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Unit outline_

OLET1811: Writing About Music

Semester 2, 2022 [Online] - Sydney

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: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Canvas assignment on Pitch
Do practice exercises (10x), then 5 musical excerpts will be analysed
6.25% Week 03
Due date: 21 Aug 2022 at 23:59
N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Assignment Canvas assignment on Rhythm and Tempo
Do practice exercises (10x), then 5 musical excerpts will be analysed
6.25% Week 04
Due date: 28 Aug 2022 at 23:59
N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
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
Due date: 04 Sep 2022 at 23:59
N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Canvas assignment on Structure and Genre
Do practice exercises (10x), then 5 musical excerpts will be analysed
6.25% Week 06
Due date: 11 Sep 2022 at 23:59
N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Analysis
Compare 2 versions of a given song with appropriate & accurate terminology
60% Week 07
Due date: 18 Sep 2022 at 23:59
Analysis task
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

Please see Canvas for details.

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.

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 this unit of study (1 online lecture) Individual study (1 hr) LO2
Week 02 Describing Pitch (5 online lectures) + participation in tutorial Online class (1 hr) LO1
Week 03 Describing Rhythm and Tempo (5 online lectures) + participation in tutorial Online class (1 hr) LO1
Week 04 Describing Expressive Techniques, Instrumentation and Orchestration, Texture and Timbre (4 online lectures) + participation in tutorial Online class (1 hr) LO1
Week 05 Describing Structure (large and small) and Genre + participation in tutorial Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4

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 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. 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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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.