Module: PM7042-30 Sound Design Skills

Level: 7

Credit Value: 30

Module Tutor: Jan Meinema

Module Tutor Contact Details: j.meinema@bathspa.ac.uk

1.Brief description and aims of module:

This module is designed to offer you an opportunity to develop your practical and creative skills around a core skillset for Sound Design. You undertake a selection of small, self-contained practical projects based around key skills. These provide an opportunity for students from different backgrounds to reach parity in terms of skillsets and provide a progression from undergraduate-level project work to the sort of projects that will be undertaken in Trimesters 2 and 3.

This module aims to:

• Explore a range of Sound Design-based skills.
• Facilitate the progression from undergraduate to postgraduate work
• Develop your practical and creative skills

2.Outline syllabus

This module makes at least 4 skills-based projects available to students. These cover the key skills base for Sound Design, and will both furnish you with the skills required for subsequent parts of the course and familiarise you with the production of creative projects within an MA context. You choose three projects, with an aim to developing key areas of your practice or filling any gaps in your knowledge. To facilitate delivery of multiple projects and skillsets, we guide you through your projects online, with weekly screencasts, tutorials and tests presenting most of the course content and facilitating formative assessment. Weekly workshops in small groups help you troubleshoot your projects and guide you towards successful completion.

Indicative Projects

• Sound Sourcing and Field Recording
• Sound Editing & Restoration
• Sound Sculpting & Processing
• Applied Sound Design - Narrative & Storytelling

3.Teaching and learning activities

1. Weekly workshop (2 hours)

2. Extensive materials delivered online – screencasts, tutorials and tests for each project

3. Further online study materials made available weekly on Minerva

4. Student-directed study

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work
• Description: 3 Sound Design Skills Projects (6,000 words equivalent)
• % Weighting: 80%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work
• Description: Written Commentary (1500 words)
• % Weighting: 20%