Can anyone give me an indication of the level of this course with the Open University please? Maybe a rough comparison to the theory exam levels - is it around grades 6-7 or above grade 8 etc.

Also, anyone doing this course and got any feedback for it? I'm in the middle of considering my next challenge on the musical ladder you see.

Thanks

I don't think you'll find any feedback as I'm sure it is the first presentation of the course due to begin in October.

I think it is listed as a possible substitution for Grade 6 Theory in the ABRSM Diploma requirements however would probably warn against using this as a guide as my limited knowledge of what will be covered in A224 suggests that it will be very different to the Theory syllabus.

Hi Rabbit

You need to have at least grade 3 theory to take the course and I should imagine it takes you up to around grade 8 theory for knowledge. It is a replacement course for A214 so this year will be its first presentation. I know that there is a song element to this one and you get sibelious software. I am registered to do this and really excited, if it is half as good as A214 then I know that I am going to enjoy it. It will be studying Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor KV491 which you have to purchase yourself.

ET

The course this one replaced (A214) is accepted as an ABRSM substitute for Grade 6 theory. I haven't heard any mention of A224 being given this status yet, probably because the first presentation isn't until October so it's not actually in circulation yet.

A214 and A224 are not an excluded combination with the OU, meaning they do not overlap enough to make studying both redundant. A214 did not require any previous theoretical knowledge, whereas the recommendation for A224 is that you have an understanding equivalent to Grade 3 ABRSM theory before you start. I really can't say any more than that right now, though I'm planning to start A224 in October (I didn't do A214) so I'll know when the box of books arrives!

Edit: Just emailed the Board's syllabus department to enquire about this, and asked if they don't know now to give an indication of when they might. I'll let you know when I get a reply.

Thanks all - I didn't realise it was the first presentation of the course.

It will be great if you can let me know that Tixylix.

Got a reply:



It's a) not quite what I was asking, but never mind and b) looks like the answer is we don't know until the course starts as the material they've requested is not yet available. I may try asking the OU about this, presumably they can share the relevant information with the Board directly.

What has occurred to me is that as A224 does not actually have an end-of-course exam (it's entirely coursework-assessed), so they might not accept it in place of an examined qualification. I'll do my best to get us an answer anyway, or to find out when we might be able to get an answer.

Update: Emailed the Communications Dept. of the OU (who produce the Professional Recognition leaflets which tell you which other organisations accept their courses as substitutions) and got a response saying it's been forwarded to the Faculty of Arts so someone from the Music Dept. will hopefully let me know.

I notice the OU offers -


It's a shame they don't allow access to this material before you pre-book the course.

I quite agree! They might get a few more uptakers were this the case!

Knowing the OU as I do, I am sure if you were to ring up and ask for details then these would be supplied to you.

And you may find that these materials do become available on the open-to-all website for future presentations - the reason they weren't accessible this time around is because it was a new course and they weren't written yet!
My nearly-finished course (A330) was new in Oct 2010 - there is now a pre-reading section on the arts faculty website for the course. But this wasn't available until quite soon before the course started, i.e. when most of us on it had already registered.

A330 looks a really interesting course Maizie. Did you have to do a level 2 course that was similar first or does it stand alone?

It does stand alone quite nicely - you don't really need to know a great deal of classical history or anything like that. I did A219 (Intro to Classical World) and AA309 (Roman Empire - now discontinued) beforehand, and while it does fit in nicely with those, they definitely aren't necessary.

In A219, you cover Augustus coming to power at the end of the Repbulic/start of the Empire, from a historical perspective and also in the poetry of the time. In AA309 this period comes up again more than once, including Virgil's Anaeid. And then in A330, you get to look at the Anaeid from a third perspective. They don't build on one another, but it is really nice to see the courses fitting together like that - basically, they've thought about people who might have studied other classical studies courses, and put something in there for them, as well as for people completely new to the area.

The recommended preparation is here. I would say the best things you could do to prepare are:
- to be familiar with a bit of classical history, but really basic stuff like "Rome was a monarchy, then a republic, then there was a civil war and it became an empire" You don't need to worry about dates or names or anything detailed!
- to read the set book Metamorphoses from cover to cover (it's quite a big book, and it's divided in to fifteen sections which are confusingly each called 'books'!) In the course, the first six books are read in varying levels of detail. But by reading the whole thing you get introduced to a lot more myths - it helps you just to have that familiarity. Besides that, it is a jolly good read! (And it may come in useful in TMAs and the EMA, as it will give you more things to choose from, e.g. we had a TMA where we had to discuss a story of our choice from Metamorphoses - it didn't have to be one of the ones studied in detail in the block)

thanks for the very informative reply Maizie. Something for me to consider next October. I am planning on doing the advanced creative writing but if I don't get along too well with A215 then I may change my mind. This is where I need other options to consider.

The OU have added to their site that this course begins at the same level as the ABRSM grade 3 paper! Can't hurt to go over some of the basics again, can it??

Just don't get caught out in a false sense of security. OU courses can get tricky quite quickly. I'm doing TA212 at the moment which claims to include all the theory pre-reqs for A224. G3 is probably about right. There was a bit of grumbling on this course which claimed you needed no ability to read music that about 16 hours of study time were allocated to the theory work. This was in the 1st 4 weeks including simple dictation along with the intro to the maths needed and a TMA covering all of it. Fine if you had moderate prior knowledge but a handful of folks got into a bit of a panic about it.

A good point! And A214 said that you didn't need any prior theory knowledge, boy did that get difficult quick! It actually took you up to Grade 8 theory although I know it is only a substitution for Grade 6. I should imagine that A224 is going to be the same. I am doing this to fill in the gaps where I missed out on the course work when losing my sis. I hope once I have completed this to tackle ABRSM Grade 8 theory.

I'm in 2 minds whether to sign up for this course (partly because it will be in its first presentation and I've heard there can be "teething problems" with OU courses when they are first offered, and partly because I only have grade 3 theory, which means I'd be going into it with the very minimum level of theory required). I was hoping that they would put this preparatory material up on the website and they now have. Although all it consists of is grade 1-3 AB stuff, so it doesn't help me make up my mind, as I've obviously covered all this in AB exams but am still not sure I could handle A224 if it goes up to say, grade 8 kind of content. (I don't know if it does and this info would be more useful to me! Might have to email the OU about that.)

Anyway, if anybody wants to take a look at the preparatory materials, the link is below (hope it works!):

OU A224 preparatory material

For those of you that are interested in A224 - Inside Music and what it entails. I asked a question whilst the new module forum was open. This was what I received back:-

Hi ......

Thank you for the question.

The assessment of A224 is quite different to A214. There are 6 TMAs spread evenly throughout the module which are focussed on writing about music and writing music (songwriting tasks, including some reflective writing on the process). These are presented online and submitted through the eTMA system. Full instructions on how to do this are provided, and this includes an opportunity to submit a 'dummy' assignment to experience how the system works before using it for real.

The EMA replaces an exam. There are two parts: you will use the knowledge you have gained throughout the module to write about a piece of music which has not been discussed in the module itself, and you will write a complete setting of some text for voice and piano. You will begin working on the songwriting task in a previous TMA, so you will have some feedback from your tutor to help you when you work on the EMA.

I hope this is helpful, and that you enjoy A224.

Best wishes

Catherine

Dr Catherine Tackley

Chair, A224

Hope this helps everyone make up their mind.

Now that this course is nearing the end of its first year running - would anybody like to share their opinions on it, how they've found it and whether they think it is worth doing?

Thanks.

It hasnt started yet. Its first year begins this October. I will let you know next June, lol. Or better still you could sign up for it. Combined with a level 3 course you can get a music dip. I am looking forward to earning my music dip - only 6000 words away now. On Tma 6 for Aa317 and completed A214 in October 2009.

Duh! Silly me! Just realised this topic was started this year! How time doesn't fly. Have signed up for it but haven't return all the paperwork yet - too much ummmming and ahhhhing on my behalf lol

I'm going to do it I think...

You can only get the Music Diploma if you meet all the requirements by December 2012 (the qualification is being withdrawn because the OU is standardising the undergraduate Diplomas and bringing them in-line with those of other institutions and Hefce/NQF standards).

It is still possible for a new entrant to get the music diploma if they take both A224 and AA302 starting in October this year - but this would be a lot of work (120 credits is equivalent to 1 year of full-time study) and you would need to be confident of passing both at the first attempt because a resit wouldn't meet the completion deadline.

I'm also thinking of A224 this year, as I need to register for something to keep my fees at the current rate. I haven't studied with the OU since 2002 (when I dropped out of AA314) but I still have my original qualification open.

It's a bit of a long story, but essentially I completed all the Level 2 and Level 3 units then necessary for a BSc in Psychology, but never got round to getting the credit transfer from my Nottingham BA sorted out. They've since downgraded one of my courses to a 30-pointer, so I would need another psychology 30-pointer for that degree, but I'm not really bothered about a named degree now as I'm not going to be working in psychology. So my plan is to change it to a BSc Open and take at least another 90 points for that.

I have the old A241 in addition to my psychology modules, which was the 30-point predecessor of A214 and I passed way back in the 1980s.

Clear as mud?

This is what I'm doing, because I'm very stubborn determined and I haven't had to do a resit yet - well I'll find out on 5th August if that's still true but I'm reasonably confident. I'm also not working so I only have to worry about OU modules...well that and G8 piano, but that can be moved.

According to my StudentHome my A224 materials are being sent out on 12th August - how early do most people get their course materials? If I get mine first I'll give a sneak preview.

Which course results are you waiting for Tixylix, I have my AA100 around 5th August. I am also registered for a224 and have my materials showing 12th August. They usually arrive around the time they say. We are quite lucky as I am also doing A215 and materials dont come for that until September.

I am really excited to start A224, just got to get through one more Tma and Eca first.

I don't want any new materials until TMA06 and the EMA are done. I don't need any more interesting diversions

I've just registered (and paid) for A224, and changed my target qualification to BSc Open. No going back now!

Well done!

Good luck I'm waiting for K272 and SDK125 final results, I'm also doing D240 which finishes in October - two more TMAs (one due in next week) and an ECA. I'm really glad the A224 materials will be turning up early, means I can make a start on them and hopefully be a bit ahead before October.

Are you doing Aa317 too? I cant see me opening the materials once they arrive. Daren't get distracted!

Don't worry, I wasn't aiming the comment at you, Tixylix (or at anyone else who is familiar with the demands of OU study). I was think more about random readers who might think "oh that sounds like an easy way of getting a music diploma" without realising the time or work required. There were quite a few people on A214 who had signed up to do the music diploma because they had just started an instrument (usually guitar or piano/keyboard) and thought it would be an easy way to get a music diploma and change careers without having to spend years learning an instrument first - and had no conception that it was an undergraduate level course which would have very different demands to trying to learn a couple of simplified pop songs. For these people, A214 was quite a struggle, and I suspect that a number dropped out because they did seem to disappear... I know that most (if not all) of the forum members here would have enough understanding to know better, but that doesn't stop non-forum members reading this thread and going away with a rather false expectation of what would be required.

I know that I'm kind of going a little bit off-topic here, but has anyone done A180 or AD317? (note AD not AA for the second one...or else your eyes will deceive you! )

No Aa317 didn't appeal to me. I'm doing TA212 at the moment, which I'm enjoying lots but there is a lot to cover.

[quote name='Tixylix' date='Jul 30 2011, 10:17 AM' post='1079708']
[quote name='Flossie' post='1079667' date='Jul 29 2011, 11:10 PM']
According to my StudentHome my A224 materials are being sent out on 12th August - how early do most people get their course materials? If I get mine first I'll give a sneak preview.
[/quote]

I have got them to send me through the registration forms, just got to sign on the dotted line - but wouldn't mind getting a looksie in on that sneak preview if you get the materials through soon....

I'm thinking of doing this course and was wondering about using the OUSBA to pay in instalments. has anyone used the OU bank for this and how did they find the process?

I have. Very easy and reasonable payments. I was late on one payment once but they didn't shoot down my door - just a nice phone call. I have used OUSBA twice and both times very happy. You can also pay off more than the monthly amount if you wish. Your account(s) are online so you can see what is going on whenever you want.

Interest rates are great too. I would not go to a bank to finance it, definitely finance through OUSBA.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for that. I have just filled out the form to say I want to register and to pay through OUSBA.

Gulp! What have I done!!??

Good for you! Good luck. I think that the OU is great - rather intense, but great.

Am doing AA317 as we speak and am starting A224 in October 2011 despite having G8 theory. Reason being is I think the Sibelius and song writing element will be really useful for me once I start the PGCE Secondary Music. Am really looking forward to it.

I'm going to be doing it for similar reasons: I've picked up composition along the way and would like a bit of formal tuition in it. I'm hoping that quite a lot of the course will merely be refreshing and consolidating existing skills....

The A224 module website is now open! If you've registered then all the books and assessment materials are online in pdf format. I'm skimming through everything now.

Nice to see there are some other OU addicts on here Although I've never done any of their music courses I'm now on my fifth OU course, with my sixth starting in a couple of months (all Humanities subjects.. English, Philosophy etc)

I have to admit to always finding some of theory and composition a real struggle, although I did love some aspects of music history and analysis.. A224 is now on my "maybe" list for the future - I really get on with the OU way of studying, so it might work to fill in some gaps on that side of things!

Good luck to those of you starting it soon

...but it's just not the same when you can't get to work with the highlighter pens.

Au contraire - Adobe Reader lets you do highlighting (in lots of pretty colours) and writing in the margins and other helpful things because the OU supplies PDFs in a format which allows you to edit them. It is also possible, as someone mentioned in the tutor group forum for my current course, to use a freeware program called Calibre to convert the PDF course books to Kindle format. Okay I'm biased because I use the alternative formats for functional reasons but electronic copies can be a lot more versatile than dead tree format.

Haha, I sit corrected.

I, however, shall have to wait for my dead tree format books, pens at the ready; because I wouldn't have a clue how to make my computer do all those clever things.

Depends which version of Adobe you have and which version the items were produced in... For AA317, the highlighting etc isn't available on all the materials (just Libretti, Texts, Scores and TMA book - not course books).

the materials came today - new books!

Bit of a distraction from AA317 TMA06 tho...

A lot of people on the welcome forum are saying that, I'm being distracted from D240 TMA03 instead.