MUS 383 : Popular Music Recording and Production

Creative Arts and Industries

2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A project-based course for Popular Music majors that involves students recording and producing their own work using performance, arranging and technology skills. Students also learn how to plan and manage their own recording and production project.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MUS 380 Restriction: JAZZ 332

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
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Music

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of how to accurately complete pre-production tasks 
in preparation for a multi-track recording session in a studio. 
 (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Prepare, plan and execute a recording project in a recording studio 
environment. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Work effectively in collaboration with other writers, musicians and recording engineers. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Demonstrate a foundational understanding of music postproduction skills such as drum 
editing and mixing a multi-track recording (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  5. Produce clearly and accurately written charts and lyric sheets (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  6. Describe and analyse accurately and coherently their own creative and recording work 
and the work of fellow students and other songwriters and musicians (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 90% Group & Individual Coursework
Practical studio assessment 10% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Assignments
Practical studio assessment

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.

Teaching & Learning Methods

During this course, students will plan, prepare for and manage an independent recording project. The effectiveness of the management of this recording project is assessed through the completion of pre and postproduction tasks, the report written by the engineer recording and supervising the session, the student's written analysis and review of the whole project from start to finish and the review by lecturers of the recorded track at the end of the course.
During the course, students will attend lectures where they will discuss, consider and evaluate alternative recording options, attend music production tutorials and complete set of pre-production and editing tasks. Students are encouraged to research and analyse a range of alternative recording and music production options ultimately choosing the one that best suits their musical style, musical needs and music production skill level at this point. Through discussion and review of the options chosen by fellow students, they will be able to consider and evaluate a range of recording methods.
During the course students will participate in group sessions and practical tutorials to analyse and learn specific techniques; students are expected to practice and apply these techniques on a regular basis during their self-directed study time. Contact with recording engineers is promoted to assist students to keep abreast with skills required when collaborating and working with an established industry professional.

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 8 hours of lectures, 4 hours of tutorials, 12 hours of studio sessions, 63 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 63 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials/studios/clinics to complete components of the course.
Lectures may be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars/tutorials/labs/studios may be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.

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

Learning Resources

Recommended Reading

Mixing with Your Mind
Michael Stavrov Self-published, 2008 www.mixingwithyourmind.com Making Music: The Guide to Writing, Performing and Recording George Martin
William Morrow and Company, 1983
Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio
Mike Senior
ISBN-13: 978-0240815800 Focal Press, Elsevier, 2011 Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Studios
Cogan, Jim; Clark, William,
ISBN 0-8118-3394-1
San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2003.
Studio Stories - How the Great New York Records Were Made
Simons, David
San Francisco: Backbeat Books, 2004. Mix Magazine Magazine Sound on Sound Magazine

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.

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.

Published on 04/02/2021 09:31 a.m.