Outline

Overview

The Music Specialist Projects form a capstone pre-professional unit for all undergraduate music students who are not doing Honours or in the Music Education programs. You will be working in small groups across musical disciplines in a project that provides a holistic experience of professional and creative musicianship. This project may include performing, recording, distribution, ensemble management, leadership, composing, creating, audience development, pedagogy and other competencies of a professional musician.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	SCMP4601
Academic unit
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Andrew Barnes, andrew.barnes@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Damien Ricketson, damien.ricketson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Andrew Barnes, andrew.barnes@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Participation Supervisor mark based on group and individual work throughout the semester	10%	Ongoing	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Self-Introduction Post Discussion board post answering questions and possible video submission.	10%	Week 01	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Group Personnel Submission Students submit preferences for peers with whom to work in the project	10%	Week 02	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project Plan Outline of proposed project for the year.	35%	Week 07	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Progress Report Presentation with supporting documents illustrating progress toward outcome	25%	Week 12	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Team Contribution and Self-Evaluation Team contribution template and self-evaluation reflective statement	10%	Week 13	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Project Plan: outline of proposed project for the year. It should include an introduction to the members of your group, including their disciplinary background. It should include a proposal for all outcome/s and how you intend to deliver these outcomes. It must include a timeline, which indicates when you intend to request a meeting with advisor/s. You are encouraged to use charts, diagrams, tables etc where appropriate.
Progress Report: presentation with supporting documentation indicating all work on the project thus far. Your presentation may include demonstrations, performances, drafts, prototypes, discussion or other activities as relevant to your project. The contribution of all team members should be evidenced in some way.
Participation: Mark awarded by Project Group Supervisor for work completed throughout the semester. Ongoing and consistent work throughout the whole semester is encouraged. This will be determined by advisor observation and documented evidence such as meeting minutes, agreements and other materials such as group discussions on Canvas. The “Team Contribution and Self-Evaluation” assessment task for team contribution may be part of this evaluation.
Self-Introduction Post: A concise written/video discussion board post to introduce yourself and your particular interests and abilities to the student/teacher cohort. Will be used to facilitate meaningful groups during group formation.
Group Personnel Submission: notification to the teaching team of proposed group member with whom you would like to work for the life of the project.
Team Contribution and Self-Evaluation: Evaluation of your own performance and that of your other team members and how they contributed to the overall project. Also a reflective statement on how your musical discipline interacted with others, and whether you have identified any strengths or weaknesses within your own discipline. Improvements to be made for the second semester of the project and how they will be achieved.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas

Assessment criteria

The following assessment criteria are used for performance work in this unit of study:

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Comprehensive and outstanding technical control and musical integrity in relation to developmental expectations. Musical individuality consistently projected to create a persuasive personal representation of the work. Performance flair indicative of soloist standard. A mark of 95 or above indicates extraordinary technical virtuosity and musical artistry.
Distinction	75 - 84	Excellent technical, musical and stylistic achievement. Consistently coherent and expressive performance. Some personal interpretation of the work suggesting soloist potential.
Credit	65 - 74	Confident technique with evidence of solid musicality and some stylistic achievement. Occasional lapses indicative of unresolved technical, artistic and/or stylistic issues. Projects potential for further development.
Pass	50 - 64	Satisfactory level of preparation and musical engagement. Some inconsistencies in musicianship, style and/or technique. Musical imagination and overall performance sense developing though some insecurity in this area.
Fail	0 - 49	Unsatisfactory technical achievement and/or unsatisfactory level of musical and artistic engagement. Limitations may be of such a scale and consistency as to call into question the student’s future direction in the programme.

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.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Tutorials for each group with project supervisor	Tutorial (1 hr)
Weekly	Lectures will comprehensively address a selection of topics relevant to creating, planning, rehearsing, advertising, performing and presenting about a creative project.	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Weekly	Group meeting time within which project groups brainstorm, plan, organise, create and rehearse.	Independent study (2 hr)

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%.

As per the Sydney Conservatorium of Music resolutions, http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/conservatorium/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml (Item 12):

In addition to the rule above, full (100 per cent) and punctual attendance is a requirement in all activities where students have a role as active participants in the class or activity. Active participation includes situations where the student's contribution is to perform, rehearse or direct rehearsals in a small or large ensemble, or to give seminar and tutorial papers or presentations or undertake assessment tasks. Active participation also includes all one-to-one studio teaching and supervision. Except in cases of illness or misadventure, 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.

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. Depth of disciplinary expertise: Draw upon your disciplinary expertise to contribute to a collaborative outcome. Demonstrate a high level of pre-professional musicianship, including self-directed artistic and research outcomes. Deliver a professional level outcome relevant to their project which may be an element of future professional practice.
LO2. Critical thinking and problem solving: Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving in project conception, design and development. Demonstrate a high level of ability in designing, monitoring, delivering and evaluating a creative project.
LO3. Oral and written communication: Articulate a project vision to an audience in both oral and written form. Communicate effectively within a group to identify roles and responsibilities
LO4. Information and digital literacy: Demonstrate information and digital literacy in identifying appropriate resources, tools and platforms to develop and disseminate a project.
LO5. Inventiveness: Generate an original creative outcome within appropriate boundaries.
LO6. Cultural Competence: Demonstrate engagement in culturally aware practice in project design and management of group dynamics.
LO7. Interdisciplinary effectiveness: Demonstrate a high level of collaboration and effective teamwork with colleagues from across disciplines. Collaborate across musical disciplines and specialisations to create a complete whole where each discipline has made an equal contribution.
LO8. An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity: Deliver a project that reflects individual and group creative expression that is professionally and ethically responsive to challenges as they emerge.
LO9. Influence: Engage others in a process, idea or vision to deliver an external-facing outcome to the community.

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.

Numerous small changes to content and delivery following first iteration of UoS and in response to feedback received.

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

SCMP4601: Music Specialist Creative Project 1

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect