I know that feeling KJ - sign of a (nearly) very (almost) positive, not quite sure maybe sort of.... semi-decision.

True, the AMusTCL's cheaper. And one of these days I'll get round to collecting the MA I'm already entitled to (when I can persuade myself to part with the fiver..... )

The MA in Music is not something I've considered - perhaps I'll take a look at it.

I do some theory coaching already - my singing teacher gets me to coach his pupils who need Grade 5 theory before they take higher performance exams. It's one of the reasons I am studying the material for the higher theory grades - even though they are completely different to the content of Grade 5, I feel that I should be better informed to do the job.

...and then there's the pressure thing too - I can submit to composition exams as and when I feel like it - and the theory papers I can take three times a year - the OU course might coincide with any amount of family illness, holidays, general obligations and needs.

See - I'm talking myself out of it now - it's a different thing all together when you don't get funding.

Oh dear, I didn't mean to undermine your decision, Sneekymum. Sorry

Of course, you should never listen to anything I say......

gosh - why did you think that? sorry - I need to talk myself out of this - and sneekydad says I really don't need instruction on this (and he's generally truthfull)



mmm... you see I teach too... composition ....to any victims I can find (runs and hides - as Katyjay might well have an opinion of my competence in that department) and I was looking to get some qualifications to prove my worth - although from what I've read here most customers are just interested in what people charge for their teaching (I don't charge - but might one day).

I've told you that I liked the two things you've sent me so far. There's no need to run and hide.

I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure...

The OU MA is something I may do in the future, and the fact that both janexxx and mrbouffant have survived the first year relatively unscathed is another reason it's staying on my "Things To Do One Day" list (although this opinion may change when my OU pineau-gigs report back after their exam next week (good luck, BTW)).

Or do I leave it a few more years? The possibility of replacing part 2 with an FRSM has lots of charm (apart from the need to pass the Dip and LRSM first, write a written submission - you get the picture!), and the need to obtain it is an excuse to dither for a few more years.

Or do I wait to be made redundant from my salaried employment (which is perpetually rumoured) and then go back to school full-time?

Urgh, you're brave!!

Isn't it odd, though, that OU have this arrangement for an MA in music but no single BA in music - you'd think that an LRSM would count as a level 3 performance for goodness sake!

Liz

Um, I think you mean stupid! It's a delaying tactic more than anything else and might not happen, but hey, think big! Oh, and the FRSM entry fee is about half the cost of part 2.

I can play enough pieces from the clarinet FRSM repertoire list to put together a programme of the appropriate length; whether it's to the appropriate standard is another matter altogether. And then there's the written submission.

Or perhaps I won't do an MA. At least, not just yet...


Yes, especially as LRSM is allegedly the performance standard one should have reached at the end of a degree-level performance course (or whatever the exact wording is - forgive me, it's past my bedtime). How about it, OU and AB?

I am also considering the OU music diploma but it is a LOT of money It does sound very interesting though and appeals to me more than the AMusTCL, for which I am meant to be studying. Trouble is, it took my theory teacher (correspondence) over 6 months to send me my first assignment for AMusTCL and I still haven't received it back This is making me wonder if I should leave AMus for a while and try the OU............ I don't know

Heh, that (along with the fact that I should get funding) is what appeals to me, in a way, about the course: getting my brain going without it (I hope) becoming dreadfully stressful, it should start off (I hope) easy for me, and the prospect of coming out at the end with a qualification in music to feel a bit more like I know my stuff for the small amount of teaching I do. Also hoping that coming at the harmony from two angles, as it were , will help cement it in my brain...


That's one of my reasons for attempting higher theory study.

I suspect YAP may be talking about becoming an OU tutor though, which has certain perks


Definitely - when Jane first mentioned it ages ago I thought "oooh" and went to look, saw £890 and it was an instant no.

Of course having got myself psyched up I will now be very disappointed if I don't get the funding...

Random question to Jane and any others who have completed the Diploma/any of the level 3 courses (or indeed level 2 ones besides the one currently being discussed! ) - which course(s) did you, do, what were they like, which did you enjoy the most?

At present I'm only looking at doing this one course, BUT I have to admit that if it went well and I enjoyed it I'd be interested in pursuing a Diploma, a degree, or just doing further courses for my own pleasure and musical development both as a teacher and a performer... so I have been reading through course descriptions

Just curious to know which courses people have had experience of.

The two "options" for the music dip seem to be "From Composition to Performance: Musicians at Work" and "Studies in Music 1750-2000: Interpretation and Analysis"

I'm just browsing around and seeing what else is on offer that's relevant......

I did AA302 "From Composition to Performance: Musicians at Work". I can't comment on the other one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, it covered a lot and a lot of different genres. I got a bit bored with the Indian Raga, seemed to go on for ever, but I did find the Gamelan interesting. The part on improvisation I found fascinating and the discussions on modernists and serialists too. I even understand 4'33'' now and consider it a serious comment, not a joke!

Had to analyse Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze and various versions thereof for one of my TMAs. Among the variations was one for string quartet, and one by Sting. The TMA before had been about Handel, so two extremes!!

Have a look here at the website jmhamilton (I think) found for a snapshot.

That does sound like a really interesting module, so far as one can tell from the description on the OU page!

Hehe, the Hendrix analysis sounds interesting!

The linkes from one of those sites http://www.design-bysarah.co.uk/oulinks/courses/a214ers.htm has some good pages on

I'm late in here so apologies

Not sure what Deborah means by "part 2". The MA has three modules worth 60 points each. A870 is the Postgrad Foundation Module and that's the one janexxx and I are nearly at the end of, small matter of a three hour exam this coming Thursday notwithstanding. A870 has to be taken, no subs are allowed.

Then comes A871 (performances and repertoires) followed by A877 (dissertation). FRSM can be used as a sub for either of those (but not both). Since I've already signed up for A871, I'm hoping that if manage to pass FRSM one day, it will get me "off" of A877.

As an aside, I have been talking to Royal Holloway (University of London) about their part-time MMus in Performance Studies. It's a collaboration with the Royal College of Music. The academic stuff is done at RHUL, and all instrumental tuition is given by the RCM. Sounds great. It's £5K a year though, and I just wonder what my boss might think if I disappear on a weekly basis for two hours of lectures in central London....

Sorry, my fault for not knowing the technical terms - by "part 2" I meant one of the later modules. The more I think about it, the more I talk myself out of it.

Good luck for Thursday

Good luck for Thurs, Jane & MrB.

I can't see myself ever progressing onto the MA

Hi,

I did A214 last year - it was brilliant and summer school (as I've already said) was one of the best weeks of my life! the Level 3 courses are a completely different kettle of dish - I don't mean they're not enjoyable because they are both (AA302 and AA314) very good courses. I shouldn't have done them both in the same year because it's been really hard work. They are very different to A214 which is more practical (writing music). If you don't like writing essays then you probably won't enoy them much.

AA314 is, as the title suggests, about Analysis and Interpretation of music. To give you a flavour:

The analysis part attempts to analyse various pieces of music from the point of view of Voice-leading analysis (Mozart sonatas), motivic analysis (Schumanns 4th symphony) and serialism (Britten's turn of the Screw).

The interpretation looks at music from the point of view of various interpretative angles - gender related issues, how 'place' is evoked in music (English songs for example), how composer's biography can be reflected in music (Tchaikovskys 4th, Schumanns Dichterliebe), cultural concerns and so on.

the set works include: Beethoven's 8th, Schumann's 4th, various Chopin Nocturnes, various English songs, Britten's Turn of the screw, Tchaikovsky's 4th plus loads of other music covered.

AA302 is far more general and broad ranging - the course is based on THEMES rather than set works: How composers compose, reception issues, notation and editing, performance issues. My last assignment for this one was to compare and contrast 'covers of Jimi Hendrix 'Purple Haze' which was a brilliant way to end the course!

Any further questions please feel free to ask but for now it's back to revision for me!! :-)

Can't speak for anyone else but that's helpful to me, thanks staccato

As I started this thread, I think that everything and everyone has been just so wonderfully helpful.
I didn't realise that it would develop into such a big thing!

Many thanks to you all --

I am waiting for some info from OU about the particular week for the Summer School - I had sent an email before Janexxx said you can choose.
Will let you know how I decide then we can set up our own OU-Helpers Club.

Don't worry - you will get access to the OUs forums - they are a wonderful place for chatting with others doing the course (and even better for distraction tactics from revision)......

As are the ABRSM forums, ahem!

I *really* must stop lurking and do some revision now......

We can all blame you

I don't think I have anything planned that summer, so will probably ask to go on whichever summer school week others seem to be asking for!!


Good luck with revision

Don't write off the idea quite yet . The only obstacle I could think of is that you might not get funded to do it due to the funding differences between undergraduate and postgraduate courses....

Hmmmm - wish I had your faith in me

I think I'd find it too stressful. Maybe one day... to complete a module is my first task though!

A314 and A341, but that information won't be a lot of help to you!

liz

You must have done it the same year as me then...the TMAs change so don't you all expect to get Mr Hendrix. Might well be something different.

*Jane seriously thinking that AA314 would be good for her education once the MA is completed*

Don't know about Forum addict I think I must be an OU addict

Yep !! my fault ...

No, I'm doing it now!! Perhaps the assignments are repeated on a an 'x' yearly cycle...

If you want to do AA314 you better be quick - the last run is next Feb 07; it's being replaced by a new course 'Music and words' AA317 from 2008

I started, but did not finish, AA314 the first year it was offered. (Can't believe they're discontinuing it already.) I enjoyed what I did, but didn't have the time or the energy to complete the course. I still have all the stuff, though, and one day I'll have the time and the inclination to read through it. I got as far as Schumann before ducking out.

Want to buy a TMA???


Hmmm...That's too soon, already signed up for AA871 for 2007. Maybe AA317 will meet a similar need.

Have you done A870 then? How did you find it?

Can't believe I'm asking this with exams to worry about this week and having said I'm never doing another course again in my life......!

What already?? They change these thigns too often!

Yep - they were going to stop AA302 but at the last minute they decided AA314 was for the chop.

The new course sounds rather like "dumbing down" to me but that would be most unlike the OU of course. I do wish they would put full descriptions up at this stage - after all one has to decide whether to go for the old course or not, and to make a sensible decision, the ability to compare the two courses would help somewhat!

I'm half debating over whether to go for AA314 - I had no intention of going for any OU music courses this year or next but have thought that perhaps picking up another couple of music courses (as long as they are not excluded combinations, which they're not) might be a good insurance policy for me in case I shoudl ever end up having to go back into the classroom. Not that I'm expecting any such thing to happen, but who knows what might be round the corner? Right now I am doing some Science courses with a view to having that as a back-up in case Music gets dropped from the core curriculum. I was planning to complete a Life Sciences degree in the next two years and doing AA314 as well would make that expensive and give me a heavy workload, but if the alternative is some sort of dumbed-down course which any employer asking questions is likely to regard with suspicion, then perhaps I need to think again.

OK, well that's the financial justification, and that's what I shall tell my husband if and when I ask him to pay but the bottom line is, I suppose, I'd really like to say I had a degree in Music rather than just "mainly in music" and at present, having done every available music course when I was doing my OU degree in 1993-1995, I only have 150 points worth of Music, plus an LGSM(TD) which is not counted by the QCA as anything at all, it doesn't even register - the performance one does and the LTCL teachers' one does so it's probably just because Guildhall has amalgamated with Trinity but it is seriously annoying! Still, doing all the present Music courses would add 190 Music points and thus bring my Music points up to 340 which is a respectable amount.

Still rambling on, have people noticed that all the OU will allow for a DipABRSM is 35 credits at level 1? In other words, it's regarded as equivalent to 350 hours work post-A level. Now considering the minimum A level performance standard (according to the national qualifications framwork) is Grade 6 - that suggests they think it should be only 350 hours work to get from grade 6 to dipABRSM??! Who are they kidding?!!

Just about done it, exam the day after tomorrow (so why am I here I should be revising...eeeekkk!)

Its very interesting. It's more about the types of sources you can use for researching music, than music itself, but is preparation for the project next year and dissertation in the final year.



Good Luck with the exams.

How's the preparation going? I'm reading thru stuff but am bored stiff of it now. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I hope my juices start to flow in exam conditions otherwise it could be a bit of a disaster..

Have you got a topic for part 2. If I don't think of something soon I'm snookered. I wondered about "Researching Music Chat Forums" I might know a lot more about that as I seem to have spent more time on it then A870 this last year.

Just be glad when its over now.

I agree with you. As for Q2, I may just fall back on the research I did for my FRSM diss. It might just be enough to spark something in the exam. Have you signed up for A871 yet?

Good luck Jane and Mr Bouffant with the exam!

It sounds horrible! I'm put off doing anymore for now (exhausted!) after this week and will concentrate on practical for a while, probably CT.

Good luck both of you in your exams :-)

Good luck to both of you .

Good luck - and DON'T do what I did when I took my one and only Masters' course .... horror story follows.

This is made worse by the fact that as a secondary school teacher I should have known to check the exam regulations ....

I took my course material file along in the car for some last minute revision before the exam. Left the car and went into the exam room. Hadn't been to any of the Saturday tutorials (except one) so didn't talk to my fellow course students, spent the time reading the University notic board instead. Got into the exam room and was seated at the front of a row.

The exam proceeded and I was struggling. Turned round after the papers had been collected in ... only to find that everyone else in my row had the course file with them. I had not realised that one was allowed to take it into the exam.

I failed by about three marks. Since I had also failed the project (which really was unavoidable - long story but it involved research in a school and then at the last minute, when it was too late to change the project, I was unable to obtain access to more than about three classes when I needed access to many) I was not allowed to resit the exam. So on my OU profile now, for ever and a day, it has me recorded as failing a course

It's pretty impressive that you only failed by 3 marks but how totally infuriating for you

I keep forgetting to ask - does anyone know how long it takes them to send the bumph out once you've registered for a course? I will have to send my forms back before I go away, just before the date they have to be back in, so I want to get cracking filling them in....

Yeah I'm impatient

If you mean the course materials, they've usually appeared during January for me.

I meant the application-y type bits... I'm not very up on procedures! But I have to fill in some forms to see if I'm eligible for funding, and if I remember correctly (I probably don't ) there were some others I needed to fill in to confirm my interest, etc...?

I'm itching to get my hands on the course materials though, of course

Best of luck, guys!

You really have gone for it, both feet, like you said.
Good for you