OLET1811: Semester 1, 2022

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Units OLET1811 Semester 1 2022 [Online]

Unit outline_

OLET1811: Writing About Music

Semester 1, 2022 [Online] - Sydney

Overview

Music has a language all of its own, yet we may want to describe it using words. In this unit of study, students will learn the standard terminology of the elements of music, including pitch, rhythm, tempo, expressive techniques, texture, timbre and structure. They will learn to use these in a way that communicates musical content to a non-technical reader or listener. Prior knowledge of music notation or music theory is not required. The music examples analysed range from well-known to obscure pieces and songs, come from Western and non-Western music, and include music from historical to contemporary genres.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points	2
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Natalie Nicolas, natalie.nicolas@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Natalie Nicolas, natalie.nicolas@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Participation in tutorials 1-4 Active participation in tutorials	15%	Multiple weeks	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Canvas assignment on Pitch Do practice exercises (10x), then 5 musical excerpts will be analysed	6.25%	Week 03	N/A
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Canvas assignment on Rhythm and Tempo Do practice exercises (10x), then 5 musical excerpts will be analysed	6.25%	Week 04	N/A
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Canvas assignment on expressive techniques, instrumentation and orchestra, texture and timbre Do practice exercises (10x), then 5 musical excerpts will be analysed	6.25%	Week 05	N/A
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Canvas assignment on Structure and Genre Do practice exercises (10x), then 5 musical excerpts will be analysed	6.25%	Week 06	N/A
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Analysis Compare 2 versions of a given song with appropriate & accurate terminology	60%	Week 07	Analysis task
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Please see the rubric on Canvas giving information as to how the assignment will be marked.

Criteria for assessment of participation in tutorials:

Willingness to become involved in class discussions
Independent and autonomous approach to responses to tutor's questions
Attentiveness in and punctuality to all tutorials

Please note that we expect you to have your camera ON during tutorials.

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:

Late penalties are as per University guidelines.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to this unit of study (1 online lecture)	Individual study (1 hr)
Week 02	Describing Pitch (5 online lectures) + participation in tutorial	Online class (1 hr)
Week 03	Describing Rhythm and Tempo (5 online lectures) + participation in tutorial	Online class (1 hr)
Week 04	Describing Expressive Techniques, Instrumentation and Orchestration, Texture and Timbre (4 online lectures) + participation in tutorial	Online class (1 hr)
Week 05	Describing Structure (large and small) and Genre + participation in tutorial	Online class (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

As per the Sydney Conservatorium of Music resolutions, http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/conservatorium/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml (Item 12):

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Associate Dean (Education). 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%.

We expect students to have their cameras ON while participating in tutorials.

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 2 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 40-50 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings and musical examples are provided on the Canvas site.

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. Accurately describe different facets of a piece of music that is heard, using correct music terminology.
LO2. Use critical thinking in working through relative importances and functions of the musical elements in a given excerpt of music, and will provide justification of this based on evidence and consideration of other possibilities
LO3. Use oral and written communication skills, including in digital formats, to present their analytical findings, and be able to communicate accurately about music in different contexts.
LO4. Employ analytical inventiveness to piece together different musical elements from a musical excerpt, and then combine them to provide unique or individual insights into that music’s construction.

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.

Assessment changes including marks for participation in tutorials. Increased clarity around the requirements of the final assignment. Canvas site corrected for errors.

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

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

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