Musics of the World

This unit explores the development of a selection of indigenous and contemporary musical styles from cultural, historical and musicological perspectives. Students learn basic concepts in ethnomusicology, including: defining ‘World Music’, globalisation, hybridisation, musical diaspora and cultural appropriation. Students are introduced to the aesthetic and theoretical nature of music from non-Western regions including Africa, the Middle-East, India, China, Japan, South-East Asia, and South America, and these will be analysed using academic research processes and implementation in practical music and music theory contexts. Learning is illustrated through development of academic skills including research-based analysis of the history and development of exemplar indigenous musics, by the demonstration of these styles and concepts in collaborative performance, by development and refining of individual work and practice routines, and by developing and refining various music production and theory notation techniques.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Develop and produce musical works;
2. Analyse and reflect on how music is produced and consumed in a global context;
3. Exhibit interpretative skills and overall musicianship within collaborative contexts;
4. Articulate musical nomenclature in relation to music theory in a global context;
5. Operate music production and notation software;