MUSIC 2030 - Indigenous Music: Roots & Key Concepts

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2018

This course introduces students to the music of Indigenous Australia, and examines the centrality of music and interrelated expressive forms to Indigenous systems of knowledge and sociality. It explores the relationship music to Indigenous understandings of country, authority, family, spirituality and the arts across a varied range of contexts for cultural maintenance, transformation and reclamation. Students gain a critical understanding of Australian Indigenous music, as well as related scholarly literature and sources by Indigenous commentators, and are introduced to arising implications for cross-cultural discourses and research.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MUSIC 2030
    Course Indigenous Music: Roots & Key Concepts
    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
    Course Description This course introduces students to the music of Indigenous Australia, and examines the centrality of music and interrelated expressive forms to Indigenous systems of knowledge and sociality. It explores the relationship music to Indigenous understandings of country, authority, family, spirituality and the arts across a varied range of contexts for cultural maintenance, transformation and reclamation. Students gain a critical understanding of Australian Indigenous music, as well as related scholarly literature and sources by Indigenous commentators, and are introduced to arising implications for cross-cultural discourses and research.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Aaron Corn

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the centrality of music to Australian Indigenous systems of knowledge and sociality
    2. Demonstrate a working knowledge and critical understanding music’s relationship to Australian Indigenous understandings of country, authority, family, spirituality and the arts across a varied range of contexts
    3. Demonstrate a working knowledge of varied discourses on Australian Indigenous music and evaluate their implications for conducting research across cultures
    4. Demonstrate competence and confidence in verbal and written scholarly discussion about Australian Indigenous music and its cultural contextualisations
    5. Demonstrate knowledge of Australian Indigenous strategies for cultural maintenance, transformation and reclamation through music and interrelated expressive forms
    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 3
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    3, 4, 5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    3, 4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1, 2, 4, 5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 2, 3, 5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    3, 4, 5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Class notes, reading materials and web links provided in class and through MyUni.
    Recommended Resources
    University of Adelaide Library website; Online Music Resources Guide; University of Adelaide Library Referencing Guides; Writing Centre Learning Guides.
    Online Learning
    Course outlines, assignments, reading materials and web links, as well as staff–student communications and course progress feedback are provided through MyUni.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    WORKLOAD – STRUCTURED LEARNING TOTAL HOURS
    1 x 1-hour lecture per week 10 hours per semester
    1 x 2-hour seminar per week 20 hours per semester
    0.6 hours structured learning activities per week 6 hours per semester
    WORKLOAD – SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING TOTAL HOURS
    6 hours reading per week 72 hours per semester
    2 hours research per week 24 hours per semester
    2 hours assignment preparation per week 24 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    WEEK LECTURE TOPIC
    1 Introduction
    2 Nations of song
    3 Dialogues across cultures
    4 Beauty, ancestry, eternity
    5 Ceremony and sociality
    6 Tradition and transformation
    7 Roots and reclamation
    8 Music and human rights
    9 Song and struggle
    10 Summary and review
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    This set exercise includes the gathering and presentation of data for the Group presentation assessment task. Students will work in groups of 3–5 to locate and prepare online resources, and then present findings to the larger seminar group inviting discussion from fellow students.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    ASSESSMENT TASK TASK TYPE WEIGHTING COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
    Active participation Formative 10% 1, 2, 4, 5
    Group presentation Summative 20% 2, 3, 4
    Annotated bibliography Formative 30% 3, 4
    Essay Summative 40% 2, 3, 4, 5
    Assessment Detail
    Active participation: in formal classroom discussions and written exercises; class presentations; and thoughtful commenting on, reflecting on, or critiquing of content and presentations — 10% weighting

    Group presentation: a 10-min group presentation on an approved topic about music within an Australian Indigenous or associated cross-cultural context — 20% weighting

    Annotated bibliography: of 550 words on an approved essay topic about music within an Australian Indigenous or associated cross-cultural context — 30% weighting

    Essay: a 2000-word essay on an approved essay topic about music within an Australian Indigenous or associated cross-cultural context — 40% weighting
    Submission
    Online via MyUni.
    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.

  • 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.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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