Outline

Overview

Digital Composition units of study support the sustained development of compositional craft and creativity through the practical integration of music technology and digital music techniques in the preparation of sound based compositions to be submitted throughout the semester. The unit will focus on the approaches taken over the last century to record, transform and organise sound in a variety of creative contexts, ranging from early electroacoustic music experiments, through to contemporary electronic music production.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Composition and Music Technology
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	CMPN1220
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Daniel Blinkhorn, daniel.blinkhorn@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Online task	1. Online Proficiency Quiz Multiple choice and short answer proficiency quiz #earlyfeedbacktask	10%	Week 03 Due date: 15 Aug 2024 at 10:00	30 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	2. Sound-based composition short composition/study using pre-approved audio material	30%	Week 07 Due date: 15 Sep 2024 at 23:59	2 - 3 minute short study or composition
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	3. Portfolio of short digital music compositions Portfolio of music/sound (one or more works) & 5-min. class presentation	60%	Week 09 Due date: 26 Sep 2024 at 23:59	5 - 6 minute of music/sound
Outcomes assessed:

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Assessment number 1 –

basic general working know of home studio environments (assumed knowledge
proficiency test up to Week 3

Assessment number 2 –

Working in one of the studios, (i.e 1016, 1015 etc), or your home studio compose a work 2-3 minutes in length that responds to various elements of digital media compositional techniques and concepts discussed in class. This piece can be in any style, and may take the form of a study. Use as your source material the audio material provided by the lecturer, or your own recordings using ‘extra-musical’ materials (i.e. field recording) after discussion with lecturer.
You may transform the sound material for the piece using any software available to you, such as Soundhack, AudioMulch, IxiQuarks or by using plugins (such as GRM Tools,
AbletonLive plugins etc) as well as various DSP/ equalising tools.
Submit your work in a folder in zipped, digital, compressed format (i.e. mp3) during class time via an upload to the Canvas site. The folder should be labelled with your name, student number and title of the work. Accompanying this should be an extended program note of 1- 2 pages as PDF (in digital format) giving an overview of the piece, summarising the sound transformations used, and describing in detail the concepts/ functionality/ techniques/
aesthetics used within the work.
Assignments are to be submitted online.

Assessment 3 -

Working within the Conservatorium or your own studio spaces, compose an acousmatic/ fixed- media piece. The work should be 5-6 minutes in duration, and should reflect the subject matter addressed throughout the unit.

The work should be based on one, or all of the following:
▪ ‘Sound objects’ (extra-musical materials i.e. objects that emit sound that aren’t instruments),
▪ Sound synthesis (i.e. electronically synthesized)
▪ Location sound (i.e. field recordings of either the built or natural environment),
▪ Combinations of all of the above.

The main criteria is that the works reflect digital music composition, specifically referencing aspects discussed in-class’, i.e. suitably reflecting the nature of the material covered throughout the unit.

Edit and mix the materials in a DAW of your choosing. You may use any sound processing plug-ins or software, including those studied last semester (GRM tools and Soundhack etc).
You can also make use of the Waves plug-ins available in the studio.
When finished, encode the audio in a specific, compressed format (i.e. QuickTime format/ AAC, AC3/ Mp3 etc).

Supporting Documentation

Accompanying the submission should be 1 - 2 pages giving an overview of the piece (such as the sound transformations used, aesthetic orientation, recording process etc) and an articulate explanation of how you approached and realised the numerous concepts employed in your work.

Submitting and presenting your piece

Submit your finished composition (in digital format) during class time.
Complete the Academic Declaration for submissions (in ASSIGNMENTS - CANVAS). Students will be given approximately 5 minutes to talk about their piece during this time. We will move through the class alphabetically by surname.

Please note: 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.

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:

The University standard late penalties apply.

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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 2023 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 2023. 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 - digital music and media: designing a basic home studio	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Concurrent trends in digital music and media: an examination surrounding types and approaches to digital music in a wide variety of environments	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	sampling - an overview to a variety of industry standard software sampling unit	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Introduction to DAW's - an overview and examination of various workflows within industry standard DAW environments	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	an intro to sound generation via digital synthesis synthesis, and basic audio recording concepts	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	introduction to MIDI processing, and working with MIDI and audio sound processing/Effects environments	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Parameter Automation and Modulation in a DAW	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	benefits of using a computers and digital media environments for composition, various compositional concepts and techniques will be discussed	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	lab time - in class discussions and individual consultation time preparing for final assessment submission	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	lab time - in class discussions and individual consultation time preparing for final assessment submission	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	in class presentations for final assessment	Presentation (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%.

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.

Required readings

provided in-class and via the course canvas website

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. organise, name, and categorise sound objects in a variety of ways
LO2. explore single versus multi-track sound-based composition
LO3. create sound banks for digital composition
LO4. compose short studies based on sound parameters explored in class
LO5. demonstrate a further understanding of the relationship between sound and space in a studio environment, and develop experienced and enhanced knowledge on the function of sound in various media contexts.

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.

A new quiz to support revision and new material has been added and generally refined assessment tasks. Now held on campus and not online.

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

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

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

CMPN1221: Digital Composition 1

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

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