This approach addresses the problems that may arise in many contemporary music pieces by, for example, Xenakis, Boulez, Elliot Carter, Ferneyhough, Ligeti as well as more recent composers. The main goal is to provide rhythmic information that will help the student  to achieve a higher degree of accuracy and confidence. South Indian classical music not only makes use of one of the most complex rhythmical systems but, in addition, has very clear and practical teaching and exercise methods.

    

        The other aspect of the course is to provide an insight into microtonality through use of a sophisticated system of scales (ragas). In order to comprehend and perform microtones, pitch recognition of ragas and melodies derived from them, will necessarily form part of every class.

           Each year, in the last two months, every student will prepare a duo or trio piece of contemporary music (eventually a solo). The teacher will show and help the student in how to implement the different techniques studied during the year  in the chosen piece. A presentation with all the pieces will take place at the end of the year.

           Classes will take place once a week and they will be of 2 hours duration. Maximum amount of lessons that can be missed is 6 out of the 27 of theory/exercise lessons (therefore, excluding the last 8 weeks, in which the preparation of the final piece does not work as regular lessons and meetings to work on pieces are arranged whenever possible for the students and teachers). Homework requires no less than an average of 45 minutes a day. The final grade will be based on:

-Attendance, homework and attitude

-Proficiency of material in  the performance at the end of each year

-Theory exam at the end of the  year.

 

Study Points

 

Bachelors: 6 study points, distributed as follows:

2 from the Free Elective

2 replacing the AHK course

2 replacing  one of the courses of the theory package

When students complete the subject form for the following year, they should write the name  of the course under the Free Elective category and leave the other two categories mentioned above blank.

 

Advanced Studies: 20 study points, distributed as follows:

10 from the Master’s subject

10 from the Free Elective

When students complete the subject form for the following year, they should write the name  of the course under both categories. CMtNWT belongs to both kinds of Master’s subjects (A and B).

 

 

Teachers: