MUS 715 : Advanced Sonic Arts

Creative Arts and Industries

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examination of a wide range of advanced sound-based compositional techniques including multichannel acousmatic music, live sonic arts, algorithmic music, sonic art in the natural environment, visual music and interactive installation.

Course Overview

The course provides students with engagement in practice-led research within the field of sonic arts. Individually negotiated research projects will be undertaken through the study of advanced techniques, repertoire and expert domain literature. The research will be assessed through conference-style presentation, as will preparatory studies together with a final composition illustrating and illuminated by the research.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MUS 315

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the conceptual and theoretical bases of research methods suitable for sonic arts-based research. (Capability 3.1, 4.1 and 6.1)
  2. Apply methodological knowledge to sonic arts research problems and designs. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1)
  3. Demonstrate and apply a range of advanced technological solutions to technical problems within the context of individually negotiated sonic arts projects. (Capability 4.1, 5.1 and 8.1)
  4. Develop and demonstrate a range of innovative solutions to aesthetic problems within the context of individually negotiated sonic arts projects. (Capability 3.1 and 4.1)
  5. Create and refine a short sonic artwork (study) for the purpose of illustrating and illuminating the research principles under investigation. (Capability 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1)
  6. Develop and demonstrate familiarity with sonic arts repertoire and literature aligned to and in contrast with individually negotiated creative projects as well as the ability to discuss and review expert domain sources in conference-style presentation format. (Capability 1.2, 4.1 and 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignment: Statement of Research Focus and Creative Practice 5% Individual Coursework
Practical: Technical Studies 20% Individual Coursework
Presentation: of Research and Creative Practice 35% Individual Coursework
Portfolio 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Assignment: Statement of Research Focus and Creative Practice
Practical: Technical Studies
Presentation: of Research and Creative Practice
Portfolio
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. 

Teaching & Learning Methods

Weekly and/or Modular Lectures: (seminar delivery)
Self-guided technical studies
Modular Group Tutorials 
Modular Individual Tutorials
Self-guided project work 

Exam Mode

There is no final exam for this course.

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 12 hours of lectures, 12 hours tutorials, 56 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 70 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including workshops to complete components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings only where university camera-equipped rooms are used. Other learning activities including tutorials and office hours will not be available as recordings.

The course will not include live online events including tutorials.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a negotiated 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.

Initially students are expected to work closely with tutors to establish their own home student infrastructure to support their coursework. Essential software will be provided and students will need access to a home computer to do this. If this is not available, students enrolled in MUS 715 will receive access to 250-215/216 (Composition Studios 1&2) during the hours of 7.30am-11.00pm weekdays and 8.00am-6.00pm weekends. Access cards should be automatically enabled by week 4 of semester. Students who experience difficulty with obtaining access to the composition studio should contact the NICAI Student Centre, Building 421, 26 Symonds St, Level 2.

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.

Student feedback has been received from previous offerings of the course and detailed changes to course content and structure have been applied to the current offering. 

Other Information

Lateness Policy:
The penalty for lateness is 5 marks for each day (or part of day thereof) in which the digital copy of the assessment is submitted late. For the avoidance of doubt, penalties are applied on a calendar day basis (not a 24 hour basis). For the purposes of online-only submission, Sunday does count as a calendar day.

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.

Published on 18/02/2025 10:13 a.m.