MUS 381 : Creative Practice in Popular Music 6
Creative Arts and Industries
2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)
Course Overview
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and knowledge of your own creative aesthetic and demonstrate how this impacts on your (i) ability to promote your music online and (ii) your creative research practice. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Articulate and demonstrate initiative and personal responsibility towards your own musical research practice and the promotion of your original music by way of the creation of music video and the use of social media. (Capability 1, 2 and 5)
- 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, 2, 4 and 6)
- Produce clearly laid out and accurate written scores, charts and lyric sheets encompassing a broad range of song structures, styles and layouts, including charting for recording sessions. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
- Develop and demonstrate an in-depth understanding of self-reflection and the value of developing an independent personal creative process. (Capability 1, 2 and 5)
- Demonstrate and apply an advanced understanding of vocal and instrumental arrangement techniques. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Critically analyse and discuss your own creative work and the creative work of other songwriters and musicians. (Capability 1, 2 and 4)
- Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and knowledge of efficient and focused practice and rehearsal techniques (Capability 1 and 2)
- 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 1, 2 and 4)
- Demonstrate and apply an advanced understanding of music production techniques used in the recording and sound production of demo arrangements and recordings. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Practice Assignments | 50% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Creative Practice Performance Assessment | 30% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| General Coursework | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Music Production Coursework | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 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 | ||||||||||
| Music Production Coursework | ||||||||||
To pass this course all assignments and coursework must be completed no later than the end of week 12 (unless by prior arrangement with the Course Coordinator).
General Coursework
Students participation and contribution at all course lectures, workshops and tutorials are essential and will be assessed throughout the course, in particular, written and verbal peer reviews delivered via Canvas and in person.
Late Assignments
Assignments are to be submitted, according to 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 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. If necessary, other course-customised information specific can be inserted underneath this policy in this section.
Teaching & Learning Methods
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.
Workload Expectations
For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, 10 hours of music production tutorials, 96 hours to complete weekly exercises, creative assignments and daily practice and research, and 20 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 a weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Health & Safety
Students need to exercise care by ensuring they adequately warm up their singing voice 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.
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) 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. Unplanned absences relating to illness, bereavement, or other emergencies can only be excused with appropriate evidence from the University doctor, counsellor or another official source. It is students’ personal responsibility to make up all work missed, as individual catch-up classes will not be available.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.