Core Skills for Sound Production & Recording - MUS00111C

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Module summary

This module consists of practical and technical skills tuition to develop skills needed to the make the most of the rest of the course. This module develops practical and technical skills, knowledge of repertoire and critical listening abilities through workshops, lectures and guided listening sessions. Over the year, you will work on technical proficiencies both to reinforce and extend the wide range needed across this stage of your programme and to develop those broader skillsets necessary for a sound recordist’s professional development. The 10 teaching weeks are constructed as a series of lab-style practical workshops taught in split-cohort groups, supported by preparatory materials on the VLE where relevant: in each workshop you will follow specific tasks with support from staff or expert postgraduates, to build up a final portfolio of work which showcases your ability in core competencies.

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2025-26

Module aims

• Develop a range of core skills required to engage with the BA in Music & Sound Recording at the appropriate level. These include academic skills, DAW basics, sibelius basics, aural skills and critical listening/feedback skills, and ensuring a basic level of music theory.
• To develop your individual interests and specialisations by setting your own developmental goals with a view to expanding your portfolio of recorded work.
• To be exposed to a wide variety of music, across musical genres and from different historical periods.
• To develop an awareness and degree of proficiency in the following key areas: tracking, editing, mixing, mastering, DAW operation, studio operation, MIDI, music theory, listening skills, research and writing, processing, routing, microphone technique, EDI considerations, and studio citizenship.

Module learning outcomes

• Listen to and critique musical recordings and feedback criticisms in an appropriate and collaborative manner;
• Use digital audio workstation (DAW) software to input and edit audio;
• Use notation software to present musical scores for use in performance and recordings;
• Use technologies to support musical research in fields for study support, research and reference management;
• Work with and extract useful information from musical scores;

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

100% Portfolio of practical work: at the end of each teaching cycle (usually two weeks), you will submit the tasks you have completed (documents, DAW files, and/or videos of practical work). If you are absent for a session or cycle, you will submit work afterwards based on provided task materials and support; for practice-based sessions you may be given an equivalent independent task which can be completed outside of scheduled sessions.

Your portfolio will be structured around15 key proficiencies (tracking, editing, mixing, mastering, DAW operation, studio operation, MIDI, music theory, listening skills, research and writing, processing, routing, microphone technique, EDI considerations, and studio citizenship) allowing you to track your own progression and identify areas for future improvement. As a part of the folio, you will engage with a self-reflective document which maps your progress onto the module proficiency indicators, allowing them to understand their development through the module and across your degree programme.

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Module feedback

You will receive written feedback in line with standard University turnaround times.

Indicative reading

Relevant materials will be provided to accompany each thematic strand.