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Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
96
Although instrumental or vocal studies are not part of the formal
curriculum, a wide range of musical activities takes place on
the campus. Practical courses in aural training and/or keyboard
skills are available in each year; and the Music Department
supports several performance groups that work under the
supervision of experts in their fields (these are in addition to the
many performance opportunities offered by student societies).
The recently established Ensemble Avalon (APT) Residency
offers students an unmatched opportunity to work with
professional players of international standing
on their
compositions and on projects in music technology, musicology
and performance.
The majority of subjects are based on the traditions and practice
of classical (or art) music, from the medieval period to the present
day. However, the department regularly presents lectures in
other musical traditions, including jazz, popular music and Irish
traditional music. Many students currently in the department come
primarily from one of those non-classical traditions.
One of the strengths of the Music courses in Trinity College
is the commitment to small-group teaching.
While some
subjects, such as History of music, are delivered as lectures to a
large group, many subjects are taught in groups of ten students
or fewer.
Is this the right course for you?
If you love music and want to understand it – for example, to
know how it works, its history and development, how to write
music, how to become a more informed performer – this is the
course for you. Whether your interests are primarily academic
or practical, your experience of this vast and rich subject will be
greatly improved in depth and breadth.
As an academic discipline, music fosters independence of
thought, creativity, critical and analytical skills, and intellectual
awareness. You will also have plenty of opportunity to perform,
conduct ensembles, and gain experience of arts administration.
Because the course includes a wide range of options, you will be
able to emphasise the areas that interest you most.
The facilities in the Music Department include a recital room,
practice rooms with pianos, an excellent and up-to-date suite
of computer workstations that are used for teaching and study,
a small music studio (plus more extensive, shared facilities
elsewhere), excellent listening equipment, and a substantial
lending collection of CDs and videos.
The staff of the Music Department have a wide range of
expertise in composition, music technology and musicology.
They are here to help you in your exploration of a subject that
they chose because they, like you, love it.
As a student at Trinity College you will have access to the
largest research library in Ireland. It is also
by far the largest
and best-equipped library for music
. In addition to its general
holdings of books and music, it houses an extensive listening
collection of CDs.
Visit the Department of Music
n
If you are considering studying Music at Trinity College
but want to be sure,
you are most welcome to attend
lectures
at the department at any time during teaching
terms. You will also be invited to discuss your options
with a member of the teaching staff. Contact us by
e-mail or phone (see below).
Course content
The Freshman years
The Junior Freshman (first) year is designed to ensure that
you are fully competent in basic musical skills and provides
an introduction to historical and analytical musicology,
compositional techniques and music technology.
Subjects include:
n
Aural training
– using moveable Doh (Solfège or Solfa).
The course will improve your basic musical skills in areas
such as musical dictation, sight-reading, and score-reading.
n
Keyboard skills
– (taught in conjunction with aural training)
will enable you to create harmony over a given figured bass,
to play four-part harmony, and to transpose up or down a
tone or semitone.
n
Introduction to harmony
– an introduction to the writing
of four-part harmony.
n
History of music
– an introduction to the music of Baroque
and early Classical periods in a broad cultural context (this
forms part of a four-year programme of general music
history), plus an introduction to research methodologies,
and to presentation and style in writing essays.
n
Introduction to music analysis
– includes re-assessment
of the elements of a musical text and the ways in which they
come together to form increasingly large units.
n
Music technology
– includes computer orientation, and
introduction to MIDI protocol, audio signals and computer-
based notation and sequencing.
n
Introduction to counterpoint
– the conventions of music
notation and rudiments, leading to the study of Fuxian
species counterpoint, which will enable you to acquire a
command of basic polyphonic composition.
In the Senior Freshman (second) year you will continue with the
above subjects from the first year while beginning to explore
your specialist area – either composition, musicology, or music
technology. Single honor students will also select a Broad
Curriculum course (see page 14), and TSM students have a
wider range of options that includes Broad Curriculum.
The Sophister years
In the Sophister (third and fourth) years study becomes more
concentrated on your chosen specialisation. It is always possible
to take options from other specialisations.
Students who specialise in composition will receive a thorough
grounding in compositional techniques; they present a portfolio
of their compositions as their final-year project. If you specialise