https://courseoutline.auckland.ac.nz/dco/course/MUS/380/1253

MUS 380 : Creative Practice in Popular Music 5

Creative Arts and Industries

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

More advanced exploration and the continued development of ideas and processes in the creation and presentation of popular music through workshops, seminars and group discussion. Students will write songs, compose music, use music recording and production techniques and present aspects of their coursework in live performance.

Course Overview

This course will develop advanced popular music composition and performance skills and deepen each student's understanding of their personal aesthetic as a songwriter and performer.  Students will continue to further question, reflect and discuss their personal creative process, transcribe and analyse songs, engage in peer reviews. Students will also advance their knowledge of music production techniques, creative collaboration, devise and create original music videos, and deepen their ability to effectively and efficiently organise and lead rehearsals, recording sessions and the performance of original songs. Students will investigate, describe and discuss advanced popular music composition and performance techniques, ideas and concepts.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MUS 281

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 in-depth understanding and knowledge of your own creative aesthetic and demonstrate how this impacts on your creative research practice. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
  2. Develop and demonstrate initiative and personal responsibility towards developing your own music research practice including a foundational knowledge of the music industry and practical understanding of self-promotion. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  3. Discuss, reflect and justify upon how your creative practice engages with cultural, political, global, historical and ecological contexts through different media and organise a portfolio that evidences your process. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  4. Produce clearly laidout and accurate written scores, charts and lyric sheets encompassing a broad range of song structures, styles and layouts, including charting for recording sessions. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
  5. Develop and demonstrate an in-depth understanding of self-reflection and the value of developing an independent personal creative process. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
  6. Demonstrate and apply an advanced understanding of vocal and instrumental arrangement techniques and how to apply these in a range of situations, for example, accompanying a film or in a musical theatre context. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
  7. Critically analyse and discuss their own creative work and the creative work of other songwriters and musicians. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.2)
  8. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and knowledge of efficient and focused practice and rehearsal techniques (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  9. Demonstrate and apply an in-depth 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, 7.1 and 8.1)
  10. Demonstrate and apply an advanced understanding of music production techniques used in the recording and sound production of demo arrangements and recordings. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Creative Practice Assignments 50% Group & Individual Coursework
Creative Practice Performance Assessment 30% Group & Individual Coursework
General Coursework 20% Individual Coursework
3 types 100%
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Creative Practice Assignments
Creative Practice Performance Assessment
General Coursework
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.

In-Class Technical Assessments
During this course there will be regular in-class technical assessments, each worth between 1 and 3 percent of the final grade. To receive credit students must attend the scheduled lecture or tutorial and complete the assessment in-class. Students are required to be present to complete these assessments. In-class Technical Assessments will typically test students’ knowledge of specific techniques such as composition, arrangement, music theory, and/or music production. During the assessment students will demonstrate their knowledge by completing a range of activities, such as completing written tests and/or creative exercises conducted in group breakouts.
In-Class Draft and Demo Songwriting Assessments
During this course there will be regular in-class draft and demo songwriting assessments each worth between 1 and 3 percent of the final grade. To receive credit for these assessments students must first submit a recording and a chord chart/lyric sheet of their creative work by the due date. The purpose of these assessments is to provide students with formative feedback on their creative work and to encourage the development of a robust creative practice. These formative assessments will only take place during a scheduled lecture or tutorial. Students will only receive credit if they submit their draft or demo by the due date.

Teaching & Learning Methods

This course will be delivered by way of weekly creative practice lectures, music production tutorials, one-on-one tutorials, and every few weeks, a performance workshop. The curriculum design and its rationale is intended to prepare students for the final Popular Music creative practice course, MUS 381. The course’s long term goal is to assist students to begin a career in the music industry, as a songwriter, performer, recording artist and/or music industry administrator.

During this course, students will compose songs and song arrangements applying a prescribed set of composition techniques and songwriting parameters. The inclusion of these parameters is designed to focus and advance each student’s skill base. The effectiveness of their composition process is assessed through the successful completion of songs, recordings, charts, notated scores and analyses, live performances and via thoughtful 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 Thursday afternoon visiting artist workshops is designed to help students keep abreast with the demands and skill set required of an established industry professional.

While writing a portfolio of new songs and arrangements, students are encouraged to continue to consider and explore a broad range of musical and literary ideas that will at times sit outside their current musical reference points, where appropriate incorporating these new ideas into their own songwriting and performance practices to help refine their own personal and distinctive style.

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, 12 hours of music production tutorials, 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

Course delivery is Campus Experience.

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 and composing techniques will be taught using Logic Pro software and may be assessed via the same platform. Private ownership of 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 and Participation
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. 

Mental and Physical Wellbeing
The School of Music takes the mental and physical wellbeing 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, 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.