MUS 149G : Rock to Reggae: Tracking Popular Music in New Zealand

Creative Arts and Industries

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to New Zealand’s home-grown popular music, from the 1950s to the present day. A broad range of musical styles will be considered and situated within various social contexts. The issue of cultural identity in music – at national and local levels – will also be explored.

Course Overview

Because popular music often reflects and sometimes shapes the society around it, this course will look at a broad sweep of New Zealand popular music from the mid 1940s to the present day in the context of New Zealand society, and the cultural, musical, social trends and political factors which informed it.
The aims of this course are: To enhance students' knowledge and understanding of New Zealand popular music from World War II to the present. A broad range of musical styles and genres and their historical significance and wider contexts will be discussed in relation to notions of cultural identity in music at national and local levels. To assist students to form an appreciation of how distinctive musical genres and trends emerged in New Zealand which adopted and adapted overseas models. On completion of this course, students are expected to be able to: Recognize New Zealand musical artists and works from a range of popular music genres, discuss some musical aspects of those works, and relate them to the broader contexts of New Zealand culture and society. Discuss notions of national culture and identity in New Zealand music, referring to specific examples where appropriate. Have an understanding of New Zealand popular music history, and contextualize it in New Zealand’s social and political history since World War II.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Semester Availability

The lecturer for this course is Graham Reid
g.reid@auckland.ac.nz

Lectures are Tuesdays 3 - 5pm Room 201N-352 (Social Sciences Building, next to the School of Music)

Course Co-ordinator

Nancy November
n.november@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Graduate Profile: University

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify and discuss the work of important popular music artists who emerged in Aotearoa/New Zealand from the 50s onward and to be able to relate them to the cultural and social context of their period (Capability 1 and 2) (Capability 1 and 2)
  2. Display a knowledge of the diverse genres which emerged during this recent period and how some of them are reflected in the popular music of today. (Capability 1, 2 and 4)
  3. Recognise multiple musical possibilities as a means of expression by artists, songwriters and performers, and be able to apply this to diverse areas of popular music. (Capability 2, 3 and 4)
  4. Develop and present informed viewpoints or interpretations of music, share knowledge, and engage and collaborate constructively with others where required. (Capability 1, 4 and 5)
  5. Take responsibility for personal and professional development and independent study, and demonstrate integrity in work presented. (Capability 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Listening Test #1 5% Individual Coursework
Listening Test #2 5% Individual Coursework
Essay 15% Individual Coursework
Essay 15% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 60% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Listening Test #1
Listening Test #2
Essay
Essay
Final Exam

Pass Requirements

A pass in this paper is 50%, a total derived from the 100% possible (ie. 50/100).
Assignments are to be submitted, according to submission type specified on CANVAS, by the due date. In the event of illness or other circumstances which prevent the completion of an assignment, please contact the course coordinator with evidence as appropriate, prior to the due date. Late assignments that do not have an approved extension will be penalized 10% for each day or part thereof. No assignment will be accepted after that assignment has been returned to students.



Teaching & Learning Methods

This course will be delivered by 12 two-hour lectures on dates shown above. There will be a five-minute break when appropriate around the middle of the two hours. Lectures will involve relevant notes, visual material (video clips, images) as well as music being played to illustrate key points, artists and styles.

The course is loosely chronological so students may see a progression of ideas by artists and in genres (styles) across the decades from the 1950s to the present day.

The music and artists will be placed within the context of their time so there will be links made to New Zealand life, politics, art and culture at that time. The course does not require any prior musical knowledge but will expect students to listen and read beyond what is said in class.

There are no tutorials for this course.

The lectures will be recorded and readily available to students but it is advisable that students attend class as other information will not be captured by the recording.

There are two listening assignments and the format of these will be explained in advance, but the purpose of these is to test students’ ability to identify certain pieces of music or key artists who have been discussed in class.

There is one written assignment which will test students’ ability to research and read around a topic mentioned in class and to refine ideas down to a word limit.

Appointments to see the lecturer outside class time can be made via e-mail and a mutually agreeable time can be made. Students wishing to do this should e-mail the lecturer with a few options of times.
The lecturer will be available for one-to-one discussion with any student who requires that. The lecturer also arrives early and stays after lectures if any student just a quick query.

Learning Resources

There is no set textbook for this course. The lecturer will provide details of how to access listening material as well as provide an extensive reading list and links to relevant websites.

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, 10 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 24 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation. Students are strongly advised to spend at least two hours per week revising material from the previous week's lecture (which may also involve listening to lecture recording and further note taking around key points).

Digital 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.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

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 at 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.

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.

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).

In the event of unexpected disruption

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.

Copyright Warning Notice

This material is protected by copyright and has been copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may not sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of this course pack/material to any other person. Where provided to you in electronic format, you may only print from it for your own private study and research. Failure to comply with the terms of this warning may expose you to legal action for copyright infringement and/or disciplinary action by the University.

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.

Published on 08/07/2020 02:36 p.m.