MUS 280 : Creative Practice in Popular Music 3
Creative Arts and Industries
2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course will develop a deeper understanding of popular music composition and performance skills while at the same time encourage further exploration and development of personal songwriting and composition aesthetic. Students will be asked to regularly question, reflect and share analysis of their personal creative process, engage in written and verbal peer review, transcribe and analyse their songs, as well as the songs of others, and study and develop advanced techniques as stage performers and communicators. Students will also advance their knowledge of creative collaboration, the notation of chord charts, lyric sheets and scores, and refine and build their ability to effectively plan and organise the rehearsal, recording and performance of their original songs. On a weekly basis, students will be asked to investigate, describe and discuss popular music composition and performance techniques, ideas and concepts.
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 |
Learning Outcomes
- Develop and demonstrate a deeper understanding of skills that enhance creative self-reflection, creative process and creative research practices. (Capability 1.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
- Further demonstrate personal initiative in your own independent musical research practice. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
- Compose songs and music in a contemporary popular style that employ a wide range of metric and rhythmic structures, textual constructs, harmonic/modal and melodic techniques, and forms (structures). (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Develop and demonstrate the skills needed to effectively compose a wide range of popular music composition techniques, such as single-note vocal melodies, through composed compositions, vocal chorus hooks and irregular meters. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
- Demonstrate an understanding of more advanced word setting skills for songs. Students will focus on developing the skills needed to compose lyrics for songs that comment on things such as social issues, employ descriptive language and personification techniques and narratives about interpersonal relationships. (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
- Evaluate and reflect upon how your creative practice engages with different cultural, social, and political contexts. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
- Develop and demonstrate a deeper understanding of the skills required to produce clear and accurate written rehearsal charts and musical scores, in particular, those that can be sight-read by a group of professional players (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
- Develop and demonstrate a good understanding of instrumental arrangement techniques and music production and recording techniques. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
- Critically analyse and describe with increasing accuracy one’s own creative work and the creative work of fellow students, other songwriters and musicians (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
- Develop and demonstrate a deeper understanding of vocal and instrumental performance techniques that contribute to and enhance the presentation and communication of the student’s original songs and compositions. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| General Coursework | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Creative Practice Assignments | 50% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Creative Practice Performance Assessment | 30% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| General Coursework | ||||||||||
| Creative Practice Assignments | ||||||||||
| Creative Practice Performance Assessment | ||||||||||
Assignments are to be submitted, according to the submission type specified on CANVAS, by the due date. In the event of illness or other circumstances that prevent completing an assignment, please contact the course coordinator with independent evidence as appropriate before 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
During this course, students will compose songs and song arrangements individually and collaboratively applying a prescribed set of composition techniques and songwriting parameters. The inclusion of these parameters is designed to continue focusing and advancing each student’s skill base. The effectiveness of their composition process is assessed through the successful completion of exercises, songs, recordings, charts, notated scores and analyses, live performances and via thoughtful peer review and written reflection.
Throughout the course, students will participate in group sessions and practical workshops to analyse specific vocal and instrumental performance techniques; students are expected to practice and apply these techniques on a regular basis during their self-directed study time. Contact with professional popular music practitioners by way of attendance, and at times, participation in the weekly afternoon visiting artist workshops is designed to help students keep abreast with the demands and skill set required of an established industry professional.
The Creative Practice Performance Assessment at the end of the semester will provide an opportunity for students to perform a selection of their MUS 280 original songs to a wider audience.
Workload Expectations
For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, 12 hours of tutorials and songwriting assessments, 96 hours to complete weekly exercises, creative assignments and daily practice and research, and 18 hours to prepare and rehearse for songwriting ensemble concerts.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials and workshops to complete components of the course.
Learning activities including seminars and tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course may include live online events including tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the songwriting and performance assessments.
The activities for the course are scheduled as three-week modules.
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.
Students need to have ready access off-campus to their primary instrument and/or guitar/piano/keys. We strongly advise students to have ready access off-campus to a microphone, a basic audio interface, a computer and computer DAW software to record their original songs and arrangements. Music production techniques will be taught using Logic Pro software. Ready access to recording equipment and Logic Pro software is not compulsory to complete the coursework—this software is available on the School of Music's computer lab computers, however, it is highly recommended.
Health & Safety
Students need to exercise care by ensuring they adequately warm up their singing voice, hands and fingers before all rehearsals, recording sessions, performance assessments and class-based song presentations.
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.
Students will have earlier access to upcoming assessment overviews and resources
Other Information
Attendance in class, as well as engagement with course activities and readings, is vital to academic success. Owing to the nature of music teaching and learning, consistent attendance is essential at all lectures, tutorials and studio lessons. Students must make every effort to attend class and complete all the necessary in-class requirements. Students are encouraged to talk or communicate with the course coordinator if they have any personal issues, health issues, or financial problems that are affecting their ability to effectively study and complete assignments on time. All planned absences (such as overseas and national tours, family events, or major work-related commitments) of two weeks or more must be pre-approved by the Head of School. If approval is given, all Course Coordinators, tutors and other teachers must be informed of your absence in advance.
Mental and Physical Wellbeing
The School of Music takes the mental and physical well-being of its students and staff seriously. If you are aware of a situation in which someone’s welfare is compromised, you must alert the Course Coordinator. The University counselling service can offer advice on mental health. Student Disability Services can advise and advocate for students with medical disabilities. Please liaise with SDS about disability accommodations well in advance of assignment due dates or tests.
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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
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
In the event of an 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. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.