Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MSP2130

 
TITLE Fundamentals of Music 2

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 6

 
DEPARTMENT Music Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit explores the rudiments of Western music through aural, oral and written practice, and is designed to provide a more advanced understanding of the technical aspect of music. Topics covered include recognition of intervals, melody writing, two-part writing, rhythm writing, four-part writing sight singing and score reading. This course will help students understand, analyse and listen to music in an informed way. This is a follow-up unit to Fundamentals of Music 1.

Study-unit Aims:

This study-unit aims to help students strengthen the concepts of music notation and musical elements introduced in Fundamentals of Music 1, by progressing to a more advanced level of aural training and techniques.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a) analyse and differentiate the elements of music;
b) develop a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of music theory, and the science and structure of music in general; and
c) refine the technical aspects of listening, creating and writing down music.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a) identify pitch and rhythmic notation;
b) work out melodies, two-part writing, four-part writing, and sing at sight;
c) discriminate between different types of musical sounds and effectively translate them into performance;
d) manipulate the elements of music theory for compositional purposes;
e) create technical exercises of graded difficulty that can be analysed aurally and worked out in writing;
f) think critically and logically.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Berkowitz, S., Fontrier, G., Kraft, L. 1997. A New Approach to Sight Singing (New York/London: W. W. Norton).
- Damschroder, David. 2005. Foundations of Music and Musicianship (London: Schirmer).
- Riemenschneider, Albert. 1941. Bach 371 Harmonized Chorales (London: Schirmer).

Supplementary Readings:

- Kent D. Cleland, Mary Dobrea-Grindahl. 2010. Developing Musicianship through Aural Skills (Oxford: Routledge).
- Laitz, Steven G. 2012. The Complete Musician (Oxford: OUP).

 
RULES/CONDITIONS Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE MSP1265

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES This study-unit requires prior knowledge of music theory

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Competencies (1 Hour) SEM2 No 25%
Competencies (1 Hour) SEM2 No 25%
Examination (1 Hour and 30 Minutes) SEM2 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Jeremy Coleman
Christine Zerafa

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit