Outline

Overview

In this unit, you will focus on ways in which your EP - which you recorded in the previous semester - can have a public-facing outcome. In particular, it will look at ways in which your music can have a visual or performed identity through video, live performance and artwork. It will also look at how to publicise your music through streaming services, record labels, booking agents and publishers. This semester particularly focusses on creative ways in which you can promote your recorded work. This course will be made up of lectures from industry professionals, as well as 2-hour seminar sessions to receive feedback on your work.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Contemporary Music
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	MUSC4407
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jade O'Regan, jade.oregan@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Performance	Live Performance Showcase Live Performance Showcase	40%	STUVAC	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Creative work	Collaborative Event Planning Student-identified roles for the planning of the end of semester Live Performance Showcase.	20%	STUVAC Due date: 14 Nov 2025 at 23:59	500 words equiv	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Live Performance Pitch Short description of live performance for the Live Performance Showcase assessment.	0%	Week 05 Due date: 05 Sep 2025 at 23:59	250 Words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Portfolio or journal	Marketing Materials Marketing Materials	20%	Week 06 Due date: 12 Sep 2025 at 23:59	1500 words equiv	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Practical skill	Tech Specs for Live Performance Short description of tech specs for future live performance.	0%	Week 11 Due date: 24 Oct 2025 at 23:59	250 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Weekly Participation and Preparation Weekly Participation and Preparation	20%	Week 12	Weekly	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Weekly Participation and Preparation

Each week you will engage in the workshops with the different experts we have invited to class - they're here to help you with your assignments throughout the semester. Your teachers may ask you do do a little homework before class, such as writing or thinking, they may ask you to do work in the workshops themselves, or they may ask for students to share their music to get advice.

Marketing Materials

You will submit a series of marketing materials in support of your EP. You will have opportunities in our workshops to start these materials and ask for help and feedback from our guest presenters. Please use the time you have with them by coming prepared with any work or questions they have requested.

Collaborative Event Planning
You will work with other students to assign roles and plan our end of semester showcase.

Live Performance Showcase

You will give a short live performance at the end of semester as part of a showcase.

Assessment criteria

See Canvas for criteria and rubrics for each assessment.

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:

Sydney Conservatorium policy on late assessments applies.

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	Introduction to Unit/Developing a Persona and Performance Identity	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 02	Workshop with Industry Guest	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 03	Workshop with Industry Guest	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 04	Workshop with Industry Guest	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 05	Workshop with Industry Guest	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 06	Workshop with Industry Guest	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 07	Workshop with Industry Guest	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 08	Workshop with Industry Guest	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 09	Workshop with Industry Guest	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 11	Live Performance Check In + Planning + Mental Health in the Creative Industries	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 13	Unit Review + Continued Live Performance Prep	Workshop (2 hr)

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

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. Develop a sense of their songwriting and/or performance persona
LO2. Create a variety of marking items to promote their music
LO3. Plan and execute a live performance of original music

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.

Based on student feedback, I have removed the social media posts as part of the Marketing Materials assessment, Instead, I have created a new assessment where students will assign themselves a role for the preparation of end of semester showcase. These roles can be creating a concept for the show, designing flyers and posters, making social media content. learning lighting and effects, stage managers, and so forth.

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

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

MUSC4408: Contemporary Music Practice 8

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, 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

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links