MUS 104 : Music Literacies

Creative Arts and Industries

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The development of music theory, aural skills and perception necessary to be an effective musician. The study of basic theory, harmony, analysis, aural perception and musicianship with exemplars from classical, jazz and popular music genres. Includes a choral component.

Course Overview

This course aims to provide students with foundational knowledge and practical skills in the areas of music theory and musicianship. Basic musical materials – rhythm and metre, melody, harmony, texture and timbre – will be examined from theoretical, aural and performance perspectives. As a result, this course aims to offer a holistic approach that combines music theory with aural training and singing. The course is taken by all stage 1 music students and provides a broad background of music theory and musicianship in a variety of musical contexts.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MUS 103

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Music

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of concepts in basic music theory with respect to the students' chosen specialisation. (Capability 3.1, 5.1 and 6.1)
  2. Demonstrate aural and musicianship skills including rhythmic and melodic dictation, recognition of intervals, chords and chord sequences, accurately perform rhythms and melodies by sight. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 7.1)
  3. Demonstrate competency in performance within a musical ensemble, through participation in an Applied Musicianship Workshop. In addition to musicianship skills this includes ensemble skills including reliability, punctuality, collaboration and rehearsal etiquette. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  4. Develop competency in basic aural tasks using the aural training software Auralia (Capability 3.1 and 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Formative Quiz - Week 3 Individual Coursework
Quizzes 30% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test
Applied Musicianship 20% Individual Coursework
Auralia /Aural Testing (ongoing) 30% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Formative Quiz - Week 3
Quizzes
Test
Applied Musicianship
Auralia /Aural Testing (ongoing)

Owing to its practical nature, attendance at Applied Musicianship Workshops is classed as compulsory coursework. If you miss more than TWO sessions without independent evidence such as a medical note you will not be eligible to participate in any planned performance, and you will not be eligible to sit or take part in any Applied Musicianship assessments or tests (20%). It is your personal responsibility to sign the participation registers, which will be available at every class.

Assignments are to be submitted, according to submission type specified on CANVAS, by the due date. If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, please complete an application for extension form at the following link

https://www.forms.auckland.ac.nz/en/student/creative-arts-and-industries/te-whare-o-ng_-pkrero-poro---school-of-music-undergraduate-exten.html

You must submit your extension application as early as possible before the assignment due date.

 Late assignments that do not have an approved extension will be penalised 10% for each day or part thereof and will be automatically deducted on CANVAS. No assignment will be accepted after that assignment has been returned to students.



Teaching & Learning Methods

Learning and teaching methods consist of:

  • Lectures - two lectures per week (1 hour each)
  • Workshop -  weekly applied musicianship workshop (1 hour)
  • Lecture preparation which may include video recordings, practice worksheets, individual study of lecture material
  • Weekly practice on aural training software Auralia

Students may also contact lecturers for individual assistance through individual office hours or by appointment as notified by each lecturer.

Exam Mode


  • There is no final exam for this course

Further information about exams can be found at https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/about-exams.html

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures,  70 hours of listening, auralia practice, reading and thinking about the content, 45 hours of work on assignment/test preparation, and 12 hours attendance at applied musicianship workshops including any associated rehearsals as notified at the beginning of semester.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is strongly recommended at all scheduled activities including lectures, tutorials and applied musicianship workshop to achieve successful results in the course.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable, other than any specially arranged rehearsals or performances, which will be notified at the beginning of semester.


Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

In addition to self-directed study of lecture material and supplied theory worksheets, students are expected to practice regularly on  Auralia Aural Training software.


Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This course has recently been resigned to allow for greater depth and focus into each specialisation during weeks 1-12.

Other Information

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all lectures and complete all associated lecture preparation.  

Attendance at Applied Musicianship Workshops is classed as compulsory coursework. If you miss more than TWO sessions without independent evidence such as a medical note you will not be eligible to participate in any planned performance and you will not be eligible to sit or take part in any Applied Musicianship assessment or test (20%). It is your personal responsibility to sign the participation registers, which will be available at every class.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.