MUS 162 : Introduction to Music Teaching and Learning

Creative Arts and Industries

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A conceptual and practical introduction to music teaching and learning in its various forms and contexts. A survey of the field including studio pedagogy, music education methods, school music, community music, lesson planning, composition and improvisation pedagogy, and foundational knowledge of music teaching and learning.

Course Overview

Building upon students’ musicianship and music education experiences so far, this course stimulates curiosity about music education, raises awareness of issues in music education, and opens up the possibility of future pathways in this field. This course introduces foundational concepts and practices in music teaching and learning and offers the opportunity to explore and become critically familiar with various music-teaching contexts. A survey of the eld will provide the opportunity to learn about contemporary music educational settings in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and elsewhere. The course is organised into four modules; each focused on specific aspects of a broad topic area. There are 12 weekly 2-hour interactive on-campus classes, each supplemented by weekly readings using the social learning platform Perusall. The reading programme is a compulsory aspect of the course and constitutes one of the assessment tasks.

Course Requirements

Restriction: MUS 160

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. Critically reflect on one's own experiences of music education. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 4.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.2)
  2. Articulate and discuss a range of purposes and functions that music education may serve in a variety of settings/contexts. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  3. Identify and critically reflect upon widely available digital software and instructional material relevant to music education. (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 8.2)
  4. Discuss and critically evaluate the relationship of different perspectives and knowledge about music education to specific teaching practices and settings. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.2, 4.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  5. Identify and describe relevance and applicability of skills, knowledge and dispositions acquired within music education, to a range of other contexts. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Readings 30% Individual Coursework
In-class group activities 20% Individual Coursework
Assignments 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Readings
In-class group activities
Assignments

Students must complete readings via Perusall with an average grade of at least 60%, participate in a minimum of 60% of the in-class activities and achieve a final grade of at least 50% to pass the course.

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.


Next Offered

Semester 2 2025

Teaching & Learning Methods

The course will combine classes, which include interactive discussions and activities with required reading and viewing using the social learning platform Perusall. The course is designed to develop theoretical knowledge about the possible purposes/rationales for music education, practical know-how in music education, and the ability to apply this knowledge to particular settings and contexts.

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. Students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course they are enrolled in. For this course, you can expect 24 hours of interactive classes,  up to 40 hours of engagement with required reading and viewing, and, 86 hours related to further reading, study and the completion of assessment tasks.


Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in a blended learning delivery mode, i.e. it has both an on-campus and an online component 

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled on-campus interactive classes to complete course components. Participation in in-class group work is expected.

Recordings of interactive classes are not available. Material presented in the class will be made available via Canvas.

The on-campus classes for this course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Online

Weekly readings will be assigned using Perusall, an asynchronous social learning platform. Participation in this aspect of the course is required.

Where possible, study material will be released progressively throughout the course.

This course runs to the University semester timetable, and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

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.

Required readings are accessible in Perusall accessed via the Canvas 'Assignments'.  All required readings (and suggested further reading) will also be available via Canvas 'Reading lists'.  Lecture material, recommended readings, and links to web-based resources will be communicated via Canvas.


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.

The use of Perusall as a social reading tool will continue to be refined and developed  in MUS 162 in 2023. Attention will be paid to ensure assessment tasks are clearly communicated using Canvas 'Assignment Task descriptions', providing accompanying rubrics  and by discussing the requirements of each assignment task in 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.