A focused program related to a student’s specific area of interest, designed to develop particular academic skills through a research project - including research by creative practice. It may include action research in a professional experience context in an outside organisation, developing and managing an extended performance or composition project, pedagogy or a community outreach project, or an extended piece of written work demonstrating original research.

This course can combine research presentation as academic writing with research as creative practice.  As such, it is an excellent preparation for Honours in music.

By the end of the course, you should be able to demonstrate:

1. developed research skills appropriate to your area of research (performance-based, scholarly, creative/compositional, etc.)
2. the ability to work independently with minimal supervision
3. solid preparation towards Honours or postgraduate research
4. understanding of the relationship between research and creative practice, where appropriate
5. understanding the relationship between applied research and professional practice, where appropriate
6. understanding of music from historical, contemporary, and cross-cultural contexts.
7. an understanding of the materials, critical, historical, and oral sources of music research.
8. Developed vocabulary and tools for speaking and writing critically about the rich traditions of music from European and other traditions.

• A research project of 3000-4000 words or creative equivalent (70%) [Learning Outcomes 1-8]
• Research diary or other reflective process (30%) [Learning Outcomes 1-3]

2-3 hours per week, comprising a two-hour class and up to six hours of individual/small group supervision over the course of the semester.  Students are expected to work as independent researchers, for a total learning time of 120 hours over the course of the semester.

Departmental consent.

Ability to work independently and research topics in music.