Outline

Overview

The rationale behind this unit of study is to explore fundamental concepts of music as related to build upon Concepts of Music through Composition 1 where fundamental concepts of music are explored via the medium of a portfolio of compositions. Musical compositions may be completed via various means: musical notation, improvisation, recorded audio and their combinations. It also allows for students to curate an individual creative project and be supported via a scaffolded process. This unit is the first pathway for students interested in exploring such issues in the Creative Music program as part of the Bachelor of Music.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	CMPN1331
Academic unit	Composition and Music Technology
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Paul Stanhope, paul.stanhope@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Paul Stanhope, paul.stanhope@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Natalie Nicolas, natalie.nicolas@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Ella Macens, ella.macens@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Creative assessment / demonstration	Composition toolbox (replaces 'arrangement' tasks) See canvas site for details.	25%	-	Equivalent to 1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	'Concepts' short composition assignment 1a and b, assignment 2 Composition	30%	-	Equivalent to 2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	'Concepts' Short Composition Assignments 3(a and b) and 4 Composition	30%	-	Equivalent to 2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation/application 'concepts' Participation	10%	Weekly	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation/application 'composition toolbox' Participation	5%	Weekly	n/a
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

• Creativity: 40%• Craft: 40%• Presentation: 20%

The following guide provides a reference with regards marking expectations. However, it should be noted that staff might interpret the criteria as deemed appropriate to the assignments.

Creativity (40%)

Exceptional (34-40): An original contribution to musical thinking. Convincing, confident, imaginative, personal, bold, risk-taking, engaging.

Superior (30-33): Convincing musical logic and direction. Engagement with repertory goes beyond imitation. Techniques thoroughly understood and integrated with an imaginative response.

Competent (26-29): Influences of other composers are evident, and display steps towards taking such influences into a new, personal direction.

Acceptable (20-25): Creative choices could be more imaginative; a tendency to be overly simplistic.

Unacceptable (19 or less): Work is substandard, under-researched and lazy.

Craft (40%)

Exceptional (34-40): Obvious and unequivocal command of resources. Technique is matched to creative intentions.

Superior (30-33): Musical structure is fluent and lucid throughout. Displays sophisticated ability to develop and manipulate material. Advanced use of materials.

Competent (26-29): Displays some coherent structure and displays an amount of clarity but could be more sophisticated.

Acceptable (20-25): A limited capacity to express musical ideas with appropriate instrumental and/or digital media. A tendency to be overly generic.

Unacceptable (20 or less): Fundamental technical errors evident in notation or audio production is substandard and generic; understanding of instruments, musical form, etc.

Presentation (20%)

Exceptional (18-20): The standard of a professional commercial publication, production or situation. High quality audio output.

Competent (15-17): Attractive scores or good quality audio but could be more professional in a number of areas.

Acceptable (10-14): Notation legible but may still include unnecessary ambiguity and poor editing / formatting. Audio production using generic elements only.

Unacceptable (9 or less): Scores full of technical mistakes, poor spelling, formatting errors and do not meet necessary standards of legibility. Audio production substandard and using only generic materials (e.g. unedited Sibelius playback)

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity	Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks	Composition Toolbox	Online class (12 hr)
Multiple weeks	Concepts of music	Online class (24 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of all timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Dean, Head of School or professor most concerned. The Dean, Head of School or professor most concerned may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. In addition, students are expected to be at 100% of classes with a participatory component: tutorials and workshops are deemed as having a 100% attendance requirement. 90% = one class missed without explanation. If you do not attend, please document your absence with 1) an email in advance to your lecturer or tutor 2) a Doctor’s certificate to justify your absence or 3) apply through special cOnsideration or disabilities services for a program of adjustment as required. In the case of misadventure – please document this (e.g. attendance at a funeral).

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Elaine Gould ‘Behind Bars’ Faber Music.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. organise pitch in a variety of ways
LO2. explore vertical and horizontal pitch relationships
LO3. organise and notate rhythms and cyclical ostinato patterns
LO4. explore the potential of organising musical compositions with small motifs
LO5. compose and arrange short pieces with musical notation
LO6. understand how and why music works from a technical standpoint and have experienced an enhanced knowledge of music theory, and put this theory into musical practice
LO7. understand elements of instrumental writing.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Composition Toolbox: These tutorials take the place of the 'arrangement' assessment task.

Student responsibilities

Additional costs

Purchase of professional music notation software (e.g. Sibelius, Finale, Dorico) and a DAW (Cubase. Logic etc) is compulsory. MuseScore is not considered a satisfactory software package.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

CMPN1331: Composition for Creative Industries 1

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect