Music - Digital Music and Media Composition, MA

About Music - Digital Music and Media Composition, MA - at University College Cork (UCC)

Overview

The Online MA in Digital Music and Media Composition provides a thorough grounding in current digital music and media composition techniques. Students who complete the course will possess the ability to author and deliver digital creative content intended for screen (television, film, online content, games) and/or artistic aims (multimedia performance, installations, creative apps). The students will become fluent in the language of digital media artists and practitioners and have an ability to contextualize their work in a contemporary setting.

Course Details

The MA in Digital Music and Media Composition is an intensive online postgraduate course focused on the composition of digital art in many formats with music principals at their core.

Students take 90 Credits. Modules taught include:

• Digital Music Composition and Orchestration I and II where core concepts of contemporary and popular music composition are paired with the challenges and exploration of digital music making. By the end of these modules, students will have gained skills in composing and orchestrating for the screen as well as digital audio editing, recording and mixing,
• Coding for Creatives will aim to provide a good understanding of computer programming using programming languages tailored to creative people looking to create time based art or prototypes. Students will mostly use the programming languages Processing and Max/MSP/Jitter as well as a myriad of open source tools. Online tutorials become an essential part of this fast paced module. A three day hardware-software Hack-a-thon/workshop at UCC is a part of this module.
• Digital Media Art in Performance explores issues surrounding real time performance practice with digital media art. Project based research is the focus of this module culminating in a performance at UCC.
• In Making Time-Based Digital Art students will gain an understanding of contemporary artists working in this field while developing essential skills in video and image creation and editing for multiple outputs. Project based collaborative research is an essential element of this module.
• Understanding Digital Media Art looks into the history of Digital Media Art and engages the student with research issues (documentation, grant writing, presenting work) surrounding a Digital Media Art practice.

After two semesters of coursework, students completing the MA will be expected to complete a portfolio consisting mainly of creative work worth 30 credits of the degree. Students opting for a Postgraduate Diploma do not complete the portfolio requirements

Part I
Year 1 - Semester One
MU6007 Digital Music and Media Composition and Orchestration I (10 credits)
MU6009 Coding for Creatives (10 credits)

Year 1 - Semester Two
MU6008 Digital Music and Media Composition and Orchestration II (10 credits)

Year 2 - Semester One
MU6015 Making Time-based Digital Art (10 credits)

Year 2 - Semester Two
MU6016 Understanding Digital Media Art (10 credits)
MU6017 Digital Media Art in Performance (10 credits)

Part II
Year Two -Semester One, Two and Three
MU6024 Portfolio (30 credits)

Fact File

Course Code: CKD15 Part-time

Course Title: Music - Digital Music and Media Composition

College: Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences

Duration: 2 years Part-time

Teaching Mode: Part-Time

The course will consist of online coursework combined with two face-to-face workshops (1 per year) as well as virtual meetings between peers and creative collaborators.

Qualifications: MA

NFQ Level: Level 9

Costs: 2017/2018 Tuition Fees: Irish/EU: Year 1 part-time EUR 1,800 (30 credits); Year 2 part-time EUR 3,600 (60 Credits); Students will be required to have current computers produced in the last two years with media editing software installed. While a range of software and hardware are available, some suggestions and expected expenses would be: Laptop - EUR 2000Audio Interface EUR 200 - EUR 500Digital Audio Workstation – Reaper EUR 60 or Logic EUR 199 or ProTools EUR 266 (student discount prices)Video Editing – Lightworks EUR 100, iMovie free, Final Cut Pro EUR 299, Other software – Max/MSP EUR 250, PD free, Processing freeMisc hardware – Arduino and electronic components EUR 100

2016 Entry Requirements: Applicants must hold a Bachelors degree in Music, with a grade of 2.2 honours or higher grade and demonstrate experience in the creation of music; candidates with an honours degree in another subject, with a 2.2 honours or higher grade and a demonstrable experience of composing with music//or digital media may also be eligible.(see detaled entry requirements section below)

Closing Date: See details in application procedure section below

Next Intake: 11 September 2017

Course Practicalities

The course will consist of online coursework combined with two face-to-face workshops (1 per year) as well as virtual meetings between peers and creative collaborators. The workload is typical of an MA programme, but given its interdiciplinary nature, students can expect to spend extra time developing skills in their areas of weakness.

Assessment

Assessment may include practice and performance based elements where appropriate. Assessment for each module may involve, written and digital scores, texts and multimedia files as well as elements of individual and team work.

Application Procedure

Application for this programme is on-line at www.pac.ie/ucc (Course Code CKD15) (Closing date May 1st 2015). For full details of the application procedure click How to Apply.

All required documentation must be either uploaded to your online application, or sent in hard copy to The Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1, Courthouse Square, Galway, immediately after an application is made.

Please note that you will also be asked to download and print an additional special SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FORM during the online applications process for the MA Digital Music Media Composition. The completed Supplementary Information form for the MA in Composition programme and additional relevant enclosures (i.e. Portfolio of compositional work in whatever form is suitable - such as recordings, videos, scores, computer programmes etc MUST be posted DIRECTLY to the MA in Digital Music and Media Composition Course Director (Dr. Jeffrey Weeter), School of Music, University College Cork (marked with your PAC application number - which you will be issued when you completed your online postgraduate application). This Supplementary Candidates Statement form is available to view here: CKD15AdditionalQuestions (237kB)

Applicants may also be required to attend interview with the members of the programme team.

Notes about fees for this course

Costs: 2017/2018 Tuition Fees: Irish/EU: Year 1 part-time EUR 1,800 (30 credits); Year 2 part-time EUR 3,600 (60 Credits); Students will be required to have current computers produced in the last two years with media editing software installed. While a range of software and hardware are available, some suggestions and expected expenses would be: Laptop - EUR 2000Audio Interface EUR 200 - EUR 500Digital Audio Workstation – Reaper EUR 60 or Logic EUR 199 or ProTools EUR 266 (student discount prices)Video Editing – Lightworks EUR 100, iMovie free, Final Cut Pro EUR 299, Other software – Max/MSP EUR 250, PD free, Processing freeMisc hardware – Arduino and electronic components EUR 100

2016 Entry Requirements: Applicants must hold a Bachelors degree in Music, with a grade of 2.2 honours or higher grade and demonstrate experience in the creation of music; candidates with an honours degree in another subject, with a 2.2 honours or higher grade and a demonstrable experience of composing with music//or digital media may also be eligible.(see detaled entry requirements section below)

Closing Date: See details in application procedure section below

Next Intake: 11 September 2017

Entry requirements for this course

Contact University College Cork (UCC) to find course entry requirements.

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