Music
Co-ordinating Lecturer(s)
- Dr Nick Jones Tel/Ffôn: (029) 2087 6108 Email/Ebost: JonesN3@cardiff.ac.uk
The Centre offers a wide-ranging Music programme, from classical music to popular music, jazz and chanting. We continue with courses in the popular Monday afternoon slot, and are pleased to offer a number of exciting new courses, including an introduction to world music.
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Music Courses
Arranging Music Workshop Online
This course offers personal, long distance tutorial support (usually via email) to new and more experienced arrangers of music who want to pursue a project of their own. The nature of the study will be tailored to the student's individual requirements. The course is primarily aimed at students who would like to arrange music from a range of genres for a combination of instruments and/or voices. Enrolment in advance, with a statement of your interests, is essential.
Chanting and Overtone Singing
Any tone that we make with our voice contains a series of hidden tones that we don't normally hear. Overtone chanting isolates these overtones to produce an often beautiful sound. This class explores many forms of chanting and teaches you the first stages of overtoning. No singing skills are required.
Composing Music Workshop Online
This course offers personal, long distance tutorial support (usually via email) to new and experienced composers who want to pursue a project of their own. The nature of the study will be tailored to the student's individual requirements. The course is primarily aimed at students writing in a contemporary Western art music classical style in an acoustic instrumental and/or vocal idiom. Enrolment in advance, accompanied by a statement of your interests, is essential.
Exploring 1960s Rock and Pop Music
The 1960s was a decade of profound social and cultural change, and rock and pop music played a significant role in shaping and defining this period. This course will chiefly consider the music of The Beatles but will also look at (among others) The Beach Boys, The Who, Jimi Hendrix and The Doors. There will be detailed discussion of the music’s stylistic elements, including vocal style, form, melody and timbre.
Hitting the Right Notes! Sight-Reading for Singers
Having some ability to read notes on page is one thing, but ensuring that the right sounds come out of your mouth can be a problem for even the most experienced choral singers! In this course you will learn some of the useful tips and tricks that can make the difference between fishing around for the notes and hitting them first time. By the end of the course you should be able to spot important melodic shapes and intervals, giving you tools to help you tackle new pieces with confidence.
Jamming Styles 1 – The Blues
This course looks at a number of different approaches to playing the blues, as well as a number of variations on the blues, from the '3 chord trick' to more sophisticated structures. Emphasis will be on learning through performance in a supportive group environment. Whilst it would be advantageous to have attended last year’s Introduction to Playing Improvised Music I and II, this course would be suitable for a keen beginner.
Jamming Styles 2 – Modal Music
This course examines a number of classic modal tracks from jazz, folk and rock backgrounds and through performance, explores different options for arranging and improvising over modal material. Emphasis will be on learning through performance in a supportive group environment. Although designed as a follow on to Jamming Styles 1, this course would be suitable for any keen beginner.
Learning Music Theory (I): Grades 1-3
Would you like to improve your music reading skills? Do you play an instrument but need to improve your theory? Are you curious to know more about how music notation works? This course follows the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music theory syllabus closely, progressing gradually from Grades 1 to 3. Please see our website for information regarding course workbooks.
Learning Music Theory (II): Grades 4-5
This course is designed for students who have completed Learning Music Theory (I), or for those with some existing knowledge of music notation, who wish to progress to ABRSM Theory Grade 5. As with Part I, students who wish to do so can opt to enter themselves for an Associated Board theory grade exam in addition to the module credit they would receive for passing the course. Please see our website for information regarding course workbooks.
Practical Harmony Online
This course aims to give a practical understanding of harmony through online exercises and projects. The course links with the Learning Music Theory classes as well as the Composition and Arrangement online courses. Exercises and group discussions cover chord identification, key changes, part-writing and other ‘tricks of the trade’.
Romeo and Juliet: The Play, the Opera, the Musical and the Ballet
This course will examine ways in which Shakespeare’s seminal play has been adapted to different musical-theatrical genres, including Gounod’s 1867 opera Roméo et Juliette, Prokofiev’s eponymous ballet (1935) and Bernstein’s famous musical adaptation of the play in West Side Story (1957). These works will also provide an insight into the historical, ideological and aesthetic context of late-nineteenth century French opera, Russian ballet of the early twentieth century, and American musicals of the 1950s.
The Art and Culture of Dubrovnik and the Venetian Cities of Dalmatia
This course will examine the rich legacy of Venetian art and culture across the Dalmatian coast in Croatia and Montenegro. This course will provide an introduction to this legacy by exploring the architecture, literature, sacred and secular art, and music in towns and cities such as Zadar, Split and Kotor, as well as those of the free Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik).
The Life and Music of Franz Schubert
Schubert has always been regarded as one of the most important composers of the early Romantic period. This course provides an introduction to his life and music. Come along to hear and discuss some of the finest songs, piano works, chamber music and symphonies ever written!
Unknown Greats? The 'Division Two' of Music
A wide-ranging investigation of the lives and music of composers who (for whatever reason) seem never to have made it to the very top of the tree, but who nevertheless provide valuable insights into musical history as well as having written music of real quality. As one of them is reported to have said: "I might not be a first-rate composer, but I'm an exceedingly good second rater!"
World Music: an Introduction
This course will offer a survey of musical traditions from around the world, analysing the role of music in its social and cultural context. Drawing upon relevant analytical and theoretical approaches in ethnomusicology, students will be introduced to a wide range of musics exploring how they are conceptualised and performed. Students will also be introduced to the many ways in which music operates in its social/cultural contexts, examining issues such as identity, nationalism, religion, gender and class.
