MCGY1019: Musicology Workshop 1, MCGY1020 Musicology Workshop 2

For both: Reflective journal (40%), participation and short tasks (20%), End of Semester presentation (40%).

None

I chose to do MCGY1019 and MCGY1020 as electives because they supported my principal study/major (musicology) and my future aims to pursue research of some kind in music education (though funnily enough, they're now the core units of the musicology principal study so it actually worked out in my favour that I did it). I really enjoy reading, thinking and discussing ideas which is perhaps why I found this subject well-designed for me. The class was small because our major is quite niche which meant we were all comfortable and good friends by the end of the year.

In terms of assessments, I felt like the presentations were nightmares. I fell out of love with my research topic for Semester 2 for a long period of time and found it challenging to get myself back on my feet. It's a completely different vibe presenting to a doctor in your field who literally specialises in your research area of interest than it is to tutor, teach or lecture so although I had lots of people saying to me it shouldn't have been "that bad", it was still nerve-wrecking. I also learnt after Semester 1 to not do my weekly reflective journal entries last minute and this greatly reflected in my marks in the end. While I started to hate reflective writing at many points in the subject, and in other subjects I'll review later where I also had to complete reflective journals, it was really helpful to consider the benefits I found from each week's seminar and actively linking it to my own research aims. I was also praised by my lecturer for my "riskier" arguments and critiques of the readings which was a bonus because it definitely helped me feel like my views were validated and valued.

The subject's design really allowed for diversity in content (we had a different topic every seminar, ranging from Spanish liturgical music to musical earworms) and reflected the eclectic nature of musicology as a discipline as a result. The MCS talks were super interesting and have helped me become a better lecturer myself here with AN over time. Overall, I'm really going to miss doing these units and having Alan who is literally the most awe-inspiring person at the Con. Beyond these units, I'm hoping to carry on the skills I learnt in the course and the thirst for knowledge and enquiry it inspired in me into the rest of my degree.

1x 2 hour seminar; every fortnight, you will also attend the Musicology Colloquium Series talks as part of the unit.

3/5

None

Alan Maddox

None

3.5/5

Compulsory readings are allocated each week, along with your own resources based on your elected research topic for the semester.

2019 Semester 1, 2

MCGY1019: 78 DI, MCGY1020: 78 DI