Outline

Overview

This unit of study deals with the different ways in which we comprehend music and with the different ways in which that comprehension might be explained. It deals with modes of hearing and musical analysis for the purpose of leading students towards a deeper knowledge of how music in various genres (ranging from the classical mainstream to the twentieth-century avant-garde, from Tin Pan Alley songs to punk rock and hip-hop) is understood. This is a required unit of study for a music major in an Arts degree.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Analysis, History and Cultural Studies
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Charles Fairchild, charles.fairchild@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	James Maher, james.maher@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Small continuous assessment	Three brief essays Essay	30%	Multiple weeks	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Class Discussion and Weekly Journal Participation in class discussion and weekly journal	20%	Ongoing	1000 words (ongoing)
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Final paper Essay	50%	Week 13 Due date: 14 Nov 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 28 Nov 2024	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Class Discussion/Journal: From week 2, participation will be assessed in terms of tutorial attendance and focused engagement in the weekly discussions (10%) in tandem with the writing of a weekly journal (10%) - totalling 20% of the entire course mark.

In summary, this assignment module consists of two components:

1. Each week you are required to submit one comment about the weekly content via the designated Discussion Board in Canvas.

2. Within the journal, you will write a general summary of the week’s reading(s) as well as brief observations/critiques etc. This is also a good place to store a ‘glossary of terms’ as the course progresses – and make casual observations about your own musical tastes/encounters as they relate to the content. 1000-3000 words. Due November 13 via Canvas.
Three brief essays (500 words) on topics representative of the music covered by the unit’s various segments, to be turned in electronic format, via Turn-It-In on the unit’s Canvas website. This task could involve a small annotated bibliography of literature in a particular field discussed; a brief analysis/discussion of music that relates to a field/development; or critical comparisons of two or more of the assigned readings. These will be due by midnight Sunday, weeks : 4, 8, 10 (40%).
Final paper: (2000 words) in essay/research format – on an instructor approved topic of the student's choice due in electronic format via Turn-It-In on the unit’s Canvas website by midnight, November 5.

Possible topic areas and examples of questions will be posted on Canvas. Research conducted for the four brief essays can be developed into the final paper, but should be integrated appropriately and not adapted ‘word for word.’ (40%)

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 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:

Any assessment submitted after the due time and date (or extended due time and date) will incur a late penalty of 5% of the total marks per 24 hour period

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.

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	Modes of Listening: In week 1, we will discuss course structure and assessments. We will also explore concepts pertaining to listening, music, noise, and analysis - as well as examples of the types of critical thinking encountered in this course.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Modes of Listening–We will extend some of the concepts introduced in the lecture from Week 1 – particularly what it means to listen to music in different socio-cultural contexts, as well as ideas related to the emergence of the “musical work” within the discipline of musicology.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Listening (and Not)–In week 3, we will explore the enshrining of early musicology as a so-called 'scientific' discipline, anticipated by the development of theoretical treatises on music theory (from the Antique to Modern periods). We will also discuss the rise of musical criticism and its relationship with the Ideal philosophy of Kant and Schiller - revisiting questions regarding formalism, absolute music, (post) tonal analysis and the 'musical object.'	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Looking and Listening–Differing from musicology, ethnomusicology is known as being concerned with the music of non-western cultures. This week explores the development of Ethnomusicology from the late-19th century as it developed out of Musical Folklore, and what Guido Adler termed “Comparative Musicology.” We will examine the influence of various anthropological approaches to analysing the music of non-Western cultures	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Industrial-Strength Listening–Around the mid-20th century, cultural theorist and Frankfurt School figurehead Adorno wrote about the role of music in society and culture, as well as what it means to 'listen' under Capitalism. Adorno’s writing had a subsequent impact on the development of music sociology. We will focus on the emergence of what Adorno called the "culture industry" and how it relates to the study of music and mass culture.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	Popular Music as Extremely Specific Sounds–Continuing on from the discussion of the relationship between music and recording, this lecture will explore how popular music is understood within scholarship as a genre which exploded out of the post-war periods. We will explore what it means to 'analyse' such music within the field of popular music studies. We will also examine how we might begin to approach popular genres such jazz, rock and electronic music.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	The Music Itself–The idea of music being a distinct and separate 'thing,' in and of 'itself,' is a complex and revealing idea. Dr. Campbell will present this idea as a key contextual element that remains relevant despite decades of intense critique.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Intertextuality–This week we will be led by Dr Rachel Campbell, an expert on 20th century classical music. Dr Campbell will begin with the idea of intertextuality as a basis for the practice of composition and reception of music.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Experimental Modes of Listening–This week Dr Campbell will approach the vast socio-cultural changes of the mid-20th century from another direction: the experimental compositions of the American and European avant garde and how this has reconfigured the philosophical foundation of music itself. We will touch upon conceptions of music-as-politics within the music of John Cage, Pauline Oliveros and Fluxus; music technologies; as well as the dynamics of the audience within new-music contexts.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Listening through Technology–This week, we will discuss the role of technology in mediating the musical experiences of our everyday lives – the role of the internet in changing how we listen and understand music – as well as the ways in which composers and artists have 'hacked' technology for their artistic and aesthetic goals in genres such as electronic music, hip hop, glitch and noise music. We will be asking, how has technology transformed our relationship with the ‘sound object’?	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Sound-as-Material–In the words of Christopher Cox, sound is culturally mediated, (post) material flux. This week, we will discuss the spatial re-conceptualisation of the sound object within sound-art, as well as the role of soundscapes within acoustic ecology. This will lead to an exploration of ‘sound studies’ - a field which, arguably, shares parallels with the 'new' musicology – as well as growing concerns around the 'cultural politics' of listening and the cultural economy of music/sound.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Making Musical Understanding–In the final week, we will summarise the trajectory of the course - leading to a discussion of how the idea of the musical subject/object has transformed philosophically and aesthetically within different approaches to understanding music - and how music is not something to be encountered in isolation but entangled within broader socio-cultural, technological, non-human, and ecological contexts.	Lecture and tutorial (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

Understanding Music: List of Weekly Readings

PDFs can be found under ‘Modules’ in Canvas

Week 2: Modes of Listening–We will extend some of the concepts introduced in the lecture from Week 1 – particularly what it means to listen to music in different socio-cultural contexts, as well as ideas related to the emergence of the “musical work” within the discipline of musicology.

Chion, Michel. (2019) 'The Three Listening Modes.' In Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 22-34.

Goehr, Lydia. (1989) 'Being True to the Work.' The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 47(1): 55-67.

Week 3: Listening (and Not)–In week 3, we will explore the enshrining of early musicology as a so-called 'scientific' discipline, anticipated by the development of theoretical treatises on music theory (from the Antique to Modern periods). We will also discuss the rise of musical criticism and its relationship with the Ideal philosophy of Kant and Schiller - revisiting questions regarding formalism, absolute music, (post) tonal analysis and the 'musical object.'

Born, Georgina. (2010) 'Listening, Mediation, Event: Anthropological and Sociological Perspectives.' Journal of the Royal Musical Association, 135(1): 79-89.

Pasnau, Robert. (1999) What is Sound?' The Philosophical Quarterly, 49(196): 309-324.

Week 4: Looking and Listening–Differing from musicology, ethnomusicology is known as being concerned with the music of non-western cultures. This week explores the development of Ethnomusicology from the late-19th century as it developed out of Musical Folklore, and what Guido Adler termed “Comparative Musicology.” We will examine the influence of various anthropological approaches to analysing the music of non-Western cultures.

Ames, Eric. (2003) ‘The Sound of Evolution.’ Modernism/Modernity, 10(2): 297-325.

Week 5: Listening through Technology–This week, we will discuss the role of technology in mediating the musical experiences of our everyday lives – the role of the internet in changing how we listen and understand music – as well as the ways in which composers and artists have 'hacked' technology for their artistic and aesthetic goals in genres such as electronic music, hip hop, glitch and noise music. We will be asking, how has technology transformed our relationship with the ‘sound object’?

Clarke, Eric. (2007) 'The Impact of Recording on Listening.' twentieth-century music 4(1): 47-70.

Kane, Brian. (2018) 'The Fluctuating Sound Object.' In Sound Objects, Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, pp. 53-70.

Week 6: Popular Music as Extremely Specific Sounds–Continuing on from the discussion of the relationship between music and recording, this lecture will explore how popular music is understood within scholarship as a genre which exploded out of the post-war periods. We will explore what it means to 'analyse' such music within the field of popular music studies. We will also examine how we might begin to approach popular genres such jazz, rock and electronic music.

Gracyk, Theodore. (1996) 'That Wild, Thin Mercury Sound.' From Rhythm and Noise: An Aesthetics of Rock. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press.

Gracyk, Theodore. (1996) 'I'll Be Your Mirror: Recording and Representing.' From Rhythm and Noise: An Aesthetics of Rock. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press.

Week 7: Industrial-Strength Listening–Around the mid-20th century, cultural theorist and Frankfurt School figurehead Adorno wrote about the role of music in society and culture, as well as what it means to 'listen' under Capitalism. Adorno’s writing had a subsequent impact on the development of music sociology. We will focus on the emergence of what Adorno called the "culture industry" and how it relates to the study of music and mass culture.

Scherzinger, Martin. (2005) 'Music, Corporate Power, and Unending War.' Cultural Critique 60: 23–67.

DeNora, Tia. (1999) 'Music as a Technology of the Self.' Poetics 27(1): 31-56.

Week 8: Intertextuality–This week we will be led by Dr Rachel Campbell, an expert on 20th century classical music. Dr Campbell will begin with the idea of intertextuality as a basis for the practice of composition and reception of music.

Readings TBD

Week 9: Experimental Modes of Listening–This week Dr Campbell will approach the vast socio-cultural changes of the mid-20th century from another direction: the experimental compositions of the American and European avant garde and how this has reconfigured the philosophical foundation of music itself. We will touch upon conceptions of music-as-politics within the music of John Cage, Pauline Oliveros and Fluxus; music technologies; as well as the dynamics of the audience within new-music contexts.

Cage, John. (1961) 'Experimental Music.' Silence: Lectures and Writings, pp. 7-12.

Kahn, Douglas. (1993) 'The Latest: Fluxus and Music.' In the Spirit of Fluxus, pp. 102-121.

Oliveros, Pauline. Sonic Meditations. Baltimore, MD: Smith publications, 1974.

[SEMESTER BREAK]

Week 10: The Music Itself–The idea of music being a distinct and separate 'thing,' in and of 'itself,' is a complex and revealing idea. Dr. Campbell will present this idea as a key contextual element that remains relevant despite decades of intense critique.

Readings TBD

Week 11: Special Projects week (no class meetings)

Week 12: Sound-as-Material–In the words of Christopher Cox, sound is culturally mediated, (post) material flux. This week, we will discuss the spatial re-conceptualisation of the sound object within sound-art, as well as the role of soundscapes within acoustic ecology. This will lead to an exploration of ‘sound studies’ - a field which, arguably, shares parallels with the 'new' musicology – as well as growing concerns around the 'cultural politics' of listening and the cultural economy of music/sound.

Born, Georgina. (2018) 'On Nonhuman Sound–Sound as Relation.' In Sound Objects. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, pp. 185-208.

Week 13: Making Musical Understanding–In the final week, we will summarise the trajectory of the course - leading to a discussion of how the idea of the musical subject/object has transformed philosophically and aesthetically within different approaches to understanding music - and how music is not something to be encountered in isolation but entangled within broader socio-cultural, technological, non-human, and ecological contexts.

Born, Georgina. (2010) 'For a Relational Musicology: Music and Interdisciplinarity, Beyond the Practice Turn: the 2007 dent medal address.' Journal of the Royal Musical Association 135(2): 205-243.

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. explain, through verbal descriptions, how music as an 'object' of study has transformed historically, aesthetically and contextually
LO2. explain, in essays, how the understanding of different musical practices is underpinned by various academic and/or socio-cultural developments
LO3. by employing diverse methods to comprehending music, students will be able to deal intellectually not just with music they already ‘know’ but also with music they have yet to encounter

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.

This unit of study has been reworked with a new unit of study coordinator.

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

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

MUSC3699: Understanding Music: Modes of Hearing

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

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

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