Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MSP3205

 
TITLE Performance 4: Woodwind

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 6

 
DEPARTMENT Music Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit will focus mainly on improving the clarinet/saxophone student's technical and musical abilities to a high performance level. This study-unit will examine and discuss performance anxieties and coping strategies, improving personal skills for optimal performance. Focus will be on both solo and ensemble playing techniques. Students will be working on a chosen core repertoire of the clarinet/saxophone which will include works from the Classical, Romantic and 20th Century periods.

Study-unit Aims:

The main aim of this study-unit is to provide clarinet/saxophone students with a good level of performance skills to improve their musical capabilities in order to succeed as performers. The study-unit will focus on the interpretation of various genres including 20th Century compositions and Maltese compositions. Students will be guided to new sounds and techniques in clarinet playing. Clarinet/saxophone students will tackle the necessary core repertoire and orchestral material in preparation to audition and performances opportunities that will arise.

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a) appraise the development of the repertoire;
b) assess modern technical possibilities on the instrument;
c) identify major works for the instrument and build up an effective and contrasting programme;
d) attain the tools to be self-critical, prepare a musically-rendered performance and prepare effective programme notes;
e) think and work creatively when solving a problem while practicing or performing.

Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a) focus on the relevance of historical and stylistic issues in clarinet/saxophone performance;
b) develop a strong musical personality at a high performance level and be able to realise and express his/her own artistic ideas on the instrument;
c) demonstrate control of intonation and related issues during practice and performance;
d) work and perform confidently as a soloist and in a group setting in front of an audience;
e) develop programmes suitable to a different range of performing contexts and target audiences.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Text/s

- Greene, Don. 2001. Audition Success (New York: Routledge).
- Klickstein, Gerald. 2009. The Musician’s Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance and Wellness (New York: Oxford University Press).
- Paull, B. & C. Harrison. 1997. The Athletic Musician: A Guide to Playing without Pain (London: The Scarecrow Press).
- Rice, Albert. R. 2003. The Clarinet in the Classical Period (New York: Oxford University Press).
- Weisberg, Arthur. 2007. The Art of Wind Playing (Galesville: Meredith Music Publications).

Supplementary Readings

- Garbarino, Giuseppe. 1983. The Clarinet: Emmission and Technique (Milano: Ricordi).
- Rehfeldt, Phillip. 1994. New Directions for Clarinet (Berkeley: University of California Press).
- Rink, John. 2002. Musical Performance: A Guide to Understanding (London: Cambridge University Press).

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite Study-unit: MSP2305

Co-requisite Study-unit: MSP3210

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Logbook SEM2 Yes 20%
Practical SEM2 Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit