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Unit of study_
MUSC3675: Writing Music Theatre: Book and Lyrics
2025 unit information
This unit aims to use case studies of existing music theatre works to analyse method, structure, dramatic goals, and design elements as they relate to the book/script and lyrics. Each week builds progressively on the next, as a means of mastery learning. This progression is reflected through weekly formative assessment tasks which culminate in small teams of students writing and performing a 10 to 15-minute section of musical based on a single story chosen by the cohort. Students will be guided to connect their sections to form a full-length work of music theatre.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Analysis, History and Cultural Studies |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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This course is open to any students in the 2nd year or above of their degree |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Collaborate to create a text/lyric/book/script for a work of music theatre.
- LO2. Effectively research source material in original form or adaptation to develop this idea into a realised product.
- LO3. Demonstrate historical understanding of the book, script, and lyric in music theatre.
- LO4. Apply this knowledge to building narrative structure.
- LO5. Demonstrate historical and contemporary knowledge and understanding of the particular construction of lyrics in music.
- LO6. Demonstrate understanding of compositional rules and tropes (rhyming patterns, structure etc.) for music theatre.
- LO7. Demonstrate an understanding of the collaborative process in writing music theatre: method, structure, and goals.
- LO8. Students are able to articulate and reflect critically on their creative process.
Unit availability
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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