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.

Module Code Title Module Convenor Semester Credits Module running 23-24 Availability for exchange students and requisites for registration
MUSI102 Classical Performance 1 Ruth Minton Academic Year 30 Y Yes.
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  Simon Stafford Academic Year 30 Y Yes.
Proficiency on an instrument or singing. This requirement can be established via a demonstration recording or audition.
MUSI105 Writing for Instruments  Ben Hackbarth 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI106 Classical Composition 1 Paul Turowski 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI107 Popular Composition 1  Andy Frizell 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI108 Introduction to Sound Recording and Production John Holmes 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI109 Introduction to Logic Liam Carey 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI121 Music in Contexts: Why Music Matters Freya Jarman 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI130 Introduction to Classical Music History Michael Spitzer 1 15 Y Yes.
Music A level (Grade B or above) or equivalent standard. 
MUSI140 Introduction to Popular Music History Richard Worth 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI150 Music as an Industry Sarah Price 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI170 Introduction to Sound and Music in Audiovisual Media Amy Skjerseth  2 15 Y Yes
MUSI171 Introduction to Sound and Technology John Holmes 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI172 The History of Electronic Music Oliver Carman 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI180 Theory in Practice: Exploring Music’s Construction Kenneth Forkert-Smith 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI181 Foundations in Tonal Harmony  Ruth Minton 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI182 Popular Music Theory in Practice Andy Frizell  1 15 Y Yes
MUSI200 Introduction to Conducting  Lee Ward 2 15 Y Yes.
Notational skills appropriate to the students' area of musical specialism. Experience of performing in ensembles is desirable.
MUSI201 Classical Performance 2A  Ruth Minton 1 15 Y Yes.
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 G4taking this module cannot register for MUSI203.
MUSI202 Classical Performance 2B  Ruth  Minton 2 15 Y Yes. 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 Simon Stafford 1 15 Y Yes.
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  Simon Stafford 2 15 Y Yes.
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 Andrew Simmons 2 15 Y Yes.
Students must have good sequencing skills in Apples's Logic Pro (or similar software). They will be required to compose music and must therefore have some prior experience in composition.
MUSI206 Composition for Digital Games  Paul Turowski 2 15 Y Yes.
Students should have some composition experience and it would be beneficial to have experience working with Logic Pro or a similar DAW.
MUSI207 Classical Composition 2 Ben Hackbarth 2 15 Y Yes.
Some experience composing and writing for instruments. Students need to contact the Coordinator with samples of previous work.
MUSI208 Sound Design and Electronic Music Composition Oliver Carman 1 15 Y Yes.
Students should have the ability to use a DAW (i.e Logic, Protools etc…_ to a competent level.
MUSI209 Max and Ableton Live Matthew Fairclough 2 15 Y Yes.
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 2 Richard Worth 1 15 Y Yes.
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).
MUSI213 Sampling and Remixing Matthew Fairclough 1 15 Y Yes.
This module requires students to have a working knowledge of Apple's Logic.
MUSI214 Live Sound John Holmes 1 15 Y Yes.
Students are required to have completed 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 Holly Tessler 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI216 Orchestration  Ben Hackbarth 2 15 Y Yes.
Students must have completed an introductory course in writing for instruments. They should have some experience composing and writing for instruments using notation. Students need to contact the Coordinator with samples of previous work.
MUSI217 Live Improvisation with Ableton  Jonathan Crossley 2 15 Y Yes.
MUSI219 Musical Cultures from the Early Islamicate Court to the English Reformation  Lisa Colton 1 15 Y Yes. There are no pre-requisites. Students will find a knowledge of basic musical terminology helpful, but do not need any knowledge of the early historical period in question or its music. 
MUSI220 Music, Gender and Sexuality Freya Jarman 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI230 Post-Wagnerian Music and Philosophy  Kenneth Forkert-Smith 2 15 Y Yes.
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 Freya Jarman 1 15 Y Yes.
Ability to read standard Western notation in line with Grade B in A-Level Music (or equivalent).
MUSI241 Sound, Technology & Society Robert Strachan 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI243 Sound Recording and Production 2  Liam Carey 1 15 Y Yes.
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 with Avid Pro Tools.
MUSI252 Working in Music Industry Mathew Flynn 1 15 Y Yes.
Ideally, students will be active music makers or have some experience with music industry activities, such as putting on gigs, blogging, journalism or releasing their own music etc.
MUSI261 Global Pop: Popular Musics of the World Haekyung Um 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI263 Contemporary Genres Robert Strachan 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI270 Music in World Cinema Haekyung Um 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI273 Music in Gaming Giles Hooper 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI274 Musical Theatre Lawrence Davies 2 15 Y Yes.
Students should have some familiarity with a piano-vocal score.
MUSI280 Exploring Harmony, Chord Progression and Pitch  Kenneth Forkert-Smith 1 15 Y Students must have undertaken a comprehensive Year 1 theory at UoL or their home institution module.
MUSI290 Introduction to Music Psychology Eduardo Coutinho 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI291 Music in Everyday Life  Eduardo Coutinho 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI303 Popular Performance Contexts Simon Stafford 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI308 Mixed Media Composition Oliver Carman 1 15 Y Yes.
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 Music Composition 3 Richard Worth 2 15 Y Yes.
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).
MUSI313 Music and the Climate Crisis Lawrence Davies 1 15 Y Yes.
MUSI314 Record Label Recording, Production and Project Planning Holly Tessler 1 15 Y Yes. 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  Holly Tessler 2 15 Y Yes.
MUSI215 and MUSI314 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.
MUSI316 Advanced Live Sound  John Holmes 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI318 From Hardware-hacking to Hyper-instruments  Jonathan Crossley 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI319 Self-Management for the Music Industries  Mathew Flynn 1 15 Y Yes. Ideally, students will be active music makers or have some experience with music industry activities, such as putting on gigs, blogging, journalism or releasing their own music etc.
MUSI320 Aesthetics of Music Michael Spitzer 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI322 Sound Studies Robert Strachan 1 15 Y Yes
MUSI326 Art Song Kenneth Forkert-Smith 1 15 N
(currently suspended)
Yes.
Ability to read standard Western notation in line with Grade B in A-Level Music (or equivalent).
MUSI331 Beethoven's Life and Works Michael Spitzer 2 15 Y Yes.
Ability to read standard Western notation in line with Grade B in A-Level Music (or equivalent).
MUSI341 Jazz Lawrence Davies 1 15 Y Yes.
MUSI353 Curation & Heritage Marion Leonard 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI370 The Film Music of John Williams Giles Hooper 2 15 Y Yes
MUSI380 Exploring Rhythm, Form and Musical Time Kenneth Forkert-Smith 2 15 Y Students must have undertaken a comprehensive Year 1 theory at UoL or their home institution module.
MUSI395 Independent Project: Classical Performance Ruth Minton Academic Year 30 Y Yes.
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: Creative Music Technology Matthew Fairclough Academic Year 30 Y Yes.
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.
MUSI397 Independent Project: Composition Ben Hackbarth Academic Year 30 Y Yes
MUSI398 Independent Project: Popular Performance  Simon Stafford Academic Year 30 Y Yes.
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 MUSI395.
MUSI399 Independent Project: Research Sara Cohen Academic Year 30 Y Yes.
Only for students registered for a full year in Liverpool.
SOTA101 Introduction to Game Design Studies Thomas Owens 1 15 Y Yes
SOTA102 Games and Meaning Rebecca Davnall 2 15 Y Yes
SOTA103 Creative Principles in Game Design Paul Turowski 1 15 Y Yes
SOTA104 Spatial Design in Gaming Thomas Owens 2 15 Y Yes
SOTA202 Different Play Rebecca Davnall 1 15 Y Yes
SOTA203 3D Modelling and Animation for Games Thomas Owens 1 15 Y Yes
Students must be able to demonstrate experience using 3D modelling tools (e.g. Blender, Maya) and a 3D game engine (e.g. Unreal Engine, Unity)
SOTA204 Game Design Independent Project Paul Turowski 2 15 Y Yes.
Students must be able to demonstrate experience creating content in a chosen pathway—e.g., 3D modelling, sound/music, narrative writing, coding.
SOTA207 Game Design Independent Project YII Paul Turowski 2 15 7.5 Y Yes.
Students must be able to demonstrate experience creating content in a chosen pathway—e.g., 3D modelling, sound/music, narrative writing, coding.
SOTA303 Game Design Collaborative Project Paul Turowski Academic Year 30 Y Yes.
Students must be able to demonstrate experience creating content in a chosen pathway—e.g., 3D modelling, sound/music, narrative writing, coding.
SOTA304 Game Design Collaborative Project A Paul Turowski 1 30 Y Yes.
Students must be able to demonstrate experience creating content in a chosen pathway—e.g., 3D modelling, sound/music, narrative writing, coding.
SOTA305 Game Design Collaborative Project B Paul Turowski 2 30 Y Yes.
Students must be able to demonstrate experience creating content in a chosen pathway—e.g., 3D modelling, sound/music, narrative writing, coding.