Earning Criteria

• The development of skills demonstrated through works of counterpoint in weekly classes is a key aspect of the course. Students will be required to write and submit set pieces demonstrating the application techniques developed through the program. Students will learn the contrapuntal rules of each stage via weekly classes. Students progress through each stage with the consolidation of weekly set tasks over the course of 10-15 weeks.
• Students completing this program will learn contrapuntal rules and apply these to set melodies known as a Cantus Firmus. They will also learn concepts of consonance and dissonance in the production of polyphony [many sounds]. These fundamentals of music have been applied by composers from the late 12th century through to the present day.
• Students will produce original works of 5th Species Counterpoint that will be assessed by the course convenor.
• A selection of the student works on 5th Species Counterpoint will be performed by an associate artist for an audience.