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. |