The analysis of musical performance is a young but growing area of interest within audio and music research. The extraction and analysis of musical attributes, such as timing, beats, tempo, tuning and dynamics, can now be undertaken in real-time by digital signal processing. You will learn in practical labs how to extract and characterise musical parameters and attributes from the audio signal, and develop techniques to provide feedback to the performer for use in training systems or research projects. You will also investigate the application of music performance analysis to modelling, composition, automatic music information retrieval and research on music perception and cognition.
To introduce students to techniques for music performance analysis and real-time feedback systems for music performance, through investigation of current techniques and historical approaches
To provide a foundation of understanding in the subject area, informed by current thinking, through which appropriate research skills can be developed, suitable for further student-centred learning in this field
To provide the student with an analytical view of issues of music performance analysis in their historical context
To encourage critical evaluation of existing techniques for both off-line analysis and real-time musical performance analysis and feedback
To further develop skills in the use of a range of high and low-level software-based music technology research tools
Graduate skills aims:
To develop skills in critically evaluating and synthesising new information based on researched information and writing concise technical reports appropriate for the target audience
To develop advanced skills in designing, delivering and defending engaging presentations on advanced topics, appropriate for the target audience
Module learning outcomes
Subject content learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will:
Be able to demonstrate an understanding of a range of musical performance analysis techniques
Be able to assess issues relevant to music performance analysis and comparison, music information retrieval, performance analysis and perception
Be able to evaluate current real-time feedback systems for musical training
Have developed a new system for real-time visual (or other) feedback of music performance
Graduate skills learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will:
Through self-directed reading of literature in the field, be able to evaluate historical and recent approaches to formulate their own innovative solution to a given problem
Be able to plan their own project work, setting goals and a timetable for completion within a given timescale
Be able to present their work-in-progress to peers through oral presentation and demonstration, and assess peer contributions offering constructive criticism and reflective evaluation of their own work and that of others
Indicative assessment
Task
Length
% of module mark
Essay/coursework Coursework
N/A
100
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
Task
Length
% of module mark
Essay/coursework Coursework
N/A
100
Module feedback
'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments.
The Department of Electronic Engineering aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. Students are provided with their examination results within 20 working days of the end of any given examination period. The Department will also endeavour to return all coursework feedback within 20 working days of the submission deadline. The Department would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The Department will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.
Indicative reading
A. Gabrielsson, “Music Performance Research at the Millennium,” Psychology of Music, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 221–272, 2003.N.
Orio, “Music Retrieval: A Tutorial and Review,” Foundations and Trends® in Information Retrieval, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1–96, 2006.
An introduction to audio content analysis : applications in signal processing and music informatics; Alexander Lerch. Hoboken, N.J. : IEEE Press ; Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley 2012