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.
| Paper title | Contemporary Composition |
|---|---|
| Paper code | MUSI234 |
| Subject | Music |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Full Year (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $1,141.35 |
| 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
