MUS 737 : Music Technology Research
Creative Arts and Industries
2022 Semester One (1223) (30 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This aim of this course is to introduce students to academic research in the field of Music Technology. Student will pick a research topic among those proposed by the course director and will lead a research project by employing a variety of research methodologies that will be introduced to. Students from all music specialisations, in particular those interested in scholarly research, can join the course.
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
- Develop research methodology skills that can be applied to various areas of music research. (Capability 1, 3 and 5)
- Develop an understanding of the socio-cultural implications of music technology. (Capability 1, 2 and 6)
- Improve writing and presentation skills. (Capability 2, 4 and 5)
- Contribute to critical discussions of peer-developed projects. (Capability 2 and 4)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Final project | 40% | Individual Coursework |
| Final presentation | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Mid-term report | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Literature review | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
| Final project | ||||||||||
| Final presentation | ||||||||||
| Mid-term report | ||||||||||
| Literature review | ||||||||||
Assignment extensions might be approved only in exceptional circumstances. Late assignments that do not have an approved extension will be penalised 10% for each day or part thereof. No assignment will be accepted after that assignment has been returned to students.
Teaching & Learning Methods
- In class analysis of new technologies applied to music production, composition, distribution, and education.
- Participation to lectures with invited speakers from music studios, music technology companies, and international music researchers
- Online material (e.g. videos, articles, examples) will be available online for students to prepare for each lecture and to further explore matters discussed in class
- Students will present and discuss assignments in class
- Students will be encouraged to keep a digital diary to document the evolution of their resarch
- Written components on students’ projects
- One writing retreat will be organised to support students in their writing task
- In office time for individual or small group of students to seek additional or private counsel on projects
Workload Expectations
For this course, you can expect 24 hours of contact with the lecturer, 8 hours of writing retreat, 10 hours to attend invited speakers’ talks, 80 hours of reading, 110 hours of work on project preparation, 60 hours on writing report, and 8 hours on preparing and delivering the presentation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars will be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard 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.
- Decomposed: the political ecology of music (MIT press)
- Spotify teardown: Inside the Black Box of Streaming Music (MIT press)
- Intelligent Music Production (Routledge)
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
This course is designed for all music students; previous knowledge in programming and computer matters is not expected, not required.
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.
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.