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Unit outline_

MUSC1506: Classical Music: A Cultural History

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit surveys some of the main developments in the history of Western classical music from the Medieval period to the present, and relates them to broader historical and artistic trends. Students will listen to a diverse array of pieces composed over the last 1200 years and discuss their attributes, underlying philosophies and contexts. Different kinds of relationships between music, society, and the history of ideas are examined and debated.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Analysis, History and Cultural Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

The ability to follow a musical score while listening to the music and knowledge of elementary music theory

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator David Larkin, david.larkin@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) David Larkin, david.larkin@sydney.edu.au
Rachel Campbell, rachel.campbell@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Nicholas Kennedy, nicholas.kennedy@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
hurdle task
Exam
Exam (hurdle task)
35% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Tutorial quiz Research worksheets
Research worksheets
15% Multiple weeks 3 short worksheets
Outcomes assessed: LO6 LO7
Participation Tutorial preparation and participation
Participation
10% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Online task Early Feedback Task - Canvas quiz
Canvas quiz based on lecture materials 1& 2 #earlyfeedbacktask
0% Week 03
Due date: 14 Aug 2024 at 23:59
10-15mins
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
Assignment Essay Version 1
Written assignment - there may be an additional Viva with this task.
20% Week 09
Due date: 27 Sep 2024 at 23:59
1,750 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Assignment Essay Version 2
Written assignment - there may be an additional viva
20% Week 12
Due date: 25 Oct 2024 at 23:59
1,750 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

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

  • Early Feedback Task: To comply with University dictates, there will be a Week 2 Canvas Quiz, which will test your knowledge of Lecture and Tutorial material from Weeks 1 & 2. This is a formative assessment, and will not form part of your final grade; however, failure to pass or to attempt this lead to astudent receiving a communication linking them to academic and support services.
  • Tutorial preparation and participation: Throughout the semester, students will be assessed on their level of preparation for tutorials. This involves participating in class having prepared answers to the tutorial questions for that week.
  • Final exam: The final in-person examination involves both aural and written elements. This is a hurdle task, meaning that students must pass this exam (achieve a mark of 50% or more) in order to pass the Unit of Study.
  • Research worksheets: 3 short online worksheets are submitted in advance of the tutorials and then discussed in class. These tasks are intended to help you prepare for the essay.
  • Essay: Students will submit an essay answer on one of the topics provided. A complete, or near-complete, version 1 will be submitted first so as to provide students with feedback on their research, arguments, linking of arguments and writing style. Based on this feedback, version 2 will be produced and submitted.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

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.

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.

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

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 The Medieval Period Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8
Week 02 The Renaissance Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8
Week 03 Baroque: part 1 (17C) Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 04 Baroque: part 2 (early 18C) Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 05 The Classical Style Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 06 Beethoven Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 07 Romanticism 1 (small forms) Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 08 Romanticism 2 (large forms) Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 09 Wars of the romantics Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 11 Modernism, Impressionism, Expressionism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 12 Exoticism, Nationalism, Antiromanticism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 13 Developments since 1945 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

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

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Canvas website.

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. aurally identify music from the major periods in Western classical music
  • LO2. outline musical and aesthetic developments from the medieval period to the mid-twentieth century
  • LO3. assess some of the social, cultural, technological, and political factors that impacted on musical developments
  • LO4. understand some of the main historiographical issues involving Western classical music
  • LO5. demonstrate familiarity with 50 highly diverse set works, their original performance contexts and salient technical features
  • LO6. use the tools and resources necessary for undertaking academic research into classical music
  • LO7. undertake directed research on classical-music topics with an understanding of conventions of academic writing
  • LO8. engage respectfully but critically with the views of others through in-class discussion

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.

The unit was generally well received in 2023, and no substantive changes have been made to the layout for 2024, with the exception of the addition of a new Early Feedback Task, as mandated by the University.

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.