Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MSP3321

 
TITLE Orchestral Playing 2

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Music Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit is designed to provide a more intense preparation in professional orchestral playing. It aims at helping students to further develop and master the required techniques to play in a professional orchestra and attain more skills to prepare them for an orchestral audition programme. The study-unit provides further training in related skills required in orchestral playing, such as concentration, better response to conducting, and strong teamwork. The study-unit is open to students of violin, flute and piccolo, clarinet and bass clarinet, trombone, timpani and percussion. Other instruments may be considered. It comprises practical participation with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra as well as advanced coaching in the preparation for orchestral auditions.

Study-Unit Aims:

The aim of this study-unit is to prepare music students who already have experience in orchestral playing to acquire further skills, knowledge, and experience in professional orchestral playing. Students will attain further experience in the techniques of playing in a professional orchestral set-up as well as the required musicianship that enables them to play proficiently with others.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

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

- Comprehend further techniques required in orchestral playing;
- Attain deeper understanding of body communication in conducting;
- Become more aware of important aspects such as intonation, balance, interpretation, and sensible orchestral playing;
- Gain further knowledge of the canonic orchestral repertoire;
- Enhance further the knowledge of orchestral instruments.

2. Skills:

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

- Play with a high degree of proficiency in an orchestra;
- Attain more interpersonal skills central to effective teamwork;
- Follow and respond to conducting;
- Communicate effectively in a range of social and musical situations;
- Take quick and good decisions for the benefit of the group;
- Improve organisational skills.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Orchestral excerpts for various instruments from the Boosey & Hawkes series.
- Adey, Christopher. 2009. Orchestral Performance: A Guide for Conductors and Players (London: Faber and Faber).
- Meier, Gustav. 2009. The Score, the Orchestra, and the Conductor (New York: Oxford University Press).

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite Study-unit: MSP2321 - Orchestral Playing 1

Co-Requisite Study-units: MSP3103 or MSP3105 or MSP3106 or MSP3107 or MSP3109

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Practical

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Reflective Diary SEM1 Yes 20%
Practical SEM1 Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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