Composition develops each student's technical knowledge and craft, and challenges and extends their artistic understanding and creativity. It promotes the development of the student's understanding of a range of styles, genres, approaches and idioms.
The student will analyse theories, structures, methods, approaches and techniques in a range of twentieth century styles and in a range of instrumental and vocal repertoire. This allows systematic development of understanding and application of knowledge in the development of their own musical works. The study of instrumentation and orchestration, with reference to scores from a range of historical periods, informs the techniques required for a composer to function in the complexities of the profession. Consideration of the history of ideas as expressed in literature, the visual and the performing arts, both within European and other traditions, is encouraged to further the students' range of conceptual and aesthetic understanding.

At the successful completion of this unit, students should have developed the skills and understanding to compose and present their works professionally utilising correct notation, instrumentation and orchestration techniques. Students should also have developed the skills to analyse and evaluate works both from the recent repertoire and historical 20^th century masterworks.

A graded result reflects the level of achievement in class work, and a folio of works, (including original works, analyses, orchestrations) as appropriate to the discipline. Satisfactory participation in composition seminar forms a prerequisite to graded assessment. The assessment requirements and criteria for evaluation in musical composition will be defined in written guidelines given to students at the beginning of each semester. Emphasis will be placed on regular critical feedback and formative evaluation by staff.

Folio (70%), Seminar notes/Research project (30%).

Total contact time 3 - 4 hours per week, including individual tuition and composition seminar.

Interview and/or submission of a folio of works.