BMus Options (AY2019-2010)

LEVEL 5 OPTIONS
Module
Module Title Credits Prerequisite
Code
Starred Options
Level 5 MU4531 Classical CD Production 20 NAFA Diploma in Music

Level 5 MU4532 Composition 20 NAFA Diploma in Music

Level 5 MU4533 Music Therapy 20 NAFA Diploma in Music

20 NAFA Diploma in Music

Level 5 MU4534 Orchestration & Transcription *Knowledge in
Instrumentation is required
Level 5 MU4535 Historical Studies (From Source to performance) 20 NAFA Diploma in Music
Level 5 MU4536 Writing About Music 10 NAFA Diploma in Music

Unstarred Options
Accompaniment
Level 5 MU4541 *Principal Study may be taken at 70 or 80 credits, but with only 35 hours 20 NAFA Diploma in Music
of PS given over the year.
Level 5 MU4543 Conducting 20 NAFA Diploma in Music
Level 5 MU4550 Interpretation of Song (compulsory for voice students) 20 NAFA Diploma in Music
Level 5 MU4551 Chamber Music (incorporating Duo Performance) 20 NAFA Diploma in Music

LEVEL 6 OPTIONS
Starred Options
Level 6 MU4630 Schenkerian Analysis 20 NAFA Diploma in Music
Level 6 MU4633 Music Therapy Techniques 20 MU4533

Level 6 MU4634 Orchestration & Arrangement 20 MU4534

Level 6 MU4635 Historical Studies (Aesthetics and Criticism of Music) 20 NAFA Diploma in Music

Level 6 MU4636 Professional Skills (Instrumental & Vocal Teaching) 20 NAFA Diploma in Music
Level 6 MU4637 Repertoire Project* 10 NAFA Diploma in Music
Level 6 MU4638 Research Project* 30 NAFA Diploma in Music
Level 6 MU4639 Professional Skills (Outreach) 20 NAFA Diploma in Music

Unstarred Options
Level 6 MU3644 Aural 10 NAFA Diploma in Music

Accompaniment
Level 6 MU4641 *Principal Study may be taken at 70 or 80 credits, but with only 35 hours 30 MU4541
of PS given over the year.
Level 6 MU4643 Conducting 30 MU4543
Level 6 MU4644 Aural in Professional Contexts 10 NAFA Diploma in Music
Level 6 MU4645 Contemporary Music 10 NAFA Diploma in Music

Level 6 MU4648 Opera, Acting & Movement (compulsory for voice students) 20 Level 6 Principal
Study (Singers only)
Level 6 MU4650 Interpretation of Song (compulsory for voice students) 20 MU4550
Level 6 MU4651 20 NAFA Diploma in Music
Chamber Music (incorporating Duo Performance)
Level 6 MU4652 30
Guidelines for Students

1.1 Prerequisites (The following is excerpted from the BMus Course Handbook)
Certain modules have prerequisites. ‘Prerequisites’ are modules at lower levels which you need to pass
in order to demonstrate that you have developed the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue more
advanced work successfully.

1.2 Options
There are three important things to remember about options:
• Options are offered at Levels 5 and 6 – very often a Level 5 option leads on to a Level 6 option
and is usually a prerequisite for it. Prerequisites are listed in Table 2.
• Options are available in different credit sizes – either as 10, 20 or 30 credit modules.
• Options are divided into two categories: *Starred and Unstarred. *Starred options are
historical, theoretical, technological or vocational modules which incorporate written work into their
assessment. Unstarred options are practical courses assessed through practical examinations
(usually, though not always, on your Principal Study). In order to receive the BMus (Hons) degree
you must complete at least one Starred option during BMus 3. It does not matter whether this is
taken at Level 5 or Level 6.

1.3 Creating your Individual Programme of Study

You may choose the number of credits to allocate to Individual Studies. If you opt for the maximum
number (80 credits) you will have 40 credits remaining each year from which to choose your options. If
you allocate the minimum number of credits to Individual Studies (60) you will have more credits (60)
for options. You do not have to keep the credit allocations that you make between Individual Studies and
option choices the same in both years.

This structure allows you to create your own individual pathway through your BMus (Hons), and the
range of options enables you to devise a particular focus. Likewise it enables you to maintain
breadth to your study if you wish. Many Level 5 options are prerequisites for Level 6 options so, if you
are interested in taking an option to a higher level, you would need to factor this into your planning.
However, as Table 2 indicates, a number of Level 6 options are available to you from BMus 3
onwards because their prerequisites are courses you have completed during the Diploma in Music. As
you design your programme, do bear in mind that you must have 180 credits of Level 6 modules
in order to graduate.

To help you make your choices, meetings are organised for BMus students. It is important that you
plan ahead and discuss with members of staff what you would like to do. Your Year Tutor will provide
tutorial advice regarding option choices. Your Head of Study, together with your Principal Study teacher,
will also be able to offer you further guidance about how to structure and sequence your studies.

1.4 Module Descriptions

The Module Descriptors Handbook includes descriptions of all the modules that are offered at the
different levels. These include information on:
• learning outcomes (what you will be expected to be able to demonstrate on successful
completion of the unit)
• broad content of the unit
• assessment requirements.

1.5 Calculating your Final Degree Result

A well-designed degree is one which strikes a balance between rewarding particular excellence in some
areas with consistency across the board, and one which is genuinely demanding but allows some scope
for parts of your study to be less successful than others. Designing a scheme which achieves this is a
challenging exercise: the procedures we use are explained here, in general terms, and in more detail in
Section 9 of this handbook.

1.5.1 Which modules count towards my final degree result?

Providing you pass all the modules that you take, you will accumulate 240 credits. All 240 credits
are used to calculate your final degree classification (refer to 2.9.3 “Step 2”).

1.6 Attendance Requirements

The minimum attendance requirement for each module is:
a) 75% of classes for every module except those specified in (b) below.
b) 90% of classes for every practical-/performance-based module involving group activities.

Failing to meet the attendance requirement at NAFA or our partner institution will delay your graduation.
Refer to StudentNet on Attendance Requirements.