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Unit of study_

MUED4006: Popular Music Studies

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit examines approaches to the teaching and learning of popular music, and the practices of its many cultures. This includes the study of the problems of defining popular music, of relevant literature, considerations of the place of popular music in music education, analysis methods suitable for investigating popular music at the high school level, songwriting and the performance of popular music, and emerging technologies in relation to popular music studies. Students engage in the latest research, philosophies, and pedagogies around popular music in formal music education, learning to prepare resources for learning and music-making, and eventually creating their own multi-tracked popular music.

Unit details and rules

Unit code MUED4006
Academic unit Music Education
Credit points 3
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Brad Fuller, brad.fuller@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Brad Fuller, brad.fuller@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Creative assessment / demonstration Technology applied to teaching and popular music making
Composition and performance
50% Formal exam period 4 minutes, 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Presentation group assignment Song workshop – informal learning
Performance and analysis
50% Week 13 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

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.

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 IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE Popular music is often amplified. In this Unit, we attempt to keep loudness to a minimum while also trying to represent authentic popular music practices. This is a nearly impossible line to tread, and even when being extremely careful, sudden loud noises can occur. You are encouraged to consider wearing ear plugs during practical workshops, and when wearing headphones, to keep the volume in a low-medium range. Free ear plugs are available upon request. Lecture (0.1 hr)  
Study the content and the teaching modes. Three modules will be covered. The weeks it is taught will be changed to respond to your group's progress. Module 1: What is Popular Music? Module 2: How do we teach popular music, and how should we? Module 3: Popular music making skills: jamming and songwriting/producing. Lecture (0.5 hr)  
Week 01 Mod1PtA What is popular music? • Overview and expectations; definitions & values; text & versions; implications for music education. • Presentation; group work in small rock music ensembles. Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 02 Mod2PtA How do popular musicians learn? Technology & creativity in popular music – the Musical Futures teaching approaches: An exemplar for aural learning. The place of notation in Popular Music. This lesson is preparation for assessment task 1. See more exemplars on the website. Modelling aural learning group work, discussion of reading and definition of pedagogy and the Musical Futures movement that has evolved from Green’s initial research. Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Mod3PtA YOU GOTTA PLAY EM ALL part 1 Multi-skills for multi-instrumentalists. Hands on workshop. • The absolute basics: o Setting up a small PA o Plugging a mic into a mixing desk; amplifying a voice; live vocal effects (reverb, compression) o Setting up a drum kit o Plugging a guitar or bass guitar into an amp o Connecting a synth to an amp or a PA Please see the note on ear plugs above. Online class (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 04 Mod1PtB NO, REALLY. WHAT IS POPULAR MUSIC? • History. • Aesthetics. • Philosophy. • Semiology. Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Mod1PtC GETTING NERDY WITH IT • Teaching popular music analysis Analysis at tertiary level – hang on, this isn’t what my high school “concepts” textbook said! Where does “duration” come into this? Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Mod3PtB YOU GOTTA PLAY EM ALL part 2 Multi-skills for multi-instrumentalists. Hands on workshop. • The still-pretty-bloody-basics: o Strumming guitar chords o Basic beats on drum kit and cajon o Picking out a bass line o Reading chord symbols and diagrams on guitar and keys • What is an autodidact? Do I have to be one? Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Mod3PtC Assignment 1 organisation • Establish groups for assignment 1; each group takes a USB microphone and MIDI controller keyboard if they need one. Introduction of and discussion about assessment tasks 1 & 2. Exemplars in the form of student work from previous years are provided on the LMS. Online class (0.1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 07 Mod2PtB NOT-TEACHING THE INFORMAL (2.0?) WAY (Toward Assessment task 1) • Your chance to test your Aural Learning kit with another group • Bring your kit – including audio/video to be copied, and use it to teach another group, who can give you feedback on anything they found difficult to understand. Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 Mod2PtC WELCOME TO SHOWBIZ: EVERY STUDENT IN A BAND Let’s reimagine what a Stage 4 (year 7 &/or 8) music curriculum would look like if it were designed around popular musical cultures. Case Study: Informal Learning in Stage 4. • What is the role of the teacher? • Is this Green’s Informal Learning, or something else? Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Mod2PtD DON’T LET THE HSC GET IN THE WAY OF LEARNING MUSIC • Case Study: Informal Learning in the HSC • Collaborative learning • Dealing with student and teacher expectations around the HSC Online class (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Mod2PtE IMAGINING INFORMAL LEARNING 2.0 Lucy Green’s first informal learning book, How Popular Musicians Learn, was published in 2002. YouTube and Facebook launched in 2005, and didn’t have the impact they have on music learning today when Green’s second book, Informal Learning and the school… was released in 2008 (the same year, coincidentally, as Spotify). Thinking about how much the way we can consume and learn music has changed since 2002, what might Informal Learning 2.0 look like? Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Mod2PtF Updating INFORMAL LEARNING • Case Study: Informal Learning in Stage 5. • Electronic music and production with Maschine. • Hang on, did we cover the music our students really listen to? Hip-Hop, the world’s most popular musical genre. • What is the role of the music teacher now? What should it be in 5 years? 10? • Got better ideas? Discussion and debate. Online class (1 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 12 Mod3PtC PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT 1 Time for final preparation and support for Assessment Task 2. Student Presentations Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Mod3PtD PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT 2 Time for final preparation and support for Assessment Task 2. Student Presentations Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

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 3 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 60-75 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

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 sound grasp of a number of core conceptual and definitional issues relating to Popular Music Studies as an academic discipline and its place in school music education
  • LO2. demonstrate an understanding of implications of popular music’s ‘awkwardness’ in the context of formal study programs
  • LO3. demonstrate a sound knowledge of pedagogical issues surrounding popular music studies in music education, relating to instrumental skills, media literacies and popular music technologies, and of the history of popular music
  • LO4. demonstrate a familiarity with key strands in the musicology of popular music through analysis, performance, and composition in its various forms
  • LO5. critically analyse your own musical background/identity and understand popular music as a music of the cultures that children participate in

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.

NO INFORMATION ENTERED HERE YET

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