MASTER'S PORTFOLIO - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module seeks to advance to a high professional level individual musical practice and develop academic skills appropriate to this postgraduate level, allowing students to develop their independence, resilience and resourcefulness, employability, and the ability to collaborate and work with contemporary digital technologies.  It is expected to draw on knowledge and skills developed throughout the programme, but also represent a summative and significant body of work demonstrating independent study and practice appropriate to your discipline. Example outputs include: a performance recital; an original film score; a musicological research project; a sound installation; and an album or suite of original compositions. However, other options and a hybrid portfolio are available in consultation with your supervisor.

Module provider

Music & Media

Module Leader

MERMIKIDES Milton (Music & Med)

Number of Credits: 45

ECTS Credits: 22.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

The content of the module is adapted to the individual aims of each student. This may vary widely between students, as is the nature of research and the diverse programme, but will generally be in the areas of composition, performance, musicology, music analysis, creative practice or some combination of these disciplines. 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop their compositional, performance and musicological skills as appropriate through engagement with contemporary techniques, theories and awareness of relevant creative practice. Giving the student the opportunity to devise, plan and construct their own portfolios focuses on the broad aims of the module. In preparation of the portfolio there is formative assessment and feedback from tutors on developing work.

In addition, Summative assessment for this module includes:

• A portfolio of works demonstrating a professional level of skill in academic writing, analysis and/or idiomatic realization and critical awareness.  (Learning outcomes 1-6)  with an academic commentary up to 2000 words (not including references), demonstrating a theoretical understanding, critical reflection and contextual awareness of your particular musical and/or musicological practice. (Learning outcomes 1-3, 5-7)

Module aims

• This module provides students with the opportunity to prepare and present a portfolio of works, demonstrating control and awareness of relevant contemporary practice and research, and to provide, in support, a document that discusses pertinent aspects of your work.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to support and develop independence of research skills, subject knowledge and professional practical skills of your discipline.

Your tutors will guide you in your preparation of a portfolio (which may include musicological. compositional and performance content) and your supporting written commentary.

As appropriate to postgraduate training, this project will be informed by your own motivations, aims and research interests. This will prepare you to be not only a scholar of existing knowledge, but an effective contributor to your field.

Tutorials will help you refine the focus, scope and strategy of your portfolio, guide you to appropriate research material, and – in the case of performers – provide practical instrumental tuition in preparation for your performance.

The use of self-guided student study aims to encourage student independence, confidence, genuine contribution to the field and meaningful preparation for postgraduate research.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MUSM076

Other information

The Department of Music and Media is committed to developing graduates with attributes encompassing employability, digital skills, global and culture awareness, sustainability as it relates to music and the wider arts and, finally, resourcefulness and resilience. This module provides opportunities to engage deeply with these in a number of ways including:

Digital technologies: which may include music production, studio techniques, digital notation, music analytical tools, digital research skills and word processing. 

Research topics, compositional influences and performance repertoire should show an awareness of diverse cultural practice and cultures, avoiding a myopic perspective of musical practice. 

An awareness of issues of sustainability is made evident by choice of output object, rehearsal and production object, and performance event approach. 

The portfolio requires a significant level of resourcefulness and resilience requiring an independence of practice, a set of skills and a portfolio of work for future research, practice and employment opportunities.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.