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Unit of study_

CMPN1611: Instrumentation and Orchestration

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Sydney

Instrumentation and Orchestration, enhances students' knowledge of the modern orchestra while reinforcing core musicianship skills. Instrumentation study investigates the technical limitations and expressive potential of individual instruments. Orchestration examines a range of instrumental combinations in diverse styles and ensemble contexts, and requires that students learn best typographic practice and current conventions of notation and score layout. In examining instrumental characteristics the unit will also cover the fundamentals of acoustics and timbre perception, and will demand a thorough grasp of the harmonic series and its broader musical implications. Throughout the course students will be required to present their own arrangements and transcriptions.

Unit details and rules

Unit code CMPN1611
Academic unit Composition and Music Technology
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Students enrolling in this unit of study are expected to be able to read and understand instrumental music notation of moderate complexity

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Carl Vine, carl.vine@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Orchestral Arrangement
n/a
48% Formal exam period
Due date: 06 Jun 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 06 Jun 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment String Arrangement
n/a
8% Week 03
Due date: 07 Mar 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 07 Mar 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Assignment String Harmonics
n/a
8% Week 04
Due date: 14 Mar 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 14 Mar 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Assignment Wind Arrangement
n/a
8% Week 05
Due date: 21 Mar 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 21 Mar 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Assignment Brass Arrangement
n/a
8% Week 06
Due date: 28 Mar 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 28 Mar 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Assignment Brass and Wind Arrangement
n/a
20% Week 08
Due date: 11 Apr 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 11 Apr 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  1. String Arrangement: arrange a Bach chorale in 4 different ways for string orchestra
  2. String Harmonics: a quiz on string harmonics
  3. Wind Arrangement: arrange a short Bach chorale for wind section
  4. Brass Arrangement: arrange a short Bach chorale for brass section
  5. Wind & Brass Arrangement: arrange a given piano solo for wind and brass
  6. Orchestral arrangement: arrange given piano solo (circa 2 minutes) for full orchestra

Assessment criteria

The following assessment criteria are used for performance work in this unit of study:

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Comprehensive and outstanding technical control and musical integrity in relation to developmental expectations. Musical individuality consistently projected to create a persuasive personal representation of the work. Performance flair indicative of soloist standard. A mark of 95 or above indicates extraordinary technical virtuosity and musical artistry.

Distinction

75 - 84

Excellent technical, musical and stylistic achievement. Consistently coherent and expressive performance. Some personal interpretation of the work suggesting soloist potential. 

Credit

65 - 74

Confident technique with evidence of solid musicality and some stylistic achievement. Occasional lapses indicative of unresolved technical, artistic and/or stylistic issues. Projects potential for further development.

Pass

50 - 64

Satisfactory level of preparation and musical engagement. Some inconsistencies in musicianship, style and/or technique. Musical imagination and overall performance sense developing though some insecurity in this area.

Fail

0 - 49

Unsatisfactory technical achievement and/or unsatisfactory level of musical and artistic engagement. Limitations may be of such a scale and consistency as to call into question the student’s future direction in the programme.

The following assessment criteria are used for written work in this unit of study:

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Demonstrates high level of initiative in research and reading; sophisticated critical analysis of evidence; high level engagement with theoretical issues, innovative use of reading/research material and impressive command of underlying debates and assumptions; properly documented and written with style, originality and precision.

Distinction

75 - 84

Demonstrates initiative in research and wide, appropriate reading; complex understanding of question and ability to critically review material in relation to underlying assumptions and values; analyses material in relation to empirical and theoretical contexts; properly documented; clear, well-developed structure and argument with some signs of literary style.

Credit

65 - 74

Evidence of broader understanding than pass level; offers synthesis with some critical evaluation of material; coherent argument using a range of relevant evidence; some evidence of independent thought, good referencing. A high credit (70-74) shows some evidence of ability to problematise and think conceptually.

Pass

50 - 64

Written work meets basic requirements in terms of reading/research; relevant material; tendency to descriptive summary rather than critical argument; makes a reasonable attempt to avoid paraphrasing; reasonably coherent structure; often has weaknesses in particular areas, especially in terms of narrow or underdeveloped treatment of question; acceptable documentation.

Fail

0 - 49

Work may fail for any or all of the following reasons: Unacceptable paraphrasing; irrelevance of content; poor spelling; poor presentation; grammar or structure so sloppy it cannot be understood; failure to demonstrate understanding of content; insufficient or overlong word length.

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

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

(nil)

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.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 General introduction, basic precepts, and instrumental families Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 02 Instruments of the modern orchestra, esp. orchestral strings Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 03 The String orchestra: phrasing, bowing and special techniques Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Individual woodwind instruments; the wind section Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Individual brass instruments; the brass section Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Combining wind, brass and strings Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Full orchestration Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Tuned and un-tuned percussion Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Harp, celeste and piano Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Analysis of more complex scores - students to prepare responses in advance Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Concentrating on orchestral arrangements of piano solos, looking towards Assignment 6 Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 More complex full orchestration examples and semester summary Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of 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. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items where attendance is lower than 90%.

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.

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.

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

  • LO1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of composition and arranging for a wide variety of classical acoustic instrumental ensembles.
  • LO2. Understand the musical and physical characteristics of instruments of the modern symphony orchestra.
  • LO3. Appreciate the precepts of good musical notation practice and have practical experience in producing effective music layout.
  • LO4. Better understand the psycho-acoustic implications of instrumental timbre and its relation to the natural harmonic series.

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

The previous in-class presentation assessment (assignment #6) was creating some anxiety and the overall level of assessment for the UoS needed to be reduced, so this assignment has been deleted.

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.