Outline

Overview

Principal Study Composition supports the sustained development of compositional craft and creative voice through the preparation of composition(s) to be submitted at the end of each semester. Via one to one lessons, attendance at weekly Composition Seminars and Supplementary Classes, students are expected to progressively advance through Composition 5 to 8. Weekly Composition Seminars provide a forum for expert guests to present specialised knowledge. Supplementary Classes are delivered by the various members of our composition staff, and deal with a variety of topics related to craft, creativity, repertoire, workflow, technology and career. By the conclusion of the degree, students will have demonstrated a very high level of compositional ability, research capacity and notation/production skills.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Composition and Music Technology
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	CMPN2604 or CMPN2223
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Paul Stanhope, paul.stanhope@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Portfolio or journal	Composition portfolio Composition portfolio of one or more works, submitted with matching recordings. Although live recordings are preferred, a high quality computer generated rendering is an acceptable alternative.	90%	Formal exam period Due date: 16 Jun 2026 at 23:59	15 mins. of music (can be negotiated).	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Participation Ongoing participation and engagement in weekly one-to-one lessons, based on punctual attendance, regularity of work patterns, depth of compositional process and engagement in one’s art form.	5%	Ongoing	Ongoing	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Early Feedback Task - Semester Plan A written semester plan, mapping out the proposed structure and content for a portfolio of new musical compositions. The plan should include a week-by week timeline and a proposed listening/score study list.	0%	Week 02 Due date: 08 Mar 2026 at 23:59	Maximum 500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Interactive oral	Interactive oral assessment Personalised summary discussion between student and tutor about the development of their creative work over the semester. Students need to achieve a minimum of 50% in this hurdle task to pass this unit.	5%	Week 13 Due date: 29 May 2026 at 17:00	10-15 minutes	AI limited - refer to Canvas
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = early feedback task ?

Assessment summary

More detailed information for each assessment can be found on the relevant Canvas Site.

Assessment criteria

Composition portfolios are assessed according to three criteria with the following weightings which account for 90% of your principal study mark:

The following guide provides a reference with regards marking expectations. However, it should be noted that staff may interpret the criteria as deemed appropriate to the creative form and media of the portfolio. Please remember to confer with both the UoS Outline and Canvas hub site for more details including the duration of portfolio for various forms of media.

Creativity 40%

• Exceptional (34-40): An original contribution to musical thinking. Convincing, confident, imaginative, personal, bold, risk-taking, engaging.
• Superior (30-34): Convincing musical logic and direction. Engagement with repertory goes beyond imitation.
• Competent (25-29): Influences of other composers are evident, and display steps towards taking such influences into a new, personal direction.
• Acceptable (18-24): Engaged with contemporary music culture and ideas but may parrot rather than seek to extend the ideas of other composers.
• Unacceptable (0-17): Generic, hackneyed, pastiche.

Craft 40%

• Exceptional (31-35): Obvious and unequivocal command of resources. Technique is matched to creative intentions.
• Superior (25-30): Musical structure is fluent and lucid throughout. Displays sophisticated ability to develop and manipulate material. Advanced use of colour.
• Competent (20-24): Displays coherent structure and convincing clarity in orchestration/standard of production.
• Acceptable (15-19): Capacity to express musical ideas with appropriate instrumental and/or digital media.
• Unacceptable (0-14): Fundamental technical errors evident in notation, digital production, understanding of instruments, musical form, etc.

Presentation 20%

• Exceptional (9-10): The standard of a professional commercial publication or recording with coherent visual identity.
• Superior (7-8): Presentation of work demonstrates awareness of user-friendliness and attention to consistent and individual visual style.
• Competent (5-6): Attractive scores presented with clarity and supported with recordings. Non score-based work informed by concise and compelling supporting documentation.
• Acceptable (2-4): Notation legible but may still include unnecessary ambiguity. Electroacoustic and non score-based work supported with appropriate documentation.
• Unacceptable (0-1): Illegible scores. Audio format errors.

The remainder of your composition mark is based on:

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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:

A 5% penalty per calendar day applies for late submissions. After 10 days, a mark of zero will be applied.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Weekly Composition Class	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Weekly Composition Class	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Weekly Composition Class	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Weekly Composition Class	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Weekly Composition Class	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Weekly Composition Class	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Weekly Composition Class	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Weekly Composition Class	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Weekly Composition Class	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Weekly Composition Class	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Weekly Composition Class	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Weekly Composition Class	Lecture (1 hr)
Weekly	Individual composition lessons	One-on-one music lesson (9 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students must attend 100% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by Special Considerations, professional leave or otherwise by the Unit of Study Coordinator. The Unit of Study Coordinator 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%.
In addition to the rule above, full (100 per cent) and punctual attendance is a requirement in all one-to-one studio teaching and supervision. Except in cases of special consideration, failure to attend activities or classes where a student is an active participant will be seen as failure to meet the requirements of the unit of study.
Students are expected to attend weekly Composition seminars - an attendance record will be kept. Students who fall below minimum attendance requirements may receive and INCOMPLETE grade and/or given an alternative assessment to complete.

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

The following are not mandatory but very useful:

Behind Bars by Elaine Gould (Faber Music) is recommended as a reference for notation-based work. The presentation component of these units of study may be marked according to guidelines in this text.

The Study of Orchestration by Samuel Adler (W. W. Norton & Co.) is recommended as a reference for instrumentation and orchestration.

The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross (Fourth Estate) is recommended as a general reference for the development of compositional trends and developments throughout the 20th Century. This is an important guide to the century that preceded ours and hence provides helpful context to the musical milieu in which you are currently working.

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. demonstrate a very high level of compositional craft, research capacity, and notation and/or production skills
LO2. demonstrates discernment in creative decision making
LO3. demonstrate an appreciation of, and engagement with, a broad range of compositional traditions, genres, perspectives and practices
LO4. demonstrate confidence and independence in creative practice
LO5. develop strategies to compose regularly and proactively
LO6. liaises with the performers or other collaborators or engages with appropriate production techniques, emphasising clear communication while meeting submission deadlines.

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.

Revised assessment weighings, application and engagement criteria and attendance requirements. Addition of secure assessment.

Additional information

Study commitment:

Further information:

Extensive information can be found on the Canvas hub site for Composition, Composition for Creative Industries and Digital Music Composition. This includes further information regarding assessment criteria, rubrics, unit of study details, and other content, such as composition opportunities and related events and competitions.

Assessment:

An examiner's mark will determine the portfolio grade in semester 1. Final year Composition Principal study (Composition, Composition for Creative Industries, Digital Music and Media) and Honours students are required to attend an interview at the end of the year ONLY where the portfolio will be marked by a panel.

Seminar attendance requirements:

Composition students enrolled in CMPN3605 are required to attend the common forum in Week 1 and Week 13, with additional weekly seminars from Week 2 to Week 12 inclusively (except mid-semester break). Special Projects Week will include intensive workshops for all streams and programs – this will be announced on Canvas hub site.

Further information:

Extensive information can be found on the Canvas hub site for Composition, Composition for Creative Industries and Digital Music and Media. This includes information regarding assessment criteria, rubrics, unit of study details, and other content, such as composition opportunities and related events and competitions.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

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

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

CMPN3605: Composition 5

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links