Certificate in Musicianship– 20 Credits

Course Outline

This information is intended as a guide for persons seeking admission to the LSMD programmes. The School reserves the right to change any of these details.

Course Modules

  • Module 04: Performance Education 1 (10 Credits)
  • Module 06: Composition and Musicianship Skills (10 Credits)

Module Descriptors

Module 04: Performance Education 1 (10 Credits)

This module aims to enhance the learner’s own practical, musicianship and improvisational skills; and to develop the learner’s knowledge of style, form and historical context of the standard repertoire for their principal instrument. It aims to develop the learner’s keyboards skills to enable them to function effectively as an instrumental or vocal teacher, and to explore models for teaching jazz and popular music.

Module Content:

Unit 1: Repertoire in Context

Performing and contextualising repertoire in relation to style, form and historical period

Unit 2: Generic Keyboard skills

Keyboard skills focusing on the active use of modal system, cycle of fifths, scales, chord notation. Developing accompaniment skills

Unit 3: Keyboard Skills-Jazz, Blues and Popular Music

Exploring models for teaching Jazz, Blues and Popular music; Developing improvisational skills.

Unit 4: Performance Recital

A final performance of maximum 20 minutes duration.This may include an ensemble piece, and learners may chose music from different genres. The programme must be presented for approval six weeks before the date of the actual performance

Module 06: Composition and Musicianship Skills (10 Credits)

This module aims to enhance the compositional skills of the learner through developing their understanding of harmonic writing (SATB) and orchestration for a variety of ensembles or vocal groups. It also seeks to advance the aural skills of the learner and to equip the learner with the necessary conducting skills for rehearsal and performance.

Module Content:

Unit 1: Fundamentals of Harmony

SATB, Applications of Modal composition and modulation, Harmonic writing using guitar symbols.

Unit 2: Compositional Techniques

Principles of arranging, adapting or orchestrating a piece of music, Ranges of voices and instruments, Transposing instrument, Creating instrumental parts,Analysis of Letmotif in Opera, Film and Games, Analysis of ‘Theme & Variations’ compositional techniques.

Unit 3: Aural Skills

Aural pitching skills with a tuning fork, Aural exploration of pulse, rhythm, melody and harmony using various genres. Sight-singing and Dictation skills. Safe vocal teaching.

Unit 4: Conducting

General conducting techniques, Conducting with and without a baton, Patterns for time-signatures, upbeats, finishing, pausing, expression, Preparing and interpreting works for rehearsal and performance., Rehearsal techniques: room layout, preparation etc.