University of Miami

Frost School of Music

Seminar in Contemporary Performance Practice

MIP 758 Section 7B – 1 credit
Fridays, 9:05am-9:55am – Volpe 101
Spring 2018

Course Description:
Students will present research on and performance of compositions of the late twentieth and
twenty-first centuries. Presentations will feature concepts of interpretation, style, and may
include context of both composer and work.

Prerequisite: Doctoral standing, or permission of instructor

Instructor: Professor Scott Flavin, s.flavin@miami.edu, (305) 878-1985, PLF – South rm 322

Office Hours: Variable. Please email or text to set appointments or ask questions.

Course Objectives: Exploration of performance practices of contemporary music, and

applications in performance today.

Course Requirements:
Each student will prepare:
1. A video oral presentation, ABSOLUTELY no longer than ten minutes, consisting of a
detailed written outline, submitted to instructor on 2/23. Relevant musical excerpts and
any pertinent visual information must be viewable on the video, and a link submitted to
Blackboard by 3/30.
Presentation will center on a specific work from the late 20th century to today; work will
be chosen by student, and title and score submitted to professor for approval on 1/26.
Emphasize performance aspects of your preparation and performance; brief background
on composer or school of composition is appropriate, but is not the main thrust of the
presentation or the course. Make sure that the goal of your presentation is clearly
articulated. No more than 5 minutes of music, including excerpts, should be performed.
2. A research paper on a specific compositional school (ie, minimalism, serialism, spectral
composition, etc.) or related topic, chosen by the student, and approved by professor.
This assignment will consist of four parts:
Topic: chosen topic due 2/09.
Outline: A detailed outline will be due 2/16.
Proposal: A paper proposal, presented to the class, not to exceed ten minutes.
Paper: Minimum of 750 words, approximately 3 to 4 pages, due 4/27.
3. A piece of music commissioned for performance in the class during the semester. Works
may not exceed three minutes in length. Composer’s name must be submitted to
professor by 2/02, and works must be completed and hard copies submitted to
 professor by 3/23. Works may be written by students or professional composers;
student may choose to compose their own work.

Grading:
Attendance will be taken at each class; each unexcused absence will lower student’s
grade by one half-grade. The grade for all assignments (outlines, paper, composition, etc.)
will be lowered by one half-grade each day late.

Class Schedule:
1/19 – review syllabus; class overview

1/26 – faculty presentation; deadline for video presentation chosen work Stravinksy –
Symphonies of Wind Instruments

2/02 – video presentation chosen works approved; deadline for composer of commissioned
work – Marlon Caro?

2/09 – research paper topic due; discussion

2/16 – research paper outline due; guest: award-winning composer and 2018 Frost
composer-in-residence Christopher Theofanidis

2/23 – video presentation outline due; research paper proposal presentations

3/02 – research paper proposal presentations

3/09 – research paper proposal presentations

3/16 – SPRING BREAK

3/23 – commissioned work hard copies due; guest: Professor Charles Mason, award-
winning composer and Frost composition faculty

3/30 – video presentation upload due; commissioned work performances

4/06 – commissioned work performances

4/13 – commissioned work performances

4/20 – commissioned work performances

4/27 – Last day of classes; research paper due; summation of class