Master

 of  Music  Creative  Performance  Fakuli  Muzik  dan  Seni  Persembahan  

Evaluation  comments  by  Dr  Andrew  Blackburn  Oct  2015  

The  revised  course  requires  that  the  candidate  present  a  research  proposal  of  at  least  
1000  words  (recommend  revising  word  count  to  1500  –  3000  words).    
It  should  contain  an  elementary  literature  review,  the  need  for  the  research,  the  
research  topic,  objectives  of  research,  methodology  and  validation  of  the  proposed  
methodology.  It  will  propose  questions,  and  connect  the  research  approaches  to  the  
performances.    It  may  include  comments  on  possible  repertoire  for  the  three  
performances  (it  could  reasonably  be  expected  that  the  repertoire  of  the  first  
performance  assessment  will  be  included),  linking  the  individual  pieces  to  the  
research  topic  and  questions.    
The  proposal  should  include  a  timeline  of  research  which  accords  with  the  minimum  
full-­‐time  study  equivalent  allowed  for  this  degree.    There  could  be  a  timing  issue  here,  
as  it  may  take  a  considerable  time  to  come  to  understand  the  true  nature  of  a  
performance  research  degree.      
This  document  should  be  presented  to  a  panel  of  internal  assessors  before  the  date  of  
the  first  performance  is  set.  Once  submitted  by  the  candidate,  acceptance/rejection,  or  
suggested  revisions  should  be  provided  within  one  (1)  calendar  month  of  receipt  by  
the  faculty.  
Performances  
The  three  performances  required  in  this  degree  have  a  dual  purpose:  
• To  demonstrate  technical  and  performative  competence  on  the  
candidate’s  instrument  for  this  level,  and  which  fulfils  the  requirements  
of  the  assessment  rubric.  
• To  provide  field-­‐work  data  for  the  research  topic,  which  can  be  built  
upon  within  later  performances  and  the  exegesis.    
For  the  candidate’s  final  submission,  the  exegesis  is  of  primary  importance,  though  
closely  coupled  to  the  evidence  and  material  gained  from  the  three  performances.  
Each  performance  will  be  accompanied  by  a  scholarly  research  document  (see  below)  
that  explains  what  research  outcomes  are  expected  from  the  performance.    In  addition  
to  passing  the  overall  assessment  –  as  provided  in  the  Masters  Performance  Recital  
Assessment  Rubric,    Rubric  8  [Accompanying  notes  reflect  and  articulate  the  research  
questions]  must  be  passed  (level  3)  in  order  to  pass  the  entire  assessment  and  
proceed  to  the  next  stage  of    research.    
The  performances  each  have  a  slightly  different  emphasis:  
1. Performance  –  20  minutes.    
• Although  the  student  will  have  completed  an  audition,  prior  to  
acceptance  into  the  course,  this  recital  will  confirm  their  instrumental  
musical,  and  technical  ability  to  undertake  the  research  as  per  the  
proposal  document.    
• The  selected  repertoire  should  demonstrably  focus  on  an  introductory  
aspect  of  the  research  topic.  

 Author:  Andrew  Blackburn  

Master  of  Music  Creative  Performance  Fakuli  Muzik  dan  Seni  Persembahan  

• The  assessing  panel  may  request  that  the  performance  be  repeated,  or  
document  revised  in  accordance  with  written  notes  provided  to  the  
student  and  supervisor  by  the  assessing  panel.  
 
2. Performance    -­‐  30  minutes  
• This  Performance  will  show  explicit  links  to  the  research  topic,  and  
demonstrate  how  the  research  questions  are  being  addressed.  
• The  accompanying  scholarly  document  will  also  reflect  on  what  new  
knowledge  has  been  drawn  from  the  first  performance,  and  some  
expected  outcomes  from  this  second  performance.  
• The  assessing  panel  may  request  that  the  performance  be  repeated,  or  
document  revised  in  accordance  with  written  notes  provided  to  the  
student  and  supervisor  by  the  assessing  panel.  
3. Performance  –  40  minutes  
• This  performance  will  complete  the  research  data  collection.    Technical  
mastery  and  competence  at  a  masters  level,  and  as  per  the  Rubric  
Assessment  document,  will  of  course  guide  the  assessors  in  their  
deliberations  of  the  performance.    
• The  accompanying  scholarly  document  will  demonstrate  and  reflect  on  
the  two  earlier  performances,  what  new  knowledge  is  anticipated  from  
the  experience  of  the  final  performance,  and  begin  to  show  .  
• Satisfactory  completion  of  the  final  performance  assessment  will  be  a  
trigger  for  the  3  month  notice  of  the  intention  to  submit  the  final  
exegesis.  The  external  assessor  appointed  by  the  Faculty  for  this  
performance  should  also  be  the  external  assessor  appointed  by  the    
Academic  Division  of  the  University.    
• Until  this  assessment  (and  accompanying  scholarly  document)  are  
passed  by  the  assessing  panel,  the  candidate  is  not  permitted  to  proceed  
to  completion.      
• The  assessing  panel  may  request  that  the  performance  be  repeated,  or  
document  revised  in  accordance  with  written  notes  provided  to  the  
student  and  supervisor  by  the  assessing  panel.  
Material  presented  in  any  of  the  three  performances  may  not  be  presented  in  others.  
The  justification  of  this  condition  is  that  the  performances  are  research  events,  and  
within  the  performance  context  provide  information  and  data,  which  the  candidate  
will  use  to  further  and  develop  the  research  project.    
All  three  performances  are  benchmark  assessments  to  ensure  that  the  student  is  
making  suitable  technical,  musical  and  performative  progress  in  accordance  with  the  
nominated  research  topic  (as  per  the  initial  proposal).    Candidates  must  pass  their  1st  
performance  assessment  before  proceeding  to  the  2nd  performance  assessment,  and  
then  pass  their  2nd  assessment  before  proceeding  to  the  final  performance  
assessment.  
Scholarly  Document  (2500  –  4000  words)  

 Author:  Andrew  Blackburn  

Master  of  Music  Creative  Performance  Fakuli  Muzik  dan  Seni  Persembahan  

A  scholarly  document  will  accompany  each  of  the  three  performances.  It  may    draw  on  
material  from  the  initial  proposal  –  such  as  background,  research  objectives  for  that  
performance,  or  similar.  Each  document  will  include  a  briefliterature  review,  directly  
pertinent  to  the  repertoire  being  performed.  This  document  is  designed  to  show  how  
the  performance  being  assessed  and  research  topic  are  connected.  It  is  envisaged  that  
the  scholarly  document  for  performances  two  and  three  will  contain  reflections  and  
references  to  new  knowledge  gained  in  the  previous  performances,  thus  
demonstrating  to  the  assessors  how  the  research  itself  is  being  taken.    
Each  scholarly  document  should  be  assessed  in  part  as  a  demonstration  of  the  
candidate’s  developing  skill  in  academic  writing,  and  be  suitably  formatted,  
referenced  and  structured  to  the  UPSI  style  guide  or  APA6.  
Exegesis  
The  exegesis  must  contain  15000  –  20000  words  relevant  in  a  scholarly  style,  which  
draws  the  performances  and  research  topic    .  The  exegesis  must  be  complete,  
comprehensible,  and  organised  as  an  accompanying  written  document,  enhancing  the  
understanding  of  the  compositions.  
The  content  of  the  three  scholarly  documents  and  the  initial  proposal  document  
should  be  reflected  in  the  exegesis,  though  drawn  together  into  a  standard  thesis  
structure.    Video  recordings  of  the  three  performances  will  form  part  of  the  
submission,  and  the  content  and  data  present  in  the  recordings  should  be  referenced  
in  the  exegesis.  
Because  of  the  additional  holistic  nature  of  the  final  performance  assessment,    the  
scholarly  document  and  scores  should  be  submitted  1-­‐2  weeks  before  the  final  
performance  presentation  date.    
Rubric  
The  rubric  is  to  be  completed  by  each  assessor  independently  at  the  time  of  the  
performance.  The  rubric  is  to  aid  the  assessor  in  determining  whether  the  student  has  
passed  the  composition  and  scholarly  explanatory  document.  The  final  score  on  the  
rubric  should  be  reflected  in  the  decisions  agreed  upon  by  the  assessors.  This  also  
includes  a  discrepancy  between  assessor’s  scores.  A  high  score  on  the  performance,  
but  a  low  score  on  the  exegesis  should  be  reflected  in  the  final  decision,  such  as  a  high  
level  of  performance,  and  the  scholarly  document  accepted  with  minor/major  
revisions.  Equally,  the  assessors  may  score  the  scholarly  document  highly,  whilst  
requiring  that  the  performance  be  repeated  due  to  low  scoring  within  the  rubric  
document.  
Comments  and  written  feedback  for  the  students  
The  assessors  should  make  notes  about  each  performance  and  these  notes  will  be  
provided  to  the  candidate  to  assist  their  formative  development.  The  comments  
should  reflect  the  application  of  the  rubric.  In  order  to  maintain  the  candidate’s  own  
research  momentum,  the  written  feedback  to  the  candidate,  and  advice  of  
acceptance/rejection  of  all  or  part  of  the  presentation  should  either  be  provided  
either  at  the  end  of  the  performance  presentation,  or  within  1  calendar  week.  
 
 

 Author:  Andrew  Blackburn