Open University Alumni - Aa302 Options

[sarah-flute]

Some of you probably know, the OU have changed their tune (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) and are axing AA302 sooner than previously stated.

A couple of OU folks who are current/previous AA302 students have opined that it'd be possible for someone with sufficient music experience/fluency in reading to do this course without studying A214 first. (& have also suggested it would actually help with A214 should I decide to do that in future (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif))

I am tempted by this possibility, as if I don't do it next year chances are I'll never be able to.

So... if you've done it (I know Jane has and I think there are a couple of others), help me out: What does it entail? How tough would it be without A214 first?

I've a rusty G5 theory and have done some G6 and some other harmony work at school. I did A Level music many centuries ago (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) we didn't do the formal tests in BC and stuff that the current lot do but covered a fair amount of harmony for our composing etc.

I've never studied music at this level, but have studied at degree level. I would obviously be hoping to do OK, but wouldn't feel a great need to be getting distinctions or anything!

My reading of music is pretty much fluent, very much so in treble clef, fairly fluent in alto and bass.

I have time to gen up on stuff before the start of the course if there's something I can do as prep.

I don't entirely know what the module requires, I understand there's a fair amount of score editing and stuff.

I don't know how much help A214 is to the module if you don't need the music reading help it gives...

Anyone able to help me out here?

By the time I'd be thinking about registering, I should have completed 2 short courses (one in music), with the prospect of one or maybe two more done before the start of the course, so will (I hope!) have successfully got on with some distance learning (or found out it doesn't work for me, in which case the point is moot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)). Any thoughts on how feasible this is would be gratefully received...

[Rink]

If you email the OU then they can usually route your questions through to the course tutor for your region. I've found them to be extremely helpful in the past.

Never done any of their music courses though. Its annoying when they cancel a course... but not half as annoying as when they drop a whole degree. The one I was working towards ends in 2009; I won't have time to complete all the courses to claim it so have had to adjust my plans. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[Digby]

A214 is a ABRSM substitute for grade 6 theory if you want to do the teaching diploma, and that is about what it entailed, there wasn't really much more in it, so with what you already have you will be fine, and to be honest in AA302 there is very little theory in the course at all. I seem to remember one TMA where we had to update a score, which having left myself less than an hour to do I did very badly at. All the others had nothing, or very little to do with the mechanics of music and were more how composition and performance itself developed, factors that influenced how and why composers composed as they did. So you really don't need 214 to cope with 302.

With what you have already Sarah, I'm sure you will cope fine. As a musician, when I did A214 I didn't really have to start engaging my brain until half way through the course it starts off with this is a crotchet, a 4/4 beat sounds like this!

[violinist]

Some of you probably know, the OU have changed their tune (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) and are axing AA302 sooner than previously stated.

A couple of OU folks who are current/previous AA302 students have opined that it'd be possible for someone with sufficient music experience/fluency in reading to do this course without studying A214 first. (& have also suggested it would actually help with A214 should I decide to do that in future (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif))

I am tempted by this possibility, as if I don't do it next year chances are I'll never be able to.

So... if you've done it (I know Jane has and I think there are a couple of others), help me out: What does it entail? How tough would it be without A214 first?

I've a rusty G5 theory and have done some G6 and some other harmony work at school. I did A Level music many centuries ago (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) we didn't do the formal tests in BC and stuff that the current lot do but covered a fair amount of harmony for our composing etc.

I've never studied music at this level, but have studied at degree level. I would obviously be hoping to do OK, but wouldn't feel a great need to be getting distinctions or anything!


Oh Know, that was the course i wanted to do as it counts towards the Diploma in Music :-(

My reading of music is pretty much fluent, very much so in treble clef, fairly fluent in alto and bass.

I have time to gen up on stuff before the start of the course if there's something I can do as prep.

I don't entirely know what the module requires, I understand there's a fair amount of score editing and stuff.

I don't know how much help A214 is to the module if you don't need the music reading help it gives...

Anyone able to help me out here?

By the time I'd be thinking about registering, I should have completed 2 short courses (one in music), with the prospect of one or maybe two more done before the start of the course, so will (I hope!) have successfully got on with some distance learning (or found out it doesn't work for me, in which case the point is moot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)). Any thoughts on how feasible this is would be gratefully received...

Oops pasted my reply in the wrong bit!

Oh know, that was the course i wanted to do to count towards the Diploma in Music.

[sarah-flute]

Thanks for the feedback, guys, much appreciated, and any more will also be gratefully received (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[AmandaL]

As someone who has studied AA302 to add to their general understanding of music, I would agree that you really don't need to have A214 if you have a good grounding in Western music. The only reservations I would have is that peoples ideas about their knowledge of harmony varies greatly - and the latter harmony parts of A214 are quite challenging in places.

In order to write essays in an informed way, does require a good foundation and understanding of harmony and musical structure, but as long as you feel you can gain the required knowledge - if you lack it - then AA302 is not beyond your capabilities.

I didn't realise they were scraping AA302. This year is the last presentation of AA314, which is being replaced by a new, but rather fluffy hand waving course, called Words and Music. To many, including OU music tutors I've spoken to, the new course carries a bit of an identity crisis. It can't make up its mind whether it's about literature or music. This is fine for those whose music knowledge may be sketchy but would like to do a bit of music orientated study, but for those who want to study 'music' it doesn't really fit into any vocational area or carry the weight of a third year degree level music course.

I hope they don't replace AA302 with something similar to the Words and Music, because it will mean that proper music courses via distance learning will have as good as vanished off the map.

Dumbing down comes to mind.......

[sarah-flute]

I'm not even certain they ARE replacing A302....

Anyone who has a requisite IDs and stuff to log on to the OU student conferences, PLEASE check out the music conferences where a petition is being circulated to protest against, yes, dumbing down in the OU's music provision.

[AmandaL]

Anyone who has a requisite IDs and stuff to log on to the OU student conferences, PLEASE check out the music conferences where a petition is being circulated to protest against, yes, dumbing down in the OU's music provision.

Thanks for the info. I'll check that out and add my name to it!

[sarah-flute]

Good! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[BusyBee]

Glad I managed to get all the OU music courses out of the way before all the changes!

I would definitely go for AA302 if it's a now or never situation. I completed it in its first year, nine years ago in 1998. Is there a summer school? - I can't remember -but I went to Cardiff for A214 and A314 for its final year in 1997. There is a lot of help there from other students and tutors.

I recall my tutor was very concerned that our tutorial group had not had enough experience of essay writing to cope with level 3 music as a follow on from A214. With that in mind AA302 should be fine for you, as the putting music into a social/cultural context is more important than music theory. The theory knowledge you do have should be okay for the editing TMA. You will need a very fine eye for detail in the editing and is more time consuming than difficult - in my view anyway.

I almost envy you - AA302 was my favourite course of the whole degree. Enjoy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

P.S I wanted to apply to be a music tutor for the OU but I am put off by the literature content of 'Music and Words'. I enjoy reading but I am not keen on analysing novels and poetry.

[elidatrading]

Anyone who has a requisite IDs and stuff to log on to the OU student conferences, PLEASE check out the music conferences where a petition is being circulated to protest against, yes, dumbing down in the OU's music provision.

Thanks for the info. I'll check that out and add my name to it!

So will I.

[elidatrading]

When I went back to the OU last year after several years gap I was delighted to see so many new music courses. Great, I thought, now my 150 Music points can be made up to some more sensible number, which will be a huge advantage to me if ever I need to go back to teaching.

And what happens? AA314 is replaced by something dumbed down beyond recognition - I debated over whether to do it on the last presentation but in the end my present Life Sciences degree was more pressing - and now the only other level 3 music course is going as well. O well, back to the drawing board I guess, the OU provision is getting worse rather than better.

Meanwhile I have to decide, is it worth changing next year's plans and doing AA302, bearing in mind that AA314 has already gone and the dumbed down replacement for it isn't going to appeal to any potential school to which I might potentially apply to to teach Music, as far as I can see, and probably it won't pass muster with the GTC either, if ever they go down the same route as their Scottish counterpart and inisist on a certain number of points to teach a particular subject at secondary level - as surely they will before long. I could be in the rather silly position where all my experience is in teaching music but most of my qualifications are in Science. Or do I try to persuade the local university to take me on as a mature student - and could I afford it if they agreed? I'm beginning to wish I'd done AA314 last year, it was a close call whether I did that or a Science course.

The trouble is there simply IS no provider of distance learning for Music. It would be wonderful if someone would offer a proper BMus available at a distance, say a University teaming up with the Associated Board or Trinity College.

On the other hand, how long will it be before Music is dropped from the National Curriculum and all this is academic anyway? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Just ranting.

Liz

[elidatrading]

For anyone searching on first class for the petition, the place to look is in the OUSA arts room, accessible through the following route:

open university
OUSA
Ousa study rooms door
OUSA Arts room
AA314 studies in music thread

Liz

[AnnC]

As a singer, I'm looking forward to Words and Music next year. I'm hoping it will be much more me than the outgoing course. I'll let you know if I think it's dumbing down or not. Of course, you may subscribe to the view that singers are not really musicians anyway......

[elidatrading]

As a singer, I'm looking forward to Words and Music next year. I'm hoping it will be much more me than the outgoing course. I'll let you know if I think it's dumbing down or not. Of course, you may subscribe to the view that singers are not really musicians anyway......

Of course not, but the point is that "words and music" seems to be equally about literature, it says "the course will be accessible to students from both musical and literature backgrounds". That doesn't sound like a very suitable third level music course to me, bearing in mind that as from next year it will be the ONLY third level music course.

Liz