MUSPMACT 1011 - Compositional Studies 1A
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code MUSPMACT 1011 Course Compositional Studies 1A Coordinating Unit Elder Conservatorium of Music Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Restrictions Priority is given to Bachelor of Music students but course is available to non-music students (by audition) Assessment Creative portfolio 60%, Journal 20%, Written exam 20% Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Luke Harrald
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
Through successfully completing this course, students will develop:
1) A basic understanding of compositional and music production principles;
2) An understanding of contemporary popular music idioms;
3) Creativity and individuality as an artist, which enables student development of their own compositional voice; and
4) A cogent and quality creative portfolio in recorded and notated formats.University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1, 2 The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1, 2 An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 3, 4 A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 4 A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1, 2, 3, 4 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
• Class handouts and weekly materials placed on MyUni.
• USB 2.0 Stick or portable hard drive with enough capacity to store files associated with the course and formatted as HFS+ (OSX) or FAT (Windows – Do not use NTFS).
• Stereo headphones with a 6.5mm male adaptor.
Note – students must bring both their USB storage and Headphones (with adaptor) to university, as they are required for using the EMU Audio Suite.Recommended Resources
Reading
Beall, Eric (2009) The Billboard Guide to Writing and Producing Songs that Sell. Billboard Books: Crown Publishing Group, New York.
Blume, Jason (1999) Six Steps to Songwriting Success. Billboard Books: Crown Publishing Group, New York.
Braheny, John (2006) The Craft and Business of Songwriting. Writer’s Digest Books, F+W Publications, Cincinnati.
Chase, Wayne. (2006) How Music Really Works. Roedy Black Publishing, Vancouver.
Covach, John (2009) What’s that sound: an introduction to rock music and its history. Second edition. W.W. Norton & Company, New York.
Kachulis, Jimmy (2005) The Songwriters Workshop: Harmony. Berklee Press, Boston.
Perricone, Jack (2000) Melody in Songwriting: Tools and techniques for Writing Hit Songs. Berklee Press, Boston.
Webb, Jimmy (1998) Tunesmith – inside the art of songwriting. Hyperion, New York.
Wood, Clement (1936) The Complete Rhyming Dictionary and Poet’s Craft Book. Dell Publishing, New York.
Websites
Gary Ewers – The essential secrets of songwriting
http://secretsofsongwriting.com/index.html
Rhymer – a free online rhyming dictionary
http://www.rhymer.com
Logic Pro resources
http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/resources/
Library
The Music Library located in the Hartley building is an excellent source for music, literature and recordings: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/branch/eml/
Music Resources Guide
The Music Resources Guide contains quick links to key music databases for scholarly research and online listening. It also contains links to websites of publicly available online scores, collected editions, and professional associations. Here too you can find a regularly updated list of new books, scores, CDs and DVDs available in the Elder Music Library: http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/music.Online Learning
This Course Profile, along with learning materials and assessment will be placed on MyUni – refer to http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
The course structure and content is delivered through a range of classes and materials. Class delivery modes include a weekly seminar, tutorial and practical workshop. The classes in this course use a format where students are presented with theoretical and/ or practical content through the seminar. The theoretical content creates a topic framework that students will expand through discussions and exercises in the tutorial, and practically through the workshop. Students will also be expected to further expand the topics presented through using out-of-class resources in their own time. The resources will compliment, reinforce and extend the concepts presented.
The classes provide theoretical explanations of composition and song writing techniques; discussion of their creative and technical application in various styles and genres; and their practical application to creativity and production through supervised sessions using music technology.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
Seminar 1 x 12 hours per week
= 12 hours per semester
Tutorial 1 x 12 hours per week
= 12 hours per semester
Workshop 1 x 12 hours per week
= 12 hours per semester
Reading 3 x 12 hours per week
= 36 hours per semester
Practice 4 x 12 hours per week
= 48 hours per semester
Self initiated learning & research 3 x 12 hours per week
= 36 hours per semester
= 156 hours per semesterLearning Activities Summary
The course structure and content will examine the areas below through weekly theoretical and/or practical demonstrations and exploration. The following list of topics is supplied as a guide, and may change depending on needs arising through the semester. Further detail regarding weekly content can be found on MyUni.
Semester 1 Topics
Week 1 – Introduction to Song Writing and The Creative Process
Week 2 – Song Form
Week 3 – Lyrics Part 1
Week 4 – Melody Part 1
Week 5 –Portfolio Overview / Writing to a Brief
Week 6 – Harmony Part 1
Week 7 – Rhythm
Week 8 – Lyrics Part 2
Week 9 – Melody Part 2
Week 10 – Harmony Part 2
Week 11 – Active Listening Session
Week 12 – Revision for ExamSpecific Course Requirements
EMU Facilities Access Provisions
This course will involve using the resources of the Electronic Music Unit (EMU). This includes facilities such as studios, recording spaces and digital audio workstations. For more information about these facilities and how to make bookings go to the EMU website: http://www.emu.adelaide.edu.au/
Access and use of EMU is based upon the following:
Users must complete and pass the EMU Guide Assessment (EGA). In order to pass the EGA users must receive a 90% or above grade. Users will have a maximum of 3 attempts at passing the EGA before being prohibited from taking the assessment further. If a user fails to pass the EGA after 3 attempts, or doesn’t pass by the end of week 4 of the course, they will not be permitted to continue the course and won’t be provided access or permission to use any of the EMU facilities.
Users agree to and sign the EMU User Agreement (EUA). Users found in breach of the EUA will automatically have their access and booking privileges suspended. An initial breach will result in a 4-week suspension. Any subsequent breach will result in suspension until the start of the next academic year. Information is available on the EMU website: https://www.emu.adelaide.edu.au/intranet/emu_guide/
Other Expectations
Except where otherwise indicated by the lecturer, tutor or workshop instructor – mobile phones, laptops, PDAs, recording devices and other similar technology must be switched off before lessons or classes begin, and kept off for the duration. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
ASSESSMENT Semester 1 Name Type Due % Learning Outcomes Journal Summative Mid-Semester Break & Week 13 20 1, 2 Portfolio Summative Week 14 60 2, 3 Exam Summative Week 15 20 1, 3, 4 Assessment Related Requirements
Expectation & Penalty
As per Conservatorium policy, active and positive participation in 100% of classes is expected, any student who attends less than 100% of required classes without approved leave may result in a 5 (five) mark penalty for each unapproved absence. The penalties will be applied to the final total percentage mark for the year for the relevant component i.e. after all other assessments have been completed and calculated. Arrival after the scheduled starting time or departure before the scheduled finishing time may, at the lecturer or Co-ordinator’s discretion, be regarded as an unapproved absence.
Leave
The Conservatorium recognises that extenuating circumstances may occasionally affect a student’s ability to participate in a rehearsal, workshop, class, lecture, tutorial or performance. In such cases leave may, upon application using the leave form (available from the Music Office Hartley Building G05), be approved by the relevant staff member.Assessment Detail
ASSESSMENT Semester 1 Name Detail Journal Students will complete a weekly journal reflecting on their experiences applying the techniques presented in class - or on their use of technology - to their song writing and composing. The journal will include a critical reflection on students’ song writing and composing of approximately 100-150 words per week, informed by readings from the reading list and musical examples listened to in seminars and tutorials. It will also include tutorial exercises. The Journal gives context to each student’s creative portfolio, and will be completed online via a wordpress blog. Portfolio The Portfolio represents the major practical assessment for the semester and will involve the creation of a minimum of two songs, one of which will be a set work; ie. students will be required to write to a brief. Students will utilise sequencing software and production techniques demonstrated in the workshop in the creation of their songs. All creative works will be required to be recorded for submission, either through groups assigned in Popular Music Ensemble (MUSPMCT 1111) or alternatively students may organise their own groups. Exam The exam will cover the theoretical aspects of the course presented though out the semester. The exam will be 90 minutes in duration. Submission
Assessments and Exams
Students must be available during the identified University teaching, academic and examination periods. Students are not entitled to sit an examination or submit an assessment at another time, nor are they entitled to any other concessions if an examination or assessment conflicts with a planned vacation or special event. Results from assessments and examinations are usually sent to students via email and/or myUni.
Late Submission
Assignments which are submitted after the due date and time will incur a 5% penalty (from the assignment total of 100%) per day (24 hour period) for a maximum of 4 days (weekend days included). After this time the assignment will not be marked for assessment or feedback. Note – this does not apply to assessments where the assessment is conducted at a fixed time and location, such as an exam, practical test, performance or presentation.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- International Student Support
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
- YouX Student Care - Advocacy, confidential counselling, welfare support and advice
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.
The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.