MO1S47 - Music and Sound Essentials 01 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: MO1S47
Module Title: Music and Sound Essentials
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Music and Drama
Faculty Sub Group: Music
Module Leader: Andrew Gwilliam
Module Team: Lucy Squire, David Coker, Gill Edwards-Randle, Tim Land, Andy Cooper
First Intended Intake: SEP 2021 Final Year of Intake: 2026
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2021
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

• Develop a theoretical knowledge and understanding of how melody, rhythm and harmony relate to popular music creation and analysis. To examine and evaluate a range of songwriting methods and techniques.
• Achieve knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles and underlying concepts pertaining to sound.

Content Summary

This module is designed to be delivered over two semesters in two separate and distinct components. The first component introduces students to some of the fundamental principles of music theory at a level that enhances and/or develops their existing skills. Emphasis will be placed on recognising, utilising and translating basic rhythms, forms, harmonic structures and melodic approaches. This will be achieved through the study of basic rhythmic notation, time signatures, pitch, harmony and basic melodic principles. The second component introduces students to songwriting methods and techniques and sound theory including sound waves, wave properties, amplitude, basic acoustics, frequency, phase, digital audio, audio signal processing, time-based effects, MIDI and microphones.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 16
Seminar 16
Tutorial 4
Independent Study 82
Directed Study 82
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate aural awareness, stylistic understanding and theoretical knowledge relating to the architecture of popular music.
LO2 Utilise knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles relating to music and sound.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Analytical essay of a popular music song 0 2000 50 No 40
Synchronous Online Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Online) 1 MCQ exercise - topic phase test 0 2000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay 1
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Online) 1

Reading List

Essential Reading

• Elmosnino, S (2018) Audio Production Principles, Oxford University Press
• Hewitt, M (2009) Composition for Computer Musicians, Course Technology PTR
• Hosken, D (2011), An Introduction to Music Technology, Routledge

Recommended Reading

• Allen, A (2018) Music Theory for Electronic Music Producers, Slam Academy
• Gorow, R (2000) Hearing and Writing Music, September Publishing
• Hugill, A (2019) The Digital Musician, Taylor and Francis Group
• Richer, M. (2000) Teach Yourself Music Theory. Hodder Arnold.
• Taylor, E. (1989) The AB Guide to Music Theory Vol. 1 Associated Board of the Royal School of Music.