Free Improvisation: Music

Introduction 

This module is for you if you are:

• Experimental and open minded
• Interested in creativity and collaboration
• Interested in exploring creative approaches to music-making in cross disciplinary contexts
• Able to participate in intensive and practical learning environments
• Interested in community and/or contemporary arts, as improvisation intersects with these disciplines.

Module Content

Free Improvisation: Music will enable personal and collaborative creativity. By exploring free improvisation and strategies such as conduction and graphic score the participants will gain an understanding of how improvisation is used in contemporary arts practice. You will gain confidence by developing your own generative processes and critical appraisal skills. The module explores non-idiomatic (non-genre specific) sound and music as well as crossovers between art-forms,  and is therefore open to any art practitioner.

Module Aims

The module aims to:

• Enable you to become a confident improviser
• Explore different creative practices and generative processes
• Provide the opportunity for participants to create new work using improvisation
• Develop reflective practice

Learning Outcomes

LO1 – Improvise effectively in a range of settings synthesising reading and workshop content into your own approach.

LO2 – Create an original piece/art-work that utilises improvisation

Assessments

Assessment 1 – Observation of Working Practice (50%, LO1)

Assessment 2 – Production of a piece of work that uses improvising for the module class (50%, LO2)

Pre-requisites

• An interest in music and creativity is required, however aptitude in a certain musical discipline is not required.
• Applicants for the module will be required to participate in a short online interview with Dr MacGlone prior to entry.

If you have any questions in advance of booking, please contact credit-rated@rcs.ac.uk

Header image credit: Jean McEwan

Module Content

Free Improvisation: Music will enable personal and collaborative creativity. By exploring free improvisation and strategies such as conduction and graphic score the participants will gain an understanding of how improvisation is used in contemporary arts practice. You will gain confidence by developing your own generative processes and critical appraisal skills. The module explores non-idiomatic (non-genre specific) sound and music as well as crossovers between art-forms,  and is therefore open to any art practitioner.

Module Aims

The module aims to:

• Enable you to become a confident improviser
• Explore different creative practices and generative processes
• Provide the opportunity for participants to create new work using improvisation
• Develop reflective practice

Course Leader

Dr Una MacGlone

Applicants must be 16 years or over.

Pre-requisites

• An interest in music and creativity is required, however aptitude in a certain musical discipline is not required.
• Applicants for the module will be required to participate in a short online interview with Dr MacGlone prior to entry.

As this is a credit-rated course, students will be assessed in two components; continuous observation of your working practice and the production of a piece of work which uses improvisation for the module class. Students must pass both components to achieve the credits for Free Improvisation: Music.

Students will receive oral feedback from staff and peers throughout the course to inform both learning and reflection.

On completion of the coursework, students will receive an overall module grade and written report after the exam results have been ratified by the next Exam Board following the course.

Monday 27th March – Friday 31st March

10am – 5pm

Promotional Offers

We offer a selection of promotional offers for our Short Courses, take a look!

To receive the promotional offer code, contact shortcourses@rcs.ac.uk before booking a course.

Agnes Allan Bursary

Agnes Allan was a teacher, passionate about inclusion, and this bursary scheme exists to offer support to students to participate in the performing or production arts.

The Agnes Allan Bursary provides some support to students who may require financial assistance to take part in a short course in dance, drama, music, production or screen.

Anyone who wishes to take part in our Short Courses and faces a financial barrier can apply for bursary support to help meet the cost of tuition fees.

More information about the Agnes Allan Bursary.

Credit-rated short courses are designed in accordance with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

By studying a credit-rated short course, students can benchmark their learning against national standards, and credits may be used towards further education programmes at many institutions throughout the world.

The course consists of 19 contact hours as well as additional independent study.

It is worth 10 SCQF credits and 5 ECTS credits. This course is set at SCQF level 8.