Module choice guidance for study abroad students

If you are studying with us for one or two semester you will have access to a vast array of choices. Nonetheless, it is important to consider that some modules have pre-requisites or require specific knowledge or experience that you will have to demonstrate before you can register. These can include, amongst others, having taken specific modules at your home institution (that are equivalent to pre-requisite modules at the Department of Music), having a certain level of proficiency in different areas or staying in Liverpool for two full semesters (some modules span across both semesters). In all cases you have to demonstrate that you have the relevant pre-requisites or background in order to register to some of our modules.

The modules that you can take whilst in Liverpool are shown in the table below alongside the specific requirements for registering and how to demonstrate them. Note that for various modules you will have to contact the module coordinator before attempting to register in order to confirm that you fulfil the required criteria If this information is not provided when you make your choices to get pre-approval your options will be automatically rejected.

Code Title Credit value Semester Coordinator Requirements
MUSI102 Classical Performance 1 15 1+2 Dr L Tsang ABRSM Grade VI (or equivalent) on an instrument or in singing. This requirement can be established via a demonstration recording or audition. 
MUSI104 Popular Performance 1 15 1+2 Mr AJ Frizell Proficiency on an instrument or singing. This requirement can be established via a demonstration recording or audition.
MUSI106 Compositional Techniques 15 2 Dr PA Turowski None.
MUSI108 Sound Recording And Production 1 15 1 Mr John Holmes None.
MUSI109 Introduction To Logic 15 1 Dr O Carman None.
MUSI121 Music In Contexts: Why Music Matters 15 1 Dr H Um None.
MUSI130 Introduction To Classical Music History 15 1 Prof. M Spitzer Music A level (Grade B or above) or equivalent standard.
MUSI140 Introduction To Popular Music History 15 1 Dr Richard Worth None.
MUSI150 Music As An Industry 15 2 Dr H Tessler None.
MUSI170 Introduction To Sound And Music In Audiovisual Media 15 2 Mr JJ Millea None.
MUSI171 Introduction To Sound And Technology 15 1 John Holmes None.
MUSI172 The History Of Electronic Music 15 2 Dr O Carman None.
MUSI180 Exploring Music's Construction 15 2 Prof. K Forkert-Smith Equivalent to Grade B A-level in music or Grade 5 theory ABRSM. 
MUSI181 Foundations In Tonal Harmony  15  1    Music A Level (Grade B or above) or ABRSM Grade 8 (Theory) or other equivalent standard. 
MUSI182 Popular Music Theory In Practice 15 1 Mr AJ Frizell None.
MUSI200 Music Direction, Leading And Conducting 15 2 Dr L Tsang Notational skills appropriate to the students' area of musical specialism. Experience of performing in ensembles is desirable.
MUSI201 Classical Performance 2a 15 1 Dr L Tsang Ability to play an instrument or sing in a classical style (broadly defined) to an appropriate level (ABRSM Grade 8 or above, or equivalent). The requirement can be established via a demonstration recording or audition. Students taking this module cannot register for MUSI203.
MUSI202 Classical Performance 2b 15 2 Dr L Tsang Ability to play an instrument or sing in a classical style (broadly defined) to an appropriate level (ABRSM Grade 8 or above, or equivalent). The requirement can be established via a demonstration recording or audition. Students taking this module cannot register for MUSI204.
MUSI203 Popular Performance 2a 15 1 Mr AJ Frizell Students must have taken modules on Popular Music performance to enrol in this module. Registration will be conditional: students will have to demonstrate proficiency via a demonstration recording or audition. Students taking this module cannot register for MUSI201.
MUSI204 Popular Performance 2b 15 2 Mr AJ Frizell Students must have taken modules on Popular Music performance to enrol in this module. Registration will be conditional: students will have to demonstrate proficiency via a demonstration recording or audition. Students taking this module cannot register for MUSI202.
MUSI205 Composition For Film And Television 15 2 Mr TW Moss Students must have good sequecning skills in Apples's Logic (or similar software) or good competency with Sibelius. They will be required to compose music and must therefore have some prior experience in composition.
MUSI207 Compositional Forms 15 2 Dr B Hackbarth Some experience composing and writing for instruments. Student needs to contact the Coordinator with samples of previous work.
MUSI208 Electronic Music Composition 1 15 1 Dr O Carman Students should have the ability to use a DAW (Digital Audio Work Station) i.e Logic, Protools etc... to a competent level. 
MUSI209 Max For Live 15 2 Prof. M Fairclough Students must have a basic working knowledge of music technology. Specifically they should have used sequencing software such as Apple's Logic and have a basic grounding in music technology practice and terminology.
MUSI210 Popular Music Composition 1 15 1 Dr R Worth Students should be able to notate melody and ideally use Sibelius or some other notation software. At least ABRSM Grade 5 in Music Theory is advisable (the student should contact the module coordinator if not certain regarding qualifications).
MUSI211 Writing For Instruments 1 15 1 Dr B Hackbarth Familiarity with music notation is required, but no experience writing for instruments is necessary.
MUSI212 Writing For Instruments 2 15 2 Dr R Worth Requires good notation abilities (most will have completed MUSI211) and use of notation software
MUSI213 Electro Pop And Remixing 15 1 Prof. M Fairclough This module requires students to have a working knowledge of Apple's Logic which they use to compose/produce music for the first Assignment. They will also be introduced to Ableton Live and be expected use it to create a piece of music for Assessement 2.
MUSI214 Live Sound 15 2 Mr J Holmes Students are required to have completed a introductory courses to sound and/or music technology. They will be expected to be familiar with basic knowledge such as microphone types, signal routing and some basic concepts on physics of sound.
MUSI215 Record Label Marketing, Promotion And Distribution 15 2 Dr H Tessler None.
MUSI220 Music, Gender, And Sexuality 15 2 Dr FL Jarman None.
MUSI230 Post-Wagnerian Music And Philosophy 15 2 Prof. K Forkert-Smith Ability to read standard Western notation and familiarity with the history of Western art music in line with Grade B in A Level Music (or equivalent).
MUSI232 Opera And Politics 15 1 Dr FL Jarman Ability to read standard Western notation in line with Grade B in A Level Music (or equivalent).
MUSI241 Sound, Technology And Society 15 2 Dr R Strachan None.
MUSI243 Sound Recording And Production 2 15 1 Dr L Carey Students must have completed an introductory course in Sound Recording. They will be expected to know the basic operation of a recording studio and have practical experience of Avid Pro Tools.
MUSI252 Working In Music Industry 15 1 Dr M Flynn Ideally be an active music maker or have some experience of muisc industry activities, such as putting on gigs, blogging, journalism or releasing their own music etc.
MUSI261 Global Pop 15 1 Dr H Um None.
MUSI262 World Music And Globalisation 15 2 Dr H Um None.
MUSI263 Contemporary Genres 15 2 Dr R Strachan None.
MUSI270 Music In World Cinema 15 2 Dr H Um None.
MUSI273 Music In Gaming 15 1 Dr GC Hooper None.
MUSI274 Musical Theatre 15 2 Prof C Tackley As a minimum, students will need to be able to read and understand a piano-vocal score.
MUSI281 Exploring Harmony, Chord Progression And Pitch   15  1  Prof. K Forkert-Smith  Students should be able to use notation, and ideally have grade 5 theory or Music A-level. 
MUSI290 Introduction To Music Psychology 15 1 Dr E Coutinho None.
MUSI292 Music And Emotion 15 2 Prof. M Spitzer None.
MUSI301 "Authenticity" And Style 15 1 Dr L Tsang Ability to read standard Western notation in line with Grade B in A Level Music (or equivalent).
MUSI303 Popular Performance Contexts 15 1 Mr S Stafford None.
MUSI305 Composition For Digital Games 15 1 Dr PA Turowski Ability to use Logic Pro X or another digital audio workstation and basic composition experience in any style
MUSI307 Orchestration 15 2 Dr B Hackbarth Familiarity with writing for orchestral instruments and harmony.
MUSI308 Mixed Media Composition 15 1 Prof. M Fairclough It is essential that students have used Apple's Logic Software as both assignments require composition to be created using it. Teaching and assignment tasks assume students already have a significant level of experience with the software.
MUSI310 Popular Arrangement 15 2 Dr R Worth Students should be able to notate melody and ideally use Sibelius or some other notation software. At least ABRSM Grade 5 in Music Theory is required (the student should contact the module coordinator if not certain regarding qualifications).
MUSI314 Record Label Recording, Production And Project Planning 15 1 Dr H Tessler MUSI215 is a pre-requisite for this module, therefore international students must demonstrate experience of creative industries and creative labour theory, understanding of record label structure, management, promotion, marketing and branding as well as artist/creative labour management. Students must contact the module convenor before attempting to register for the module. 
MUSI315 Record Label Management 15 2 Dr H Tessler MUSI215 and MUSI 314 are pre-requisites for this module, therefore international students must demonstrate experience of creative industries and creative labour theory, understanding of record label structure, management, promotion, marketing and branding as well as artist/creative labour management, and practical experience of A&R/contract negotiation, studio management, studio production/post-production work and project management. Students must contact the module convenor before attempting  to register for the module. If students are visiting for the full year, they must register in both MUSI314 and MUSI315.
MUSI320 Aesthetics Of Music 15 1 Prof. M Spitzer None.
MUSI322 Sound Studies 15 1 Dr R Strachan None.
MUSI326 Art Song 15 1 Prof. K Forkert-Smith Ability to read standard Western notation in line with Grade B in A Level Music (or equivalent).
MUSI331 Beethoven's Life And Works 15 2 Prof. M Spitzer Ability to read standard Western notation in line with Grade B in A Level Music (or equivalent).
MUSI341 Jazz 15 1 Prof C Tackley It is helpful for students to have some familiarity with jazz but detailed prior knowledge is not required. Some notational fluency is also desirable but not required.
MUSI352 Music Policy 15 1 Prof S Cohen None.
MUSI353 Curation And Heritage 15 2 Dr M Leonard None.
MUSI360 The Place Of Music 15 1 Prof S Cohen None.
MUSI370 The Film Music Of John Williams 15 2 Dr GC Hooper None.
MUSI380 Exploring Rhythm, Form And Musical Time  15  2  Prof. K Forkert-Smith  Students should be able to use notation, and ideally have grade 5 theory or Music A-level. 
MUSI391 Music In Everyday Life 15 2 Dr E Coutinho None.
MUSI395 Independent Project: Classical Performance 30 1+2 Dr L Tsang Ability to play an instrument or sing in a classical style (broadly defined) to an appropriate level (at least ABRSM Grade 8 or above, or equivalent) for at least 20 minutes. The requirement can be established via a demonstration recording or audition.
MUSI396 Independent Project: Music Technology Project 30 1+2 Prof. M Fairclough Only for students registered for a full year in Liverpool. Students must also demonstrate a significant level of experience in Music Technology practice. For that, a project proposal must be submitted to the module convenor at the very start of Semester 1 (or before arrival) so that the suitability of the project and supervision can be assessed. 
MUSI398 Independent Project: Pop Performance  30 1+2 Mr S Stafford Only for students registered for a full year in Liverpool. Students must also demonstrate a significant level of experience in Music Performance. For that, an audition with the module coordinator must be arranged at the start of the year (you may register in the module if you believe that you have enough experience in music performance, but the final decision will depend on the audition). Note that typically this module requires that you are in a group. This may not be possible for international students, but you may still engage in a solo performance project. 
MUSI399 Independent Project: Research  30 1+2 Prof S Cohen Only for students registered for a full year in Liverpool.