MUS 287 Popular Music Theory and Musicianship 2 - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Further training in practical musicianship and contemporary music writing skills pertinent to a popular music practitioner. Continued development of aural recognition skills with an emphasis on musical analysis skills.

Course Overview

This course aims to build upon the theoretical knowledge base gained in earlier theory papers by exploring techniques to deconstruct music and text from a variety of musical styles in order to identify signicant characteristics or trends in composition and lyric writing. Students are encouraged to apply the observed principles in a creative context through the practice of transcription and research assignments, and be able to discuss the techniques used in their own compositions in reference to precedents found in the existing popular canon using a common vocabulary of musical nomenclature.

It further develops an understanding of how core music theory concepts are utilized within the popular song framework with a continued emphasis on transcription and an introduction to research presentation as a means of conveying the function and intent of the music.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MUS 284 Restriction: MUS 285

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Analyse and discuss the interaction of text and music with emphasis on complementary and juxtaposing musical devices. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
Identify and and discuss arrangement techniques commonly utilised within contemporary song construction including Strophic, 32 Bar, Verse-Chorus, Through Composed and their variants. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
Identify and discuss orchestration techniques commonly utilised within contemporary song construction including popular rhythm section instrumentation, layering, modern studio production, vocals, ensemble horns and wind instruments. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 7.1)
Identify and discuss reharmonization techniques utilized within popular music works, including diatonic, non-diatonic, tritonesubstitute, diminished, symmetrical, secondary dominant, chromatic and parallel techniques. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
Identify and notate from dictation complex rhythms, chord progressions, melodies, intervals and chord sequences. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Assignments	60%	Individual Coursework
Assignments	40%	Group & Individual Coursework
2 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4	5
Assignments
Assignments

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 and, if available, 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

Students will use their vocabulary of scales, chords and rhythms to analyse and comment on music with a special emphasis on the harmonically rich modern eras post WWII (circa 1950s to the present). Class activities include aural transcription, dissection, and discussion of popular music writing and the exploration of cultural location as an inuence on music composition. The students own composing skills are tested within a strict set of guidelines reecting the techniques and devices explored in the lectures and are framed alongside examples of historic classical precedents. This course continues to investigate the options and logistics students require for capturing and transmitting musical ideas including analytical methods to detect plagiarism and the use of research to illustrate musical invention. Cultural, professional and pedagogical aesthetics are explored with an understanding that today’s popular music is built on a rich foundation of both physical scientic constants and the intellectual artistry of our classical forebears.

This course consists of a weekly two-hour music theory and aural awareness lecture. Analysis, theory and aural exercises are undertaken in class and online discussion platforms. Assignments include song transcriptions, research exercises, and presentations on plagiarism. These will need to be completed on time according to a publicized schedule. Though all handouts and assignments will be uploaded to CANVAS at the end of each week, students are required to take notes during classes as many of the topics taught encourage further discussion that may be relevant to testing in future assessments. CANVAS and Dropbox are also used to upload relevant articles, examples and links to popular music as it is released.

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 reading and thinking about the content and 56 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including lessons/tutorials/workshops to receive credit for components of the course.

The course may include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a weekly timetable.

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.

Access to a Logic DAW is required to complete assignments. Access to Logic is via the KMC computer lab but students are advised to also have access to Logic off-campus.

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

Requests for extensions of time must be submitted and approved using the online Extension of Time Application form available on Canvas. Students should notify the Course Director/Course Coordinator of their situation as soon as practicable, and preferably before any due date. Notifications received after an assessment due date will be accepted, where this is reasonable, within the context of the course. If possible, students are encouraged to seek medical, counselling or other support from the most appropriate sources.

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.

Capability 3:	Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4:	Critical Thinking
Capability 5:	Solution Seeking
Capability 6:	Communication
Capability 7:	Collaboration

MUS 287 : Popular Music Theory and Musicianship 2

Creative Arts and Industries

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)