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Unit of study_

OLET1801: Music Theory and Notation Essentials

Semester 2, 2020 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This Online Learning Environment unit (OLE) provides a grounding in music notation and music theory. It is designed for those without a background in these areas. The music theory relates to our contemporary western music notation system. An understanding of how music theory works is extremely useful to a range of diverse disciplines that engage with music. Examples include games and user interface designers, film and drama studies students and those who have learnt musical practice from an aural rather than notated tradition, such as contemporary popular musicians and singers.

Unit details and rules

Unit code OLET1801
Academic unit Composition and Music Technology
Credit points 2
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Matthew Hindson, matthew.hindson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Matthew Hindson, matthew.hindson@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Angus Davison, angus.davison@sydney.edu.au
Ella Macens, ella.macens@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Tutorial quiz Quiz based on Pitch (1)
First quiz based on Pitch.
10% Week 03 10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Quiz based on Rhythm
Quiz based on Rhythm
10% Week 04 10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Quiz based on Pitch (2)
Second quiz based on pitch.
10% Week 05 10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
In-semester test (Record+) Type B in-semester exam Final exam
Final exam for OLET1801
50% Week 07
Due date: 13 Oct 2020 at 17:00

Closing date: 13 Oct 2020
50 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Watching the weekly lectures
Watching the weekly lectures before the tutorials
10% Week 07 N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Completion of all Canvas tasks
Completion of all set Canvas practice tasks
10% Week 08 N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Type B in-semester exam = Type B in-semester exam ?

Assessment summary

Please note that all activities should be completed if you want to do well in this Unit of Study.

If you fail the final exam, you will fail this Unit of Study.

Assessment criteria

Online lecture and weekly quizzes are marked on a participation basis: if they are completed, the relevant marks are allocated.

The tutorial quizzes and the final exam are marked according to the accuracy of the answers provided.

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:

Standard University penalties apply to late submission of work.

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 Lecture - introduction to this unit of study Online class (1 hr) LO3
Week 02 Tutorial on online lecture material from Week 2. Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 In-class quiz (10%) + tutorial on work from Week 3 lectures Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 In-class quiz (10%) + tutorial on work from Week 4 lectures Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 In-class quiz (10%) + tutorial on work from Week 3 lectures Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

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 2 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 40-50 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All resources are provided on the Canvas site.

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. understand how to read a score or score excerpt, and understand what the notation means
  • LO2. understand the underlying music theory behind this score excerpt, particularly in foundational concepts relating to pitch and rhythm
  • LO3. understand some reasons as to why the composer(s) of each excerpt made such choices of music notation and music theory.

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.

Staff considered student comments and decided against making any substantive changes. There was no demand for the Mandarin tutorials expressed by the students, so they have not been continued.

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.