This module will examine the wider context in which music and sound exists and allow students to develop the skills that allows them to unpick and interpret them. There will be an emphasis on the interests of the students and developing an appreciation for the wider socio-political contexts of the music which they are interested in. This will be undertaken alongside a number of set piece discussions of key moments in history which have impacted on music and sound and vice versa.

Students will be assessed on their secondary research and source evaluation skills and the way in which they place a piece of music or a music practitioner in context. The teaching and learning environment will have a digital focus both within the classroom and studios to allow students to practically demonstrate their specific area of interest.

The Research Summary should take a summary of the secondary research undertaken so far and give an indication of the overall quality, the usefulness to the area of study and an overview of what it is about. This should provide a broad overview of the area of study. (LO2 and 3)

The Presentation of the Research should draw together all of the learning about the musician or music and frame the outputs in the wider social context in which they were made. Effort should be made to draw connections between the wider context and the choices of the music and sound practitioners. (LO1, 2 and 3)

The contact time will be broken down as follows:
16 lecture/tutorials of 3 hours including small group work and individual support.

1. Demonstrate the key study skills and develop knowledge and understanding of the digital packages required to support verbal and written communication and collaboration in an academic context. Communication

2. Reflect on the position of music and sound in the contemporary world and the impact of outside factors on the creation of music and music products. Reflection

3. Apply appropriate secondary research techniques to source data relevant to an investigation and understand the limitations in terms of reliability and bias of the data collected. Enquiry

Library and research resources.

The most recent additions of the following texts, which will be available through online study links. The following are the most recent editions:

Ridley, D. (2012) The Literature Review: A Step-By-Step Guide For Students. Second edition. Los Angeles: Sage Publications Ltd.

Weyers, J. and McMillan, K. (2012) The Study Skills Book. 3rd edition. London: Pearson.

Want to understand more about how music influences the rest of our world, and how our world influence music?
Music and Sound in Context will take you through the process of examining music and sound and the people who make it, and their place in the wider world.