1. Initiating an Exceptional Student Journey, or ‘The Most Rewarding Teaching I’ve Ever Done!’ Designing and implementing a Level 1 Research Skills module in the School of Music Dr Stephen Muir School of Music

2. Outline Background Music Study Skills at Leeds Music Research Skills at Leeds Conclusions

3. Background Leeds University Music in Education iNitiative (LUMEN) – c.1995-2001 Aim to ‘[…] improve the experience of music graduates by addressing a range of complementary issues in Teaching and Learning in HE Music.’ http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/Info/Lumen/lumen.html

4. Student reactions: ‘Too much assessment’ ‘Pretty dull and uninspiring’ ‘More individual feedback’ ‘Seminars would be useful’ ‘I don’t see the relevance’ ‘Easy to fall asleep!’ ‘Lectures are boring’ Module evaluation score: 3.05 Average mark 2007-08: 54.2

5. Music Research Skills Philosophy: Research culture instilled from level 1 Teach skills through research, not in abstract Personal tutor-led: increased small-group contact Little preparation More focussed assessment

6. Music Research Skills Student reactions: ‘The tutorials really helped me understand the topics’ ‘The exercises in the handbook were very helpful’ ‘I enjoyed devising my own research topics’ ‘Regular contact with personal tutor was really helpful’ ‘It was really interesting seeing my tutor’s own research’ ‘The skills have been really helpful in other modules’ Module evaluation score 2008-09: 4.11 (+1.06) Average mark 2008-09: 59.12 (+4.92)

7. Music Research Skills Staff reaction: ‘I think it was the most rewarding teaching I’ve ever done! Being able to take time and show students research techniques by demonstrating how I go about my own research has been a real joy.’ ‘The handbook and regular emails made delivering this module straightforward and un-taxing, allowing me to concentrate on talking about research, not admin.’ ‘I feel I know my personal tutees as scholars now, not just as students with irritating questions!’

8. Conclusions, lessons learned First-year students can thrive as budding researchers within a closely supportive environment Personal tutor-led modules have spin-off benefits far beyond the delivery of the immediate curriculum Research skills are better received in context, rather than in abstract Teaching efficiency is a complex calculation