CONTEXTUAL STUDIES 1

An Introduction

Dr Adam Martin
adam.martin@lcm.ac.uk

Dr Jack Harbord
j.harbord@lcm.ac.uk
Welcome
•  Welcome to Leeds College of Music and Popular Music!
•  Session as introduction to the world of ‘Contextual Studies’
 Questions?

Always available at 5pm Wednesday in the bar

 Session Structure
1.  What is ‘Contextual Studies’?

2.  What will you be taught and how

you will be assessed?

3.  How can I get support?

4.  How can I get started?

 ?
Context
[Kon-tekst]
noun
1. What is ‘Contextual Studies’?

Music theory Cultural studies

Contextual
Collaboration Critical skills
Studies

Composition Music analysis

2. Aims and Ethos of the Module

Genre, style, and popular culture Analysis of Popular music

Your own compositional practice Opportunity and ability

Your Degree: An Overview
 Contextual Studies
in Context
•  Forms ¼ of year’s credits

•  Runs all year

•  Three hours teaching each

week
•  One lecture
•  Two seminars (Jack and
Russell)
3. How Will You Be Taught?

Lecture format – large group, mostly tutor-led

with a lot of information being communicated.
Taking part and taking notes is essential!

Seminar format – smaller groups, often student-led.

May involve activities, reading reviews, group
debates, etc.

Dates for your diary:

Assignment 1 – 14th November 2016
Assignment 2 – 2nd March 2017
Assignment 3 – 4th May 2017
 3. Who Will Teach You?

Adam Martin Jack Harbord Russell Henderson

Head of Contextual Studies Lecturer and seminar tutor Lecturer and seminar tutor
adam.martin@lcm.ac.uk j.harbord@lcm.ac.uk r.henderson2@lcm.ac.uk
What is Popular Music?
•  Is this popular music?
•  How does knowledge of context
affect your judgement?
 Key Questions: Your Thoughts

1.  Given the recent run of copyright infringement claims in

popular music, what musical elements do you think
should be protected?

2.  It takes approximately 200 streams on Spotify to earn a

dollar. What are your thoughts on the pros and cons of
streaming?

3.  Is popular music a useful term in 2016?

What is Popular Music?

•  How does the music achieve this label?

•  What is not popular music?
•  What is it made of?
•  How is it made?
•  Who is it for?
Why do you like Popular Music?
Your Assignments
Assignment 1 – Popular Music Analysis

•  5 minute spoken analysis of a song (20%

of module)

•  Students will be given ten potential songs

to choose from (one week before deadline)

•  You will choose to discuss four of the

following:
•  Harmony, melody, rhythm, structure, lyrics,
texture, production, instrumentation

•  Analysis will link theory to style and context

Assignment 1: Teaching
•  Adam Martin’s lectures – These lectures will explore at
definitions of popular music and popular culture and how
we study them before moving onto analytical methods

•  Jack Harbord’s seminars – These seminars will explore

issues of style and context in popular music

•  Russell Henderson’s seminars – These sessions will

look at detailed aspects of music theory in popular music
Assignment 2 –
Critical Popular Musicology Essay
•  2000 word academic essay
addressing an area of cultural
studies

•  Students pick one question out of

the eight taught areas:

•  Authorship, production technology,

consumption technology, appropriation,
commercialism, post-modernism, rebellion and
iconography
Assignment 2: Teaching
•  Adam Martin/Jack Harbord lectures – Each week will cover
one of the eight areas of study

•  Jack Harbord’s seminars – These sessions will look at the

lecture topics in more detail and engage with student led
tasks/readings

•  Russell Henderson’s seminars – These sessions will be

aimed towards developing critical thinking, academic writing
ability and research techniques
Assignment 3 – Composition Portfolio
•  Two track composition portfolio: one solo
and one written collaboratively with
another student

•  Students will also submit a 1500 word

reflective commentary

•  Start writing now!

Assignment 3: Teaching
•  Ric Neale/Danny Cope/Adam Martin lectures – Guest lecturers
will teach a range of composition techniques and methods

•  Jack Harbord’s seminars – These sessions will review students’

works in progress

•  Russell Henderson’s seminars – These sessions will explore

compositional methods, styles and case studies
 Popular Music: Contextual Studies 1
Assignment Schedule
Assignment 1 – 14/11 Xmas break Assignment 2 – 2/3 Assignment 3 – 4/5

Lecture

Assignment 1 Assignment 2 Assignment 3

Jack’s Seminar

Assignment 1 Assignment 2 Assignment 3

Russell’s Seminar

Assignment 1 Assignment 2 Assignment 3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10! 11! 12! 13! 14! 15! 16! 17! 18! 19! 20!
4. How Can I Get Support?
•  Your tutors – ask questions / after class / email

•  SPACE – assignment briefs / module information /

assignment support / library catalogue / forums / previous
examples

•  Library – electronic resources / printing / scanner / staff

help with finding texts

•  Student support – room 406 for administrative support

5. How Can I Get Started?
•  SPACE module page has a reading list with ‘CORE TEXTS’
available in the library

•  Become familiar with the assignment briefs

•  Write some songs on your own and get recording!

•  Get to know your peers and look for ways you could collaborate
– both on your course and across courses!

•  Remember to come see us in the bar (Wednesday 5pm) if you

have ANY questions
Questions?