“Experience, feel and understand music”

Music theory, supplemented with practical education

Teacher; Maud van Daal

Year, duration
AD1, 1 grade

Study load (weekly):
4 modules, each with a study load of 6 hours, in total

Contribution to the competences
1. Creative ability
3. Problem-solving ability
4. Communicative Ability
5. Ability to grow and develop/ reflective
6. Ability to Collaborate

Brief description of the content
After this course it is possible for the student to use the teaching material as a basis for the necessary practical integration of music and dance. The increased knowledge of the material will also contribute to better communication with teachers, pianists, conductor, choreographer and musicians in general. The course will lead to a better relationship between artistic and technical qualities with regard to the musical contribution.

As part of the course, the student will also attend workshops several times with and visit the Ballet Orchestra (orchestra of Dutch National Ballet and NDT). An extra layer of practical education is added through concrete meetings.

Learning goals

  • To be able to distinguish artistic, emotional and structural features in classical music for ballet exercises and ballet variations through auditory training.
  • Being able to distinguish and work with different dance forms, gain insight into compositional structures.
  • Learning to distinguish auditory from all orchestral instruments, including insight into the way of playing.
  • Deepening of knowledge about style periods and repertoire of composers
  • Gain insight into collaboration between composer and choreographer.

Study material (specialist literature, case studies, assignments, videos, etc.)
- The student receives a musical historical kaleidoscope from 1640 to 1973. Composers are discussed in their cultural and musical development. The content of the musical information is provided by visual and sound material that is brought along by the teacher. Fragments are given for each composer with the important information about working and style periods with their characteristics.
- Attention will be paid to isolating different individual sounds, both solo and in ensemble. Demonstration of various instrumentalists from the ballet orchestra (as far as possible) and visual and sound material are part of this topic. This requires a rehearsal and general visit.
- The students do not have a workbook. They receive study material for each subject with the necessary information from the teacher.

Assessment method
It is tested whether the student has knowledge and insight with regard to:
- The concepts of music history, composer in the context of his time
- Composer-choreographer collaboration
- Different dance forms
- Measure/rhythm/conducting technique
- Melody/harmony
- Pace/dynamics

In pairs (2 students), the students must make a written report (about 1000 words) of each module, demonstrating that they have understood the key points. The letter ratings will be moderate (M), satisfactory (V), more than satisfactory (RV) and good (G). Making together also means that the students receive the same assessment.

Assessment criteria
1) 2, 5
3) 3, 4
4) 1
5) 1
6) 3, 4

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