Recieved my materials today, anyone else? Exciting but scary!!

Enjoy the course Eldatom - I LOVED it!

Thanks Ann, that is good to hear, I had planned originally to do AA317 and then AA302 came back on, which I thought would be more me. I had to defer AA302 due to personal circumstances, but now having looked into AA317, I think this is much more me than AA302.

But it is great to hear good feedback.

It's not the last time it's running is it? I am thinking about doing it?

Yes it is. You've got until 22nd December to get registered if you want to do it.

I still need to send mine off. Now that the white stuff is finally going, I'm hoping there might be some clear ground on Monday for a walk to the post office.

Yep, I've signed up too. Received my box the other day but I have been too busy to open it.

I have a load of rehearsals for school concerts next week so it might be some Christmas holiday reading...

I was in two minds about doing Words and music but I want to get the Diploma over and done with and then move onto other stuff (like learning the play the double bass, and maybe even getting grade 8 piano at some point )

Oh that is good, I received mine too and I have to say it looks very exciting but scary too.

Hi Nicki, yes this is its last running which is why I have changed my plans from doing TA212 in February to this.

So who's doing this?

So far I have:
Clari Nicki1
Eldatom
Me (Flossie)
Lois
Neil Quinn

Think I am going to sign up

Excellent. You know you want to, and it's the last year and it would finish off your diploma.

I seem to remember you saying a while ago that the October starts wouldn't be good for you because of christmas concerts etc, and this is the last time there'll be an OU music course starting in February... (unless the short level 1 course will - but that wouldn't finish off your diploma).

Oh brilliant news Nicki, would really love to get the chance to work with you again! There are quite a few of 2009 A214ers doing it too.

Done the deed!

Excellent news Nicki.

I'm still waiting for my box of goodies. It made it up from Hatfield yesterday despite all the problems on the Kings Cross line, but is 'delayed due to adverse weather conditions' at Gateshead. The weather's not been that bad recently - we've only got around 3 inches of snow at the moment and all the buses etc are running quite happily. They should have cleared that backlog already from when it really did snow.

I'm a bit worried about the workload .... a lot worried actually...
I am fairly busy but I do want to finish the diploma off and this doesn't have an exam.

So... I am going to have to be very disciplined. Less time on facebook and forums and more time on work and piano prac (I am supposed to be doing a piano exam next term but feel I have plateaued out. Just don't seem to be getting better very quickly! But that is another story). I am hoping to get my stuff in early Jan and will try to get ahead a bit- that helped quite a lot last time as then as I approach crazy end of term time I am ahead so it doesn't matter.

Looking forward to working with you guys!

Hi Nicki, really pleased that you signed up. Regarding the work load I am told by others that have done this course, that it is much lighter than A214.

Lets hope so, lol

Well done you lot, hope your studies go well in 2011

[quote name='eldatom' date='Dec 23 2010, 08:53 AM' post='1016409'] [quote name='Clari Nicki1' post='1016389' date='Dec 23 2010, 08:20 AM']
[quote name='Flossie' post='1016372' date='Dec 23 2010, 12:12 AM'] [quote name='Clari Nicki1' post='1016301' date='Dec 22 2010, 06:21 PM']
Done the deed!
[/quote

I'm a bit worried about the workload .... a lot worried actually...
I am fairly busy but I do want to finish the diploma off and this doesn't have an exam.

So... I am going to have to be very disciplined. Less time on facebook and forums and more time on work and piano prac (I am supposed to be doing a piano exam next term but feel I have plateaued out. Just don't seem to be getting better very quickly! But that is another story). I am hoping to get my stuff in early Jan and will try to get ahead a bit- that helped quite a lot last time as then as I approach crazy end of term time I am ahead so it doesn't matter.

Looking forward to working with you guys!
[/quote]


Hi Nicki, really pleased that you signed up. Regarding the work load I am told by others that have done this course, that it is much lighter than A214.

Lets hope so, lol [/quote]


Really hope that's true- I found A214 easy at first- I flew through it- then came the coastal shelf and it was hard to fit everything in! Harmonising Bach Chorales!!!! Ha- that was time consuming!

I had a look through all the materials for AA317 at the A214 summer school and think it looks much more manageable (as long as you have some experience of essay writing!). It's much less structured than A214 and you can therefore prioritise the work more easily and target things around the TMA topics. There are only 3 books plus the reader and audio stuff. If you haven't got any experience of writing essays you may find the first one tricky, but you'll learn what's expected in terms of writing.

I made a list of all the assignments and deadlines. It is roughly one TMA each month, and they start at 1,000 words and move up to 1,500-2,000. Even the final assignment is not too grim at 4,000 words.

A 1000 word essay is about 2 sides of A4 - that's gotta be easier than harmonising a Bach Chorale

I even made a start on the first of the 3 books (now that I have converted all the CDs into MP3 format so I have them all on the computer - changing CDs is so late 1980s!)

I am hoping I'll be OK on the essays since I did well on Q3 & Q4 of the exam, and in A214 despite really hating the long analysis questions I always did well on those. And once upon a time I did actually do A level history and English literature so I am sure I can cobble together an essay

I was initially concerned about the slightly "fluffy" nature of the course, but now after loads of technical work in A214 I am looking forward to the change of emphasis.

I'll be interested to hear what people think of this course; I haven't heard very positive reviews about it, so have thus far discarded it.

I have a fair deal of essay writing experience but not OU essay writing.... more Bristol Uni ! Hopefully it will see me in good stead!

My box has just this minute arrived.

*goes to unpack her goodies*

They haven't sent us the usual calendar.

[quote name='Clari Nicki1' date='Dec 23 2010, 11:41 AM' post='1016479']
[quote name='eldatom' date='Dec 23 2010, 08:53 AM' post='1016409'] [quote name='Clari Nicki1' post='1016389' date='Dec 23 2010, 08:20 AM']
[quote name='Flossie' post='1016372' date='Dec 23 2010, 12:12 AM'] [quote name='Clari Nicki1' post='1016301' date='Dec 22 2010, 06:21 PM']
Done the deed!
[/quote

I'm a bit worried about the workload .... a lot worried actually...
I am fairly busy but I do want to finish the diploma off and this doesn't have an exam.

So... I am going to have to be very disciplined. Less time on facebook and forums and more time on work and piano prac (I am supposed to be doing a piano exam next term but feel I have plateaued out. Just don't seem to be getting better very quickly! But that is another story). I am hoping to get my stuff in early Jan and will try to get ahead a bit- that helped quite a lot last time as then as I approach crazy end of term time I am ahead so it doesn't matter.

Looking forward to working with you guys!
[/quote]

Hi Nicki, really pleased that you signed up. Regarding the work load I am told by others that have done this course, that it is much lighter than A214.

Lets hope so, lol [/quote]


Really hope that's true- I found A214 easy at first- I flew through it- then came the coastal shelf and it was hard to fit everything in! Harmonising Bach Chorales!!!! Ha- that was time consuming!
[/quote]

I remember lol

I took quick peep at the TMA's when my box arrived and I had to say that I didn't see anything at all that phased me. Haven't had a chance to look through anything else as trying to get ahead with AA100 before this one starts.

I found that the ECA took a similar amount of time as revising for an actual exam, and was MUCH more enjoyable as you can choose your topics and play to your strengths.
If you get behind there is always the option of concentrating only on the topics required for the TMAs. IThe course doesn't rely heavily on the build up of knowledge as you go along (as presumably A214 does - I didn't do that one as I had a credit for it).
AA317 was my favourite course out of all that I did on the way to my degree.
Good luck. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I have been making a start on the course but have been finding that I really do need the reader!

For A214 there was (I think) a nice link to a website that could send all the books in one block. Has anyone ordered the book/CDs/DVD? Did you do it piecemeal or the whole lot in one go (and if so, from where)?

Amazon are out of stock of the Clayton book.

Just trying to get in the zone so I am ready for March (when 2 TMAs are due!)

I emailed the OU about this (particulary the CDs/DVD). Have sent you a PM with their reply.

Hi Heil, I am really lucky as I bought the Reader book from Amazon when I was doing some Christmas shopping, I am really glad now that I did, hearing that so many people are struggling to get hold of a copy. I haven't got any of the CDs /DVD yet.

What other course are you doing, I am doing AA100 and that has the TMA due a day before the first one for this, but unfortunately I haven't been able to look at AA317 yet as trying to get ahead with AA100.

ET

I have finally registered today for this

Expect my course stuff will materialise 2 days before the course start date
So much for getting a head start!

Let's hope we enjoy the journey.............

Bookfinder4u found it in stock in a few places if it helps

http://www.bookfinder4u.com/IsbnSearch.asp...amp;mode=direct

Well done Lois, at this rate it is going to be about 2 days before the course starts that I get to look at mine! Sitting there in the box begging to come out, but I daren't get into it until I get ahead with AA100. Just started some notes for essay for Shostakovich, just need to try and put it all together now.

I have just ordered it from Waterstones website. 11.99 with a delivery time of 4-7 days. Free delivery aswell

I ordered mine through Eddington-Hook (same company I used for A214 materials). Should be here soon - I want to get cracking on the reading.

For some reason the TMA01 and TMA02 being at the start and end of March is really freaking me out! I suppose with the troublesome moving feast of Easter the OU were trying to keep April clear, but it means I want to get working on the first TMA as soon as possible.

Now I am about to spend an hour listening to Schubert's lieder - certainly preferable to the DVD of Inuit throat singing!

I've ordered mine from here as well. Reader plus Wagner for ?21.19 (compared to RRP of ?33.98). Just need to get the Samson now.

I also need to start working. So far I've done some exploring of the ECA options and have got rather interested (or should that be side-tracked ) with one of those. Unfortunately I can't quite find what I want for it.

Neil - if you think of it as one TMA by the end of Februaru and one by the end of March does that sound better? We had 2 TMAs and the summer school in August for A214, so it surely sounds better than that - and you managed it for A214.

I have also got a TMA due for AA100 on the 4th March, which I think is on Benin, so not even a subject that I know anything about! I was really hoping to be more ahead. Still my desk has finally been ordered and just need to sort out some bookcases/cabinets and then I will be able to move upstairs and have a place for study, hopefully undisturbed, it has been a nightmare of late trying to find somewhere quiet.

Got all my stuff now, yeah!

Although I was quite astounded to see the Tristan & Isolde is over four HOURS of music (and for Wagner that's a mere divertimenti)

I can cope with somethng of the length of "Hey Jude" but the Wagner will be testing I think. I'm embarassed to admit that I have it on in the background while I am working I don't feel I am doing it justice!

Even worse, I cannot help hearing it without imagining this...



I guess I'm just not middle class enough to take opera seriously!

I've got my copy of the Reader now, but the Wagner didn't arrive with it.

I haven't got any of the CDs or DVD yet, I suppose I should be getting my act together and sort it. Need to look in the box first.

Should have my new study up and running by the end of the weekend, will really be able to get organised then.

My stuff also turned up this week. Started skimming then caught sight of the TMA.

1000 words - how am I going to write 1000 words when I struggle to string a sentence together.
I'm an engineer for pete's sake - we don't do "words"

You just did forty three!
AND argued your point most effectively! (OK - one incomplete sentence, no capital letter for the name and no question mark after the question... )
You'll be fine!

I'm more concerned about only having 1,000 words. For me a standard paper is 6-8,000 words. My MA dissertation was over 12,000 and my PhD thesis was closer to 100,000. I'm really not sure how to fit the depth of critical analysis and independent thought required at Level 3 into a 1,000 word essay. It's shorter than what I normally expect from my first year undergrads.

Lois - I think you'll find once you sit down to write the essay that you have more than enough material for 1,000 words. 1,000 words is around 4-5 paragraphs max. An introduction, paragraph on reading 1, paragraph on reading 2 and conclusion gives you 4 paragraphs to start with...

I agree, I tend to attack essays by throwing eveything into a Word document and then doing some serious editing afterwards. For 1000 words I would arrive at 1,500 easily and see what stays and what goes. I never do a word count until all the initial ideas are in the first draft, and it is always a matter of taking stuff out.

I found some of the A214 questions/TMAs hard because it was limited 500/800 words.

And the best thing about word count is that "the" counts as one, just the same as "verisimilitude"

hi everyone,

im doing this course too starting in Feb this year, and like Eldatom as doing it along side AA100.

Excellent. Sounds like there's a good group of us from here.

I found this the hardest part of A214. I wrote down the relevant points, elaborated a bit and still only managed to get to around half of the word count!! A regular comment on my TMA feedback was that I'd made all of the correct points but was a little short and to the point


Blimey - mine was god knows how many pages of ridiculous mathematical proofs and about 500 words excluding the equations although it was an MSc
I'd have a serious heart attack about writing 12000 words on anything


There seems to be a good contingent from the forums this year. Another one who'll have to put up with me moaning about word counts

I actually got the books out yesterday.... ordered the stuff I needed from the internet and went through the first few pages. Quite enjoyed it.......

It is very interesting isn't it Nicki? I took a break the other day from AA100 and read Chapter 1 and found it really light to read after reading about Benin. Mind you I am finding the Wagner very hard to digest, hope it grows on me lol

Haha- you are further ahead than me.... I've just done about 1/2 of the first chapter!

I need to try and get ahead Nicki, I have 3 TMAs due in March! Talk about bad planning!

so do I - I have a piano exam at end of March...... will need all the practise I can get. I am even thinking of asking for an extension prior to starting the course. I have to do the exam this term- old syllabus!