UDMTSMED - BSc Music Technology (Sound for Media)

Uniquely, the BSc Honours Music Technology (Sound for Media) offers double-path career prospects, due to its specialisation in Sound Design (which includes sound effects, music and speech synchronisation) and in Media, specially focusing on video/film skills, thus creating a truly multimedia degree, with the accent on its sound component (about 60% of the contents are related to sound and music technology.

Facilities for the practical work in the areas of music/audio and moving image technologies are available at Commercial Rod in the form of 3x 5.1 Surround studios, 3x video editing suites, a live-recording room and a set of well equipped laboratories, added to lecture rooms provided with audio capabilities, piano and access to the internet for an active usage of Weblearn. Blended learning is envisaged to be used as appropriate for certain modules.

The aims of the course are:

• to equip students to work in audio and video industries, by providing them with theoretical, scientific and practical skills which support and enable the creation, capturing, processing, reproduction and electronic distribution of sound, music and the moving image;
• to develop the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and autonomy;
• to prepare students for research and further studies, development, management and production roles within the music and moving image industries;
• to educate students as artists with an understanding of the needs of film makers and of the music industry, developing also the ability to analyse and solve the technical problems of music/video/media production ;
• to foster the development of students’ intellectual and imaginative powers; their understanding and judgement; their problem-solving skills; their ability to communicate; their ability to see relationships within what they have learned, and to perceive their field of study in a broader perspective; to develop an enquiring, analytical approach, encouraging independent judgement and critical self-awareness.

The course as a whole encompasses and focuses on a number of areas (acoustics, sound design, processing of digital audio and video, broadcasting, music composition, electroacoustic music and audio recording/mixing/mastering). Emphasis is placed, in practice-based projects at levels 4, 5 and 6, on progressively developing students’ creative skills, and developing their ability to work both independently and in teams. Project work throughout the course stresses the importance of self-evaluation and critical self-awareness.

- Demonstrate a broad knowledge base with respect to the relationship of sound to other media of Music Technology, and discuss it using appropriate terminology and forms of presentation:

MD4001 - Skills and understanding of media practice. For students on this course, these skills will be those related to sound and the moving image.
MD4002 - A basic level of skills and understanding of media practice (Music Technology).
MD4003 - Describe the physical behaviour of acoustical and electro-acoustical systems in engineering and mathematical terms.

- Demonstrate familiarity with the contexts of film, video and sound design, both with the scientific and technological foundation and the broader critical, cultural, historical and ethical background:

MD4003 Relate theoretical analysis to workshop or laboratory practice through experimental and investigative work.

CP4010 - Demonstrate familiarity with the scope of their subject area and its and broader ethical, historical, social, cultural, economic and practice-based contexts;

- Use information retrieval systems effectively and develop appropriate methods for collecting, analysing, organizing, interpreting and deploying knowledge:

CP4010 - Use information retrieval systems effectively and develop appropriate methods for collecting, organising and deploying knowledge.

- Work effectively with others as a member of a group and meet obligations to others:

MD4001 - The ability to work with, and learn from other students. For example, by asking for and using constructive criticism.

- Apply specified and appropriate tools and methodologies to well-defined problems relating to sound design for other media of Music Technology, under direction or supervision:

MD4001 - The ability to work independently towards defined objectives.
MD4003 - Relate theoretical analysis to workshop or laboratory practice through experimental and investigative work.

- Acquire a deepened understanding of the scientific and technological context of sound design and lens media (especially video) and the critical relationships between both fields:

CP5010 - Research and formulate a comparative knowledge of different aspects of their subject area, its specialisms and broader contexts; and to distinguish how their work relates to and arises from previous work in the area;

MD5001 - Developed skills and understanding of media practice (Music Technology). For example, by synthesising learning to make original work or by addressing new questions. This outcome is met through the investigation of post-production video & audio design.

- Deploy critical and analytical skills in oral and written discussion and demonstrate the ability to develop, structure and communicate an argument or similarly rigorous line of enquiry, using the appropriate scholarly methods, conventions and protocols:

CP5010 - Deploy critical and analytical skills in oral and written discussions; and to develop, structure and communicate an argument or similarly rigorous line of enquiry.
Interact effectively within a team / learning group, giving and receiving information and ideas and modifying responses where appropriate.
MD5001 - The ability to work effectively in groups. For example, by taking roles or managing conflicting views.

- Act with increasing autonomy, demonstrating skills in self-managed learning and self-assessment and with a reduced need for supervision and direction:

MD5001 - Extended skills in working independently. For example, by selecting briefs and taking responsibility for a programme of work.
MD5003 - Devise and execute a methodical and individual plan of practical work in music technology acting with increasing autonomy, with reduced need for supervision and direction, within defined guidelines;

CP5010 - Demonstrate skills in self-managed learning and self-assessment.

- Operate in situations of more advanced complexity, requiring the identification and diagnosis of technological problems, particularly as they apply to sound design in radio drama or in combination with other media (Foley), using a wider range of techniques and tools for their resolution, reporting practical procedures in a clear and concise manner:

MD5002 - The ability to transfer knowledge and understanding from contextual and critical studies into their practice.
MD5002 - Developed analytical, reflective and critical skills and awareness. For example, by being able to show in a self- reflective account of their work how their future practice may change and how their practice might affect their field.
MD5003 - Developed skills and understanding of media practice (Animation, Lens Craft, Film & Broadcast, Music Technology). For example, by synthesising learning to make original work or by addressing new questions.
MD5003 - Identify key areas of problems and choose appropriate tools / methods for their resolution in a considered manner.

- Select, manage and produce a thorough and penetrating investigation into a historical, theoretical, or technical question:

CP6010 - Select, manage and produce a thorough and penetrating investigation into a historical, theoretical, practice based or technical question;

- Research, order, analyse, evaluate and make appropriate use of original evidence, scholarly materials and techniques and current research, identifying the key arguments or issues at play in the selected topic, constructing a clear argument or line of thought and showing how his/her work fits into and arises from previous work in the area:

CP6010 - Identify the context and formulate the key arguments or issues at play in the selected topic.

CP6010 - Research, analyse, evaluate and make appropriate use of original evidence, scholarly materials and techniques, and current research;

- Demonstrate the ability to act autonomously, with minimal supervision or direction, within agreed guidelines:
MD6007 Extended, professional-standard skills in working independently. For example, by successfully realising a brief and completing a planned schedule of works.

- Foster responsibility for student’s own self-marketing and personal, academic and professional development and employability:

MD6003 - Knowledge of and practised skills in marketing and relevant promotional techniques.

MD6004 - The ability and insight to be able to describe their work to a high standard. For example, so that they could apply for funding or continue to postgraduate research.
MD6007 - The integrative (theory-in-practice) skills to make a piece of work that will serve as a calling card in the student’s chosen vocational field.

- Develop confidence and flexibility in identifying and defining complex problems relating to sound design for other media of Music Technology, apply appropriate knowledge and skills to their solution, and describing the process in detailed and coherent project reports:

MD6004 - The skills, knowledge and insight to achieve work that is critically, technically and creatively challenging.

MD6007 - Graduate-level skills and understanding of music and video technologies, especially sound design and video capturing and editing skills.

Principal QAA Subject Benchmark Statement
The subject benchmark statements for Music (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, 2008) apply generally to the aims of the BSc Music Technology (Sound for Media) course, which is partially technology oriented. Paragraphs 3.14, 3.15, 3.16 and 4.1., describe in broad terms the kind of skills that students undertaking a course in music technology should acquire and align fairly well with the objectives of the course, as do the general skills listed in paragraph 4.

Secondary relevant QAA Subject Benchmark
Additionally, some of the subject benchmark statements for Communication, media, film and cultural studies (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, 2008) also apply.

A variety of assessment methods are used within the course, ranging from formative, summative, diagnostic, peer and self-assessment, through studio based work, workshops and written assignments, to projects and exercises involving the connecting of sound to other media. These methods are aligned to the Faculty and University assessment strategies and with the course learning outcomes and curriculum.

Strategies utilised support students’ understanding of their learning by providing timely developmental feedback that promotes a deeper learning approach to their studies. Assessment methods such as reports, essays, presentations, project portfolio reviews and website evaluations allow differing learning styles, whilst encouraging reflective and reflexive approaches.

Each assessment (formative and summative) seeks to build students’ confidence as independent learners, providing pertinent advice for all aspects of learning.

The course team provide opportunities for scheduled tutorial ‘drop in’ sessions and the course’s virtual learning environment offers students opportunities to discuss (with tutors and peers) their assessment strategies. Further support is available via personal academic advisors, Library Services, University Student Services and the Centre for Learning and Teaching.

‘Employability’ is integral to the design and delivery of the Music Technology critical practice curriculum. At all levels and throughout, notably in the opportunity to realise intellectual and practical properties of accumulated learning in level 6 by completing an integrated programme of specialist, discipline-specific studies.

In the BSc Music Technology (Sound for Media) and all of the other AMD-ASD UG courses the following faculty-wide regulations shall apply:

ACADEMIC PROGRESSION: As a condition of progressing from level 3 to 4, level 4 to 5 and level 5 to 6, students are required to have gained 120 credits per level, that is, by achieving pass marks (40%) in all four modules in the preceding level of study.

LATE SPECIALIZATION:
(i) The structure and scope of learning in the Year 0 (level 3) programmes shall permit early and late specialization. In other words, students who succeed in passing all modules and who wish to, based on their learning experience in level 3, may elect to alter the designation of the ‘extended degree’ they had embarked upon and to instead migrate onto another cognate degree title within the purview of the Faculty portfolio; that is not restricted to the original choice of pathway title upon admission. Progressing students may of course elect to confirm to continue onwards following the ‘early specialist’ route they joined at point of entry.
(ii) The BSc Music Technology (Sound for Media), reflects the discipline‐specific work completed in the vertically‐integrated Music Technology Subject Discipline modules and in the honours-level specific modules.

PART-TIME MODE OF STUDY
Part-time study is defined as 60 credits per year. Consequently, in part-time mode, the duration of study for a 360-credit degree will be 6 years. The pattern of study in AMD-ASD degrees shall be as follows:
Year 1 - Two studio/atelier modules
Year 2 – Critical & Contextual Studies 1 (Music)+ subject discipline module
Year 3 - Two studio/atelier modules
Year 4 – Critical & Contextual Studies 2 (Music)+ subject discipline module
Year 5 – Final Project: Sound for Media + Music Technology: Specialist Practice
Year 6 – Critical & Contextual Studies 3: Dissertation (Music) + Exhibition & Representation module

Accreditation/Exemption

We encourage mature students to claim credit (exemption) for previous education or relevant experience, which may include academic courses, in-company training, paid or unpaid work and leisure activities. To do this you need to present evidence of past achievement or undertake a formal Assessment of Prior Learning.

Successful completion of this course offers career opportunities to enter the media industries in creative and technical roles, such as: sound recording, sound dubbing and sound broadcast (such as at the BBC). The programme is also excellent preparation for further research or study at Masters and PhD level.

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• GCSE English at grade C or above (or equivalent)
• At least 280 UCAS points, which must be from a relevant area to the course.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

For mature students, interviews may be arranged.

This course is also available as a four-year extended degree, the first year of which is the Foundation Year Film, Media and Music.