Master’s Specialization I (MUK501)

Content

The content of the courses Master's specialisation I, II and III is centred on the student's individual work and self-development as an artist. The self-defined master's project, which is linked to performing and/or creative artistic practice, forms the core of the master's programme. The master's project must be an independent, critical and exploratory endeavour with a clear focus.

The master's project will have its own distinctive character depending on the subject area, i.e. classical music (incl. conducting), jazz/improvisation or dance. In music, it may be linked to a theme, a stylistic direction, a genre, a repertoire area, a historical epoch, contemporary contexts, different traditions, forms of communication and expression, practice-focused work, an in-depth study of a practical performance issue, or a theoretical perspective. In dance art, this may involve practices such as improvisation, performance, repertoire, choreography, community out-reach, somatics, various dance genres, pedagogy, dance art for children and young people, visual or textual practices.

An important part of the work will be linked to the further development of the student's artistic expressiveness, craftsmanship and communication skills. In addition, it will be important to place the performing/creative work with and in a relevant theoretical framework. Here, the courses Art Theory and Methods and Society and Communication will support the master's project. The form and content of the final result will vary depending on the nature of the project, but must contain a combination of artistic expression and reflection. Students are also encouraged to place their specialisation project in an international perspective.

Joint activities in the course will be organised in the form of subject-specific seminars and interdisciplinary master's forums, where students share artistic work/sub-results and respond to each other's presentations. The students also participate in the faculty's artistic research forum, where subject teachers present their research and development projects.

In Master's specialisation I, the student's master's project is initiated and developed. A preliminary project description forms part of the admission basis for the master's programme. The project description is further developed and revised during the first semester of the programme and presented in the master's forum in January. The course concludes with a halfway presentation of the project.

Learning outcome

A candidate who has completed and passed the course will have acquired knowledge, skills and general competences that enable them to:

Knowledge

- have good knowledge of artistic approaches, methods, techniques and theory related to the chosen theme/area.

- have a good knowledge of the professional field in which the project is placed.

Skills

- use relevant methods for artistic development work in an independent manner.

- be able to carry out artistic projects, realise and communicate their artistic intentions with a clear personal expression.

General competence

- plan, carry out and evaluate an independent, delimited specialisation project under supervision.

- demonstrate communication skills, reflection and innovation and an independent and mature artistic expression at a high level.

Required prerequisite knowledge

Completed Bachelor's Degree in music performance or dance (minimum 180 ECTS). At least 90 ECTS of the Bachelor programme must consist of music or dance performance subjects.

Passed entrance examination in main discipline study.

Language requirements in English must be passed in accordance with UiS's regulations.

Exam

Coursework requirements

- Approved attendance and participation in teaching activities (incl. Master's Forum) are determined in consultation between the student and the supervisory team at the beginning of the academic year and are otherwise in accordance with the regulations on attendance requirements at the Faculty of Performing Arts (UK).

- Revised project description, which is submitted for approval at the end of the first semester of the programme and approved by the supervisory team. The project description must be based on the template for a master's project and contain a preliminary title for the project, a description of the chosen topic, working methods, progress plan and form of documentation. The project description can be changed during the programme, but major changes must be approved by the supervisory team.

- Approved progress reports for both semesters with documentation of completed supervision and teaching and links to recordings of completed presentations/artistic work samples.

- Approved presentations/artistic work samples. The main supervisor makes an individual overall assessment of the student's efforts and academic level throughout the course.

Course teacher(s)

Study Adviser:

Course coordinator:

Study Adviser:

Method of work

The main part of the courses Master's specialisation I-III is the student's independent planning and implementation of the artistic master's project.

Regardless of art form and genre, the project must be followed up with supervision. A team of supervisors is appointed for each student, normally consisting of a main supervisor and one or more co-supervisors. This may include instrumental teachers or other artistic supervisors and theoretical supervisors, depending on the nature of the master's project. For music students, the supervisory team may also include an accompanist where relevant. In special cases, the supervisory team may be supplemented with an external supervisor. At the start of the programme, a supervision agreement is drawn up between the student, the supervisors and the Faculty of Performing Arts. It specifies how the supervision resource is distributed between the supervisors and how each supervisor will assist with the master's project. In the event of changes to the project that affect the role of the supervisors, the supervision agreement must be revised.

In addition to one-to-one teaching/supervision, group teaching and subject-specific seminars may be included in the course where this is natural in relation to the nature of the project.

Part of the teaching will take place in the form of master's forums, where the students present their projects to each other, and in artistic research forums, where the subject teachers present their research and development projects. Participation in and presentations at various academic forums and research networks may also be included.

The student is responsible for the progression of the master's project and must make regular appointments with and deliver material to the supervisory team (work samples, recordings, notes, written work, etc.), so that the progression is maintained. Students must adhere to information posted on Canvas. Completed teaching activities are logged and approved in Canvas.

Literature