CMPN4607: Semester 1, 2025

Overview

Principal Study Composition supports the sustained development of compositional craft and creative voice through the preparation of composition(s) to be submitted at the end of each semester. Via one to one lessons, attendance at weekly Composition Seminars and Supplementary Classes, students are expected to progressively advance through Composition 5 to 8. Weekly Composition Seminars provide a forum for expert guests to present specialised knowledge. Supplementary Classes are delivered by the various members of our composition staff, and deal with a variety of topics related to craft, creativity, repertoire, workflow, technology and career. By the conclusion of the degree, students will have demonstrated a very high level of compositional ability, research capacity and notation/production skills.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Composition and Music Technology
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	CMPN3606 or CMPN3336 or CMPN2223 or CMPN2334 or CMPN3236
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Ivan Zavada, ivan.zavada@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Paul Stanhope, paul.stanhope@sydney.edu.au
	Alison Cole, alison.cole@sydney.edu.au
	Daniel Blinkhorn, daniel.blinkhorn@sydney.edu.au
	Natalie Williams, natalie.williams@sydney.edu.au
	Ivan Zavada, ivan.zavada@sydney.edu.au
	Andrew Callaghan, andrew.callaghan@sydney.edu.au
	Fiona Hill, f.hill@sydney.edu.au
	Carl Vine, carl.vine@sydney.edu.au
	Damien Ricketson, damien.ricketson@sydney.edu.au
	Daniel Rojas, daniel.rojas@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Creative assessment / demonstration	Composition portfolio Composition portfolio with matching recordings or computer generated rendition of score where live recording is not possible. For CCI and DMM students a creative portfolio of works relevant to discipline focus with analytical notes/visual/score.	90%	Formal exam period Due date: 10 Jun 2025 at 23:59	15 minutes minimum
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Application and Engagement Quiz Short quiz reviewing concert, recording organisation, curating roles and other production roles can be considered, as well as broader engagement with the musical community within and outside the Conservatorium.	0%	Week 12 Due date: 23 May 2025 at 23:59	30 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Application, engagement and contribution Active engagement throughout weekly seminar sessions, contribution to lessons and participation in broader community events through composition and creative work.	10%	Weekly	Ongoing
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = AI allowed ? = restricted AI ?

Assessment summary

Composition portfolio: Students are required to submit a composition portfolio with matching recordings.
Application and engagement: Application and engagement in principal study composition activities include: 1) attendance and participation in Wednesday composition seminar; 2) attendance and participation in supplementary composition classes; and 3) projects demonstrated contribution to the coordination of composition concerts, events or equivalent activities.

More detailed information for each assessment can be found on our Canvas Hub Site.

Assessment criteria

Composition portfolios are assessed according to three criteria with the following weightings which account for 90% of your principal study mark:

The following guide provides a reference with regards marking expectations. However, it should be noted that staff may interpret the criteria as deemed appropriate to the creative form and media of the portfolio. Please remember to confer with both the UoS Outline and Canvas hub site for more details including the duration of portfolio for various forms of media.

Creativity 40%

• Exceptional (35-40): An original contribution to musical thinking. Convincing, confident, imaginative, personal, bold, risk-taking, engaging.
• Superior (30-34): Convincing musical logic and direction. Engagement with repertory goes beyond imitation.
• Competent (25-29): Influences of other composers are evident, and display steps towards taking such influences into a new, personal direction.
• Acceptable (18-24): Engaged with contemporary music culture and ideas but may parrot rather than seek to extend the ideas of other composers.
• Unacceptable (0-17): Generic, hackneyed, pastiche.

Craft 40%

• Exceptional (35-40): Obvious and unequivocal command of resources. Technique is matched to creative intentions.
• Superior (30-34): Musical structure is fluent and lucid throughout. Displays sophisticated ability to develop and manipulate material. Advanced use of colour.
• Competent (25-29): Displays coherent structure and convincing clarity in orchestration/standard of production.
• Acceptable (18-24): Capacity to express musical ideas with appropriate instrumental and/or digital media.
• Unacceptable (0-17): Fundamental technical errors evident in notation, digital production, understanding of instruments, musical form, etc.

Presentation 10%

• Exceptional (9-10): The standard of a professional commercial publication or recording with coherent visual identity.
• Superior (7-8): Presentation of work demonstrates awareness of user-friendliness and attention to consistent and individual visual style.
• Competent (5-6): Attractive scores presented with clarity and supported with recordings. Non score-based work informed by concise and compelling supporting documentation.
• Acceptable (2-4): Notation legible but may still include unnecessary ambiguity. Electroacoustic and non score-based work supported with appropriate documentation.
• Unacceptable (0-1): Illegible scores. Audio format errors.

The remainder of your composition mark is based on:

Application and Engagement 10%

Ongoing small assessments/tasks related to seminar topics of presentations. These are set by the seminar presenter each semester. For CCI and DMM students Application and Engagement mark will be the result of broader participation in call for works and participation in community engagement projects. For full details consult the Canvas hub site.

For more information see guide to grades.

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

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

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.

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	Learning outcomes
Weekly	Individual composition lessons with the same tutor across Comp 7-8	One-to-one tuition (9 hr)
Weekly	Weekly Supplementary Class	Seminar (12 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, Program Leader, or relevant Unit of Study Coordinator. The Dean, Head of School, Program Leader or relevant Unit of Study Coordinator 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%.

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 special 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.

Students are expected to attend all mandatory Composition and Music Technology Forums at the start and end of semester.

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. demonstrate a very high level of compositional craft, research capacity, and notation and production skills
LO2. demonstrate good discernment in compositional decisions
LO3. demonstrate an appreciation of, and engagement with, a broad range of compositional traditions, genres, perspectives and practices
LO4. demonstrate confidence and independence in your creative practice
LO5. develop strategies to compose regularly and proactively
LO6. liaise with the performers of your compositions, emphasising clear communication and meet submission deadlines.

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.

Changed assessment weights for portfolio and application and engagement. Included secured with AI option for composition portfolio. Quiz is not marked but is a hurdle task in order to pass the unit of study.

Additional information

Study commitment:

Assessment:

A teacher's mark will be determined for Semester 1. Final year Composition Principal study (Composition, Composition for Creative Industries, Digital Music and Media) and Honours students are required to attend a an interview at the end of the year ONLY.

Seminar attendance requirements:

Composition, CCI and DMM students enrolled in CMPN4607 (4th year students) are required to attend the common forum in Week 1 and Week 13, with additional weekly seminars from Week 2 to Week 12 inclusively (except mid-semester break). Special Projects Week will include intensive workshops for all streams and programs – this will be announced on Canvas hub site.

Further information:

Extensive information can be found on the Canvas hub site for Composition, Composition for Creative Industries and Digital Music and Media. This includes information regarding assessment criteria, rubrics, unit of study details, and other content, such as composition opportunities and related events and competitions.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

This unit of study outline was last modified on 12 Feb 2025.

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) and automated writing tools

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

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

CMPN4607: Composition 7

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal day] - Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

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

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

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect