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Unit outline_

CMPN1310: Percussion Composition Workshop

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Sydney

Percussion Composer Workshop is designed to develop compositional practice via hands-on performance-oriented curricula. This Unit of Study is will provide composition students with insights into playing and composing for percussion instruments. A basic and tactile understanding of percussion sounds and playing techniques, together with ensemble experience is an essential foundation for successful composition in this creative medium. After successfully completing this unit of study, students will be able to: demonstrate rudimentary percussion playing techniques; increase their understanding and ability to accurately conceptualise and perform complex rhythms; have performed in a percussion ensemble on a variety of percussion instruments; have composed works exploring the colour and rhythmic potential of the percussion medium.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Composition and Music Technology
Credit points 3
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Bree Van Reyk, bree.vanreyk@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Bree Van Reyk, bree.vanreyk@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Creative assessment / demonstration Participation
Participation & engagement in class activities incl performance & logistics
10% Ongoing whole of semester
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO5
Creative assessment / demonstration Composition for Drums
Compose and perform a 1-2 solo for 1-3 drums.
20% Week 04 1-2 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4
Creative assessment / demonstration hurdle task Composition for Auxiliary Instruments and Found Sounds
Compose & perform a duet using auxiliary/orch. percussion and found sounds.
20% Week 06 1-2 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Creative assessment / demonstration Composition for Mallets
Compose and perform a short solo work for marimba or vibraphone.
20% Week 08 1-2 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO2
Creative assessment / demonstration Ensemble Composition
Compose a short work for 3 or more players using 2 or more inst. groups.
30% Week 13 2-3 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

See Canvas for assessment details.

Assessment criteria

The following assessment criteria are used 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.

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:

Given the nature of this unit of study, students are urged to be present in every class and be ready to present your 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.

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.

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 Introduction to Percussion Ensemble and Solo Repertoire. Skin Instruments, Sounds and Techniques. Drumming Basics. Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 02 Drums Composition Workshop. Meter Divisions and Metric Modulations. Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Drums Composition Workshop. Meter Divisions and Metric Modulations. Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 04 Mallet Composition Workshop. Textures and Layers. Mallet Ensemble Repertoire. Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Found sounds, woods and metals. Set-up and notation considerations for multiple instrument types. Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 06 Found sounds performance/presentation. Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Extended Techniques and Polyrhythms. Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 08 Duet Workshop. Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Percussion and electronics. Ensemble writing. Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 10 Ensemble Composition Workshop 1 Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Ensemble Composition Workshop 2 Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Ensemble Composition Performances/Presentations. Workshop (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90 per cent of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Associate Dean (Education) or relevent delegated authority. The Associate Dean (Education) 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 per cent.

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 specal consideration, 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 3 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 60-75 hours of student effort in total.

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. demonstrate rudimentary percussion playing techniques
  • LO2. increase your understanding and ability to accurately conceptualise and perform complex rhythms
  • LO3. understand how a variety of percussion instruments are played and interact in an ensemble context
  • LO4. compose music that explores the timbre and rhythmic potential of the percussion medium
  • LO5. collaborate synergistically with fellow composers and musicians.

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.

This unit will be held face-to-face again and therefore the perils of online music making will be avoided.

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.