Study Guide

Objective

The student is able to make music creatively in a small ensemble. The student can distinguish the roles of the instruments and is able to arrange and orchestrate for them. The student is able to rehearse an ensemble and function as an active and creative member. The student is able to utilize improvisation in making their own music. The student is able to communicate their own music orally, in writing and by audio recording.

The student is able to explore and realize the music of others by making transcriptions and is able to define the importance of quality music notation in conveying musical information. The student learns the basic use of notational software. The student is able to act as an active member of the group and give constructive feedback on the work of other members of the group. The student is goal-oriented and is able to prepare a concert production as a member of a group.

Content

Writing music for a small ensemble. Ensemble rehearsals. Musical improvisation in a group setting. Basic use of notational software and preparation of sheet music. Using music transcriptions to explore musical parameters.

Location and time

Tuition starts on Tuesday 30 August at 10:45 am. The schedule and rooms are to be announced at the start of the semester.
Teachers: Jere Laukkanen and Marko Liski.

Materials

Supportive reading:
Blume, Jason. 2004. 6 Steps to Songwriting Success. The Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Marketing Hit Songs. New York: Billboard Books.
Citron, Stephen. 1985. Songwriting. A Complete Guide to the Craft. New York: Limelight Editions.
Davis, Sheila. 1985. The Craft of Lyric Writing. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books.
Pattison, Pat. 2009. Writing Better Lyrics. The Essential Guide to Powerful Songwriting. 2nd ed. Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest Books.
Perricone, Jack. 2000. Melody in Songwriting. Boston: Berklee Press.
Salo, Heikki. 2006. Kahlekuningaslaji. Laululyriikan käsikirja. Helsinki: Like.
Seabrook, John. 2015. The Song Machine. Inside the Hit Factory. New York: W. W. Norton & Co.
Webb, Jimmy. 1998. Tunesmith. Inside the Art of Songwriting. New York: Hyperion.
Zollo, Paul. 2003. Songwriters on Songwriting. Expanded 4th ed. Cambridge, USA: Da Capo Press.

Teaching methods

Small group tutorial
Interactive lecture
Assignments
Contact teaching

Exam schedules

No exam. The required competences are primarily demonstrated with learning assignments, secondarily in a manner agreed with the teacher.

Completion alternatives

To be agreed individually with the teacher.

Student workload

Tuition starts on Tuesday 30 August at 11 am. The schedule and rooms are to be announced at the start of the semester.
Teachers: Jere Laukkanen and Marko Liski.

Content scheduling

Tuition starts on Tuesday 30 August at 11 am. The schedule and rooms are to be announced at the start of the semester.
Teachers: Jere Laukkanen and Marko Liski.

Further information

Tuition starts on Tuesday 30 August at 11 am. The schedule and rooms are to be announced at the start of the semester.
Teachers: Jere Laukkanen and Marko Liski.

Evaluation scale

Hyväksytty/Hylätty

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The student is able to differentiate the roles of different members of an ensemble, is able to arrange and orchestrate for them, is able to rehearse a band and function as a member of the band in an active and creative way. The student is able to utilize improvisation in making their own music. The student is able to communicate their own music orally, in writing and by audio recording.

The student is able to explore and realize the music of others by making transcriptions and is able to define the importance of a good musical notation in conveying musical information. The student masters the basic use of notational software. The student is able to complete assignments according to schedule. The student is able to function as an active member of a group and give constructive feedback on the work of other members of the group. The student is able to be goal-oriented and is able to prepare a concert production as a member of a group.

Assessment methods and criteria

Continuous assessment
Peer evaluation
Attendance
Learning assignment
(total 100%)

Prerequisites

Degree according to the extended syllabus level of basic education in music or equivalent skills and knowledge.