
Contemporary Composition focuses on both songwriting and composition. Prospects for a career as a composer or songwriter are enhanced by a greater knowledge of a diverse range of music. We encourage students to have 'many strings to their bow', in order to meet the challenges of the modern music industry. This paper develops a range of skills and provides good vocational support for a career as a creative musician.
About this paper
| Paper title | Contemporary Composition |
|---|---|
| Subject | Music |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 2 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,173.30 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- MUSI 101 and either (MUSI 131 or MUSI 135)
- Restriction
- MUSI 231, MUSI 235
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the School of Performing Arts website
- Teaching staff
Professor Anthony Ritchie
Professor Peter Adams
Dr Madeleine Parkins-Craig- Paper Structure
- The paper is structured into modules that cover songwriting, arrangement and orchestration, writing for film, and developing compositional technique.
- Teaching Arrangements
- This is a full-year paper that has two lecture sessions every week. Tutorials for work in progress take place every four weeks.
- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper. All materials will be provided in class.
- Course outline
Please contact the School of Performing Arts for a copy of the most recent paper profile.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global Perspective, Interdisciplinary Perspective, Lifelong Learning, Communication, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, Self-motivation, Research, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will have:
- Developed new skills and understandings of creating, notating and realising new music via recording and performance
- The ability to suggest new ideas and areas for development
- Understanding of global trends, national and international influences, musical hybrids and multimedia
- Understanding of creative practices and the ability to place them in context
- Developed compositional research skills - research conducted into compositions and songs, film music, texts, etc., along with background to instruments and technology
- The ability to critically evaluate new compositions and to understand how this information informs the development and creation of new musical works
Timetable
Overview
Creative music composition, including songwriting, music for film and theatre, arranging and writing idiomatically for instruments.
Contemporary Composition focuses on both songwriting and composition, bringing together students who have completed MUSI135 and/or MUSI131. Prospects for a career as a composer or songwriter are enhanced by a greater knowledge of a diverse range of music. We encourage students to have 'many strings to their bow', in order to meet the challenges of the modern music industry. This paper develops a range of skills and provides good vocational support for a career as a creative musician. There will be modules on songwriting, composing for orchestra, for string quartet, and for film and games.
About this paper
| Paper title | Contemporary Composition |
|---|---|
| Subject | Music |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 2 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2025 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- MUSI 101 and either (MUSI 131 or MUSI 135)
- Restriction
- MUSI 231, MUSI 235
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the School of Performing Arts website
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
The paper is structured into modules that cover songwriting, orchestration, writing for film and games, writing for string quartet, and developing compositional technique.
- Teaching Arrangements
This paper has two lecture sessions and a tutorial/workshop every week.
- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper. All materials will be provided in class.
- Course outline
Please contact the School of Performing Arts for a copy of the most recent paper profile.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global Perspective, Interdisciplinary Perspective, Lifelong Learning, Communication, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, Self-motivation, Research, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will have:
- Developed new skills and understandings of creating, notating and realising new music via recording and performance
- The ability to suggest new ideas and areas for development
- Understanding of global trends, national and international influences, musical hybrids and multimedia
- Understanding of creative practices and the ability to place them in context
- Developed compositional research skills - research conducted into compositions and songs, film music, texts, etc., along with background to instruments and technology
- The ability to critically evaluate new compositions and to understand how this information informs the development and creation of new musical works