Music 2: Moving On with Composition

I needed a course to fit around my life and OCA provides just that

Level:: 2
Credits:: 60
Length:: 15 months approx.
10hrs per week
Cost:: £695
payment options

Course Overview

Download Course Sheet
(Adobe PDF Format)
All Course Documents

This course will develop your fluency in the language of music, extend your abilities in composition and help you build up your portfolio of work. It widens your harmonic vocabulary, introduces you to choral and instrumental writing (both chamber and orchestral) and analyses and looks for inspiration at the music and styles of other composers. You will write an extended work for voices and instruments, usually choir and orchestra. The course is for students wanting to build on the basics of composition learned in Composing Music 1.

Visit the OCA blog

Visit We Are OCA - the OCA's official blog.
We Are OCA

Detailed discussion of extended harmonies
Contrapuntal part writing
The use of miniature scores
The development of the orchestra and its instruments
Musical form
Analysis of major pieces of work.

To view a sample of this course online, click HERE or to download a PDF of the sample, click HERE.

The course aims to help you understand and use complex rhythmic, melodic and harmonic ideas in your own compositions; understand and use various accompaniment styles and contrapuntal techniques; compose and score choral music; understand the techniques of composing for orchestral instruments; learn about the evolution of styles of music. To study this course, you will need a music software package with which to compose music and listen to the playback and that is capable of accessing the Sibelius files which come with the course materials.'

Distance Tuition

You are allocated a tutor and receive their details in your course pack. You work from the course materials and send regular assignments to your tutor. These are returned to you with comment and advice. The course fee includes tutor feedback on your set assignments, but you can purchase feedback and comment on additional pieces of work if you wish.

Face to Face Tuition

You choose a tutor within travelling distance (call OCA on 0800 731 2116 to find your nearest tutor) and you meet them at mutually agreeable times and dates. You are entitled to an agreed number of hours tuition, typically five hours. Tutors work from their own studios or other suitable teaching space. You can find out where your nearest tutor is by contacting Academic Services on 0800 731 2116.

Nine projects and five assignments. Students also maintain a learning log.

For more information on assessment, click here - Assessment and how to get qualified booklet - to download the booklet PDF.