Song Writing & Performance 3

Expanding concepts introduced previously through Song Writing and Performance 1 and 2, this course enables students to develop advanced creative and technical skills that build on their previous experience in composition and song writing, arranging, orchestrating and music production in a contemporary popular music context. A particular focus of this course is on introducing experimental approaches to music, exploring intersections between contemporary popular music and the musical Avant Garde. Students will research the fringes of contemporary popular music in order to both broaden and deepen their knowledge and understanding of music. They will apply this knowledge practically through pushing the boundaries of their creative work in a supportive environment, and learn skills for the interpretation and evaluation of such work. Through the course, students will develop both the knowledge and practical skills to move their creative work beyond established contemporary forms and techniques. Seminars introduce experimental compositional techniques, and explore the artistic movements and work of key practitioners that led to the development and adoption of these techniques. A key components of the seminar are the development of a research project, and a portfolio of compositions. Workshops focus on the development of advanced strategies for the preparation and performance of live original music. Students will work in small groups to prepare their original work for live performance. A key focus of the workshops is promoting student autonomy in the organisation of their ensembles, and encouraging students to engage with the local music industry through off-campus performances.