I wondered if anyone has done the OU course "Understanding Music - elements, techniques and styles" A214
and if so, would you recommend it?
Tell me more please.

Janexxx has done some OU courses, not sure what she has done though.

Yes - and yes. You should find it easy as it really does go right from the beginning (though admittedly at a very fast pace!)

Liz

I reserved a place on this course - but now they want £890 (I have a first degree ((and a second)) already so can't get any fee exemptions) I might be chickening out - I could buy a proper flute for that (current model cost £85 including P&P)... still wavering

Yes I did it a few years ago. It does start right from "this is a crochet" up to figured bass and harmonising, and covers a lot of history, form etc. Very fast moving, easy at the beginning but a very steep learning curve!

I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was what I needed at the time having never done music before. If you have done GCSE and A level or theory grades up to 6 ish then I guess it will all be familiar ground. If not ...well it was worth it just for the Summer school

I can't help with the OU question, but seeing as it's your thread, I thought you perhaps wouldn't mind too much if I digressed slightly and asked you what the "Sax Experience" was that you've mentioned in your signature - it sounds amazing!

I'd love to be able to play sax eventually, but I'm still very much a beginner on the clarinet so I don't want to take on too much too soon. I'd particularly like to play soprano sax (a la Sidney Bechet! ) but would you say this is just too ambitious even to contemplate?

Sorry to digress, hope you don't mind

Sorry to digress further, I'll be very brief!

No reason why you can't eventually double on sax! The soprano is one of the trickier saxes to play, but by no means write it off!

Back to the topic - the OU course

I have done this one and it is very good. I have also completed the AA314 Analysing Music, and next February I start the AA302 From Composition to Performance. The OU is a great institution with good tutor support and course materials. Go for it.

As already stated, the A214 starts at the very beginning of music notation and goes all the way through to harmonising melodies. You have 8 assignments to do throughout the course, which are based on the units you have studied. At the end there is a three hour exam. There is also a summer school (which is compulsory to the course, unless you have a very good reason not to go). This is held in Durham. It's a packed week, but very very useful.

Feel free to PM if you need more advice, or if you go into the OU website, you can download a prospectus for all OU courses.

Good luck!

Naturally!! Not that I'm at all biased

As if!!

No worries - good to hear from you. Happy to talk OU or sax or music....

The Sax Experience was a mid-week course held at the Benslow Music Trust (see their website www.benslow.org) in Hitchin. I don't know how close you are... It is a great Experience of group sax playing. Big sax choir, big noise stuff and also quartets, quintets, whatever with different levels of experience but lots of enthusiasm. The tutors are lovely and approachable, helpful and great sax players! Sounds like an advert But yes, it is terrific fun and learning too!! It was my third time

I don't suppose anyone will play just like Sidney Bechet but of course it's not too ambitious to aim there. Find your own style anyway, but go for the top. Soprano isn't the easiest of saxes... but saxes are Great!!
If you want to talk any more about this, if I can help, pm me.

I am a current OU student. I did A214 last year and it was absolutely brilliant - summer school week was one of the best weeks of my life and everyone else I know agrees!

Like others have said - it begins from the absolute basics and about halfway through suddenly steps up. By the end you will be harmonizing Bach chorales and writing classical style keyboard accompaniments.

Go for it! Wish I could do it again just for the summer school!!

Hope you enjoy AA302 Charlies Aunt - I am currently doing AA302 and AA314 - exams next week (EEEEK!)


[quote name='Charlies Aunt' date='Oct 11 2006, 08:45 AM' post='405605']

I have done this one and it is very good. I have also completed the AA314 Analysing Music, and next February I start the AA302 From Composition to Performance. The OU is a great institution with good tutor support and course materials. Go for it.

Sounds like a really good course... one day when I'm feeling rich

[quote name='staccato' date='Oct 11 2006, 01:00 PM' post='405699']
I am a current OU student. I did A214 last year and it was absolutely brilliant - summer school week was one of the best weeks of my life and everyone else I know agrees!

Like others have said - it begins from the absolute basics and about halfway through suddenly steps up. By the end you will be harmonizing Bach chorales and writing classical style keyboard accompaniments.

Go for it! Wish I could do it again just for the summer school!!

Hope you enjoy AA302 Charlies Aunt - I am currently doing AA302 and AA314 - exams next week (EEEEK!)


[quote name='Charlies Aunt' date='Oct 11 2006, 08:45 AM' post='405605']

I have done this one and it is very good. I have also completed the AA314 Analysing Music, and next February I start the AA302 From Composition to Performance. The OU is a great institution with good tutor support and course materials. Go for it.
[/quote]

Thanks staccato! Every good luck for your exam!

You can pay on a monthly basis :-)

Also, if you are earning under £25,000 per year (either as a single person or as a joint income) you get all fees paid for you, plus £250 towards books and expenses! The only thing is, you are then committed to doing a degree within a six year time frame.

I'm on benefit so I really would still have to save.

Just looking at the financial support bits though - and definitely looks like a really interesting course, definitely something I'd be interested in doing in the future.

Shame the OU don't teach Russian or maybe I could do some work for them and be eligible for some cut price courses!! Oh well!


The 6 year time frame thing... well I already have a degree so not completing a whole degree wouldn't be a big issue for me - it'd be great to have official qualifications in music, but if this was the only course I did it wouldn't be the end of the world, and if I did more/maybe ended up getting a diploma or a degree, that would be a bonus.

Hmm just been looking at the financial help pages and it really does look like I'd be eligible for a lot of help. I wonder. I'll have to think about this - I don't want to put pressure on my health, but at the same time it looks like a great opportunity to do some music ed. at a higher level and actually DO something with my time........

Anyone who's done the course: how much time did you spend per week? How stressful did you find it? How much music knowledge did you have prior to the course and how much of the course did that help with?

I am SO sorely tempted. It'd be so good to feel I was doing something worthwhile and learning something... I'm wondering if the musical knowledge I have would be enough to take the pressure off so it wouldn't totally wreck my health...

Judging from MrBouffant's hardworking as ever approach to the MA course it seems the workload isn't too high, and lower than that stated. Of course the workload is stated persumably for an average student, or maybe for a worst case, so the fact that you already have a degree and hence study skills, plus the fact that you're way above average intelligence and have knowledge already should mean that the workload will be lower for you .


If you can get enough support to pay for the fees then you're not losing anything since you can always drop out if it becomes too much for your health (although knowing you, you'd probably not be too keen to give up ). It's probably something that's worth giving a go, as long as you are willing to give it up if it becomes a problem to you .

Think about it Sarah_flute - we could meet up on the Summer School!!
If that's not enough to put you off

I am still 'in the process' stage - and checking dates: my time is limited in the summer so I can only manage one particular week.

Yes, that's true... and makes it much more tempting rather than just a pipe dream...


I think with the state of my health at the moment, if I needed to give it up I just would - it wouldn't be a case of having a choice in the matter.


That'd be cool

I love Durham, too - what a great excuse to go back

I think if you can't make summer school with a decent excuse then you can substitute other things though obviously it's not ideal.

My mum just rang and I was chatting with her - she's a great sounding board - and even she thinks it's a good idea which is sort of unlike her.

I think I'm now thinking I'll book a place and apply for funding etc and see what happens. I presume there's a while before total commitment to doing it yesno? I shall check. One thing's for sure, if they don't pay I can't do it, I presume there's provision to drop out if you can't afford it!

I'm going to go look and see if I am brave enough to click that button......

[quote name='sarah-flute' date='Oct 11 2006, 05:01 PM' post='405850']
[/quote]
That'd be cool

I love Durham, too - what a great excuse to go back

I think if you can't make summer school with a decent excuse then you can substitute other things though obviously it's not ideal.

My mum just rang and I was chatting with her - she's a great sounding board - and even she thinks it's a good idea which is sort of unlike her.

I think I'm now thinking I'll book a place and apply for funding etc and see what happens. I presume there's a while before total commitment to doing it yesno? I shall check. One thing's for sure, if they don't pay I can't do it, I presume there's provision to drop out if you can't afford it!

I'm going to go look and see if I am brave enough to click that button......
[/quote]

Great - keep in touch then about progress!

I clicked

They will send me the forms and the finance info... then I shall apply for finance, and then I'll know if I'll be able to do it!



They said I'd have to send the forms back by 22nd November, so I guess (considering I am away from 19th to 29th of November) I have about 5 weeks to decide!

I got the information for funding and found straight away that I was not eligible because I already have a degree.

I emailed them and told them this and they replied with the following...


(NB this information only applies to those who have degrees already and is a direct quote from the OU - perhaps it only applies to me? )

".... there could be some support to students who already hold a degree, but who need to re-train in another area in order to re-enter the workforce. I have outlined the main criteria for this additional support below; if you think you may be eligible for this, please send the completed financial support application together with a covering letter to outline the points below:

Support for degree holders for students resident in England and N.Ireland only:

Eligibility:
? Student must meet all of the assessment criteria that would make them eligible for a full Fee and Course Grant, apart from already holding a degree.
? New qualification must be in a different subject.
? Justify how it will allow them to re-enter the workforce whilst their current qualification does not. Within this criteria the age of the students previous qualification will be considered, however there is no stipulated time that needs to have elapsed.
? The student cannot be retired or past retirement age when they are due to finish their qualification.
? The student needed to have worked since they finished their first degree.
? Support will be given for up to 60 credit points.
? Only courses that will count towards the qualification the student is planning to study towards will be supported.
? Must have discussed need for a second degree and career plan with advisor. Regional centre number: 0121 428 1550
? The Student must be studying a 30 or 60 credit point course.
? If eligible the award will cover the full cost of the course. "




So I am not eligible for any help with the fees - despite being on a low enough income to get maximum Tax Credits. If I stopped working all together then I could apply but I'd need to convince them that I need this course to start me working again and after I've had a chat with their careers adviser.

mmm - not going to do that really.



(.......wonder what happens if you live in Wales or Scotland?)

Or maybe other people I'd willingly go again and pretend to be you


YAY!!!! You won't regret it.

In the year I did A214 I also did S298 (genetics), which was fairly easy since i had done biology A level, and D345 (economics and government policy) which was harder. I was playing in an orchestra weekly, conducting a recorder group once a month, attending church twice on Sundays and on Monday evenings, teaching private pupils for something like 25 hours a week and teaching in schools two and a half days a week. So I didn't put a lot of work in! I still got a distinction. BUT I had already passed theory grade 8 and also the theory papers for ALCM LTCL and LGSM.

On the summer school for the Science foundation course the previous year, I was telling one of the tutors of my plans, just chatting, and she said that they do try to discourage non-musicians from doing A214 because it is very hard unless you have some musical knowledge. But I really can't see you having a problem with it.

Now what I REALLY wish OU could do is to get together with ABRSM or Trinity or London and come up with some sort of full dgeree in music on a collabarative basis (so that a diploma from one of the three boards would count towards an OU degree in Music). What about making the approach, ABRSM?

Would you consider doing it and paying in installments?


Hehehehe!





That would be cool.

Thanks for the feedback, folks. I'm quite excited now Hope that I do qualify for the financial help as I certainly couldn't do it without that. They're going to send me the forms.

Possibly -

It's not really an afford issue as much as I have a husband and three children and it's hard to justify spending so much on just me.

Already I spend £30 a week on music lessons - and I'm always buying music and associated CDs (which I Need) and exam fees. It's not many months since I convinced myself I needed a laptop to do my composition on (which is what it is used for).....and then there was that fluffy thing to keep in the long bit of my flute which I had to get this week... just today I bought Compositions for Flute (because I needed June in Paris for grade three) ....there's always something....



The Other Thing is that I didn't know about the LCM Composition Exams when I booked my place on the OU course. I think I might rather do those instead .


I haven't ruled out the OU course yet - I have all the enrolment documents - it's just I'm Undecided.

*nods* yep, I understand.

For once I am lucky to be on benefit (first time I've said that! ) and will therefore hopefully get the financial help...

O well, in that case, take as much as you can get - go for the music technology course as well!

Liz

well, it is sounding very much as though you'd love to do it and you could be on track for it.
I haven't really decided yet.
I am waiting for a reply from them about whether I can specify which week I can do the Summer School

Hi SaxFan and Sarah-Flute,

just want to let you know that I've enrolled for A241 for next year as well. Just had the confirmation papers through yesterday. I studied with the OU many years aga, in the 80's and during that time took the course that preceeded this one (A214, I think). However, the old course no longer forms part of the Music Diploma so I've decided on A241 as my starting point. Would eventually like to do the Masters... maybe, one day. It would be great to meet up with you both in Durham for the Summer School. Do you get a choice of dates, or is it one set week?

hillyb

Just dug out my books and these are the chapter headings...

1. Introducing Rhythm
2. Introducing pitch
3. Starting with staff notation
4. Melody
5. Harmony 1: the chord
6. Modes scales and keys
7. Primary Triads
8. Cadences
9. Following a score
10.Formal principles 1 (eg binary / ternary)
11.1st inversions
12.Secondary diatonic triads
13.Modulation 1
14.Following a score 2
15.two stave reduction
16.revision
17.Harmonizing a melody
18.Modulation 2
19.Harmonizing a melody 2
20.Following an Orchestral score
21.transpositions and reductions
22.Formal principles 2 (eg sonata form)
23.Baroque style 1 (figured Bass)
24.classical style 1
25.Points of style
26.Baroque 2
27.Classical 2
28.Romantic period
29.Style history and canon
30.Baroque 3 (Chorale harmony/ Fugue)
31.Classical 3
32.Writing about music (exam prep)

Just thought it might help anyone wondering whether to go for it or not.

I've been reading this with interest as I'd like to do another music course, so I went off and did a general Google search - search terms "OU A214" and came up with this site. Looks helpful and would give anyone who's thinking of doing it a pretty good idea of some of the things you'll be learning. Also a handy crib sheet if you do it?

Thanks, Janexxx. That's really helpful. Looking forward to getting back into studying again.

hillyb

I think you got the course codes the wrong way around. A 214 is the current course and DOES form part of the dip. A 241 (Elements of Music) was the old course and was discontinued in about 1993.

There are a choice of weeks for the Summer School...if you get your appliction in early you stand more chance of getting your first choice dates




Oh that's really useful. Pity there are no TMA answers too

Oops, sorry about mixing up the course codes. I'm sure I'll get used to them very soon!!

hillyb

Thanks for that link -

It doesn't seem that the course is very involved in terms of chords (compared to what I had hoped) - I could see only lists of Major and Minor Chords - I've already done to death 6th, 7th, Maj7th, m7, augmented, 7sus4, m(maj7), dim7th, m7b5 ... ... pehaps there's more involved stuff not listed? It does look a bit basic. (sorry - don't mean to sound snottty- it's just that this stuff is easily covered in five years of keyboard lessons).

I would estimate it goes to about Grade 6 theory level...but it covers other elements such as the history of music and some analysis.

Essentially you do not need (though it helps) to be able to play an instrument to do this course, but you do need a grounding in the theory to understand the other elements.

I guess it all depends why you are doing it and what you want to get out of it.

thanks for all the comments and help. It makes things clearer for deciding. And don't stop - if there's any more thoughts...



looks like we might have a Forum contingent going on Summer School, better make sure we all ask for the same week!

Can I gate-crash!!!

Another thought...if you are dong it to get the Dip, and this is the reason for doing A214, and you feel confident you know most of the stuff anyway, you could do A214 and AA302 (or whatever) together. Bit expensive, but doable if the A214 stuff is largely familiar.

that's really useful - thanks - I was hoping it would be grade 8+

I wish I was interested in history of music (I wish I wanted to eat fruit)

That is certainly a useful site particularly for revision! So if any of you go ahead and do 214 I would bookmark the site now :-)

If only there was one for 314!

It's rather a grey area for me too.

Found another site with loads of stuff about the course - here - scroll down a bit and on the right hand side there's a list of individual items on the course. Click on these to access the info.

I see that includes AA302 too. great find!

Thanks. I'm now madly saving the web pages in case I decide to do the course. It does look very do-able.

Wooo


Brilliant thanks Jane


Ooooh good site


Sounds good

I'll be really disappointed if I don't get funding now,

They don't call me Katyjay The Decisive for nothing (no indeed - I have to pay them a fortune.... .)

I've just had another look at the course, together with the links people have put up. And I'm tempted.

BUT.... I already have Grade 6 theory, and am working through the Grade 7 and Grade 8 workbooks with Anna Butterworth and the ABC books on the side. Whether I take either or both of those papers, I haven't decided yet. My general musical knowledge isn't bad - and improves with every new work I learn as I make a habit of researching them with the view that I may need to write programme notes on them eventually.

So am I going to learn nearly nine hundred quid's worth of information by doing this course? Even allowing for the Summer School being a good thing to do, that's a lot of dosh.

Or would I be better off doing the AMusTCL?

I think I feel a dither coming on?

Well, it is cheaper .

Given you already have a Bachelor's degree, if you're confident with your musical knowledge there's always the option of the MA in Music - I know mrbouffant is doing it without a music degree/diploma.

Have you considered becoming a tutor at all?