Students

MUS 305 – Advanced Guitar

2017 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Denis Crowdy
Contact via Email
193G
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(39cp at 100 level or above) including MUS207
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit explores a range of guitar techniques (left and right hand) in order to build instrumental skills in rock/blues styles. The unit combines study tutorials and practical workshops.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Listen critically and analyse repertoire and sociocultural contexts in written and verbal forms
  • Examine and analyse relevant repertoire for understanding the range of guitar playing techniques required for specific genres and styles
  • Demonstrate advanced technical and creative skills on the guitar
  • Demonstrate advanced skills relevant to an ensemble
  • Demonstrate an understanding and application of improvisational techniques through playing and analysing songs/pieces.

General Assessment Information

To complete the unit satisfactorily the student need to know that:

1. assessment tasks are aligned to the unit Learning Outcomes. Timely submission of assessment tasks is a unit requirement or penalties apply. 10% per day (including weekends) will be deducted for all late submissions unless Disruptions to Studies (including a request for an extension) is approved.’

2. You are required to attend all tutorials. As participation in the process of learning is linked to and underpins the unit Learning Outcomes, you will need to either apply for Disruptions to Studies to cover any missed tutorial (if the disruption is greater than three consecutive days) or supply appropriate documentation to your unit convenor for any missed tutorial (if less than three consecutive days).

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Individual Performance 25% No Continuous
Quizzes 30% No Weeks 4, 7, 10
Presentation and report 20% No Weeks 9-11
Group Performance 25% No Weeks 12, 13

Individual Performance

Due: Continuous
Weighting: 25%

Individual performance is assessed through performance of technical exercises and solo pieces and extracts set in class. Simple tablature reading exercises will also form part of this assessment.

Marking Criteria: Application of appropriate guitar technique and evaluation of musicianship including dynamics, phrasing, rhythm, tone and stylistic integrity, through solo performance


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding and application of improvisational techniques through playing and analysing songs/pieces.

Quizzes

Due: Weeks 4, 7, 10
Weighting: 30%

A series of quizzes will be presented throughout the semester testing knowledge of essential theory, history, listening to suggested repertoire and engagement with fundamental guitar related knowledge presented in class.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate advanced technical and creative skills on the guitar

Presentation and report

Due: Weeks 9-11
Weighting: 20%

Students will explore selected essential repertoire from a chosen musical style/genre, isolate and analyse essential features and associated styles, then present this as a 15 minute presentation to the class. This presentation will be accompanied by a report of no longer than 700 words and handed on the day of the presentation.

Marking Criteria:

The presentation will comprise 60% of the mark for this assignment, and the written component component the remaining 40%.

Reports and presentations will be assessed on the basis of: 

(i) evidence of proper research 

(ii) the application of appropriate interpretative and analytical tools to the research topic

(iii) the quality of the report in terms of its content and organisation, 

(iv) the effectiveness of the oral presentation (including adherence to the time limit), and 

(v) Consistent and rigorous referencing and citations.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Listen critically and analyse repertoire and sociocultural contexts in written and verbal forms
  • Examine and analyse relevant repertoire for understanding the range of guitar playing techniques required for specific genres and styles

Group Performance

Due: Weeks 12, 13
Weighting: 25%

Students in a group have to select song for their performance. Students will perform in an ensemble to test essential performance and instrumental skills. Ensemble performance will be based on participation in tutorials, rehearsals and an ability to perform with other guitarists during the seminars and a final performance with a peer audience.

Marking criteria:

  • Implementation of appropriate ensemble technique.
  • Individual interpretation and expressive techniques.
  • Inclusion of various musical and musical theory techniques learned in this unit. This includes, scales, extended chords, modes and other elements of performative relevance.
  • Inclusion of an improvised part by each member of the group.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Examine and analyse relevant repertoire for understanding the range of guitar playing techniques required for specific genres and styles
  • Demonstrate advanced skills relevant to an ensemble
  • Demonstrate an understanding and application of improvisational techniques through playing and analysing songs/pieces.

Delivery and Resources

Readings/learning materials are distributed during classes.

Students are also encouraged to purchase the following theory book:

Fitzgerald, J 2003, Popular music theory and musicianship, Hazelmount Publishing, Lismore, NSW. ISBN: 0975056808

 

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Additional information

MMCCS website https://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/faculties_and_departments/faculty_of_arts/department_of_media_music_communication_and_cultural_studies/

MMCCS Session Re-mark Application http://www.mq.edu.au/pubstatic/public/download/?id=167914

Information is correct at the time of publication

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate advanced technical and creative skills on the guitar
  • Demonstrate advanced skills relevant to an ensemble
  • Demonstrate an understanding and application of improvisational techniques through playing and analysing songs/pieces.

Assessment tasks

  • Individual Performance
  • Quizzes
  • Presentation and report
  • Group Performance

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Individual Performance
  • Group Performance

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Listen critically and analyse repertoire and sociocultural contexts in written and verbal forms

Assessment tasks

  • Individual Performance
  • Group Performance

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Listen critically and analyse repertoire and sociocultural contexts in written and verbal forms
  • Examine and analyse relevant repertoire for understanding the range of guitar playing techniques required for specific genres and styles
  • Demonstrate advanced technical and creative skills on the guitar
  • Demonstrate advanced skills relevant to an ensemble
  • Demonstrate an understanding and application of improvisational techniques through playing and analysing songs/pieces.

Assessment task

  • Quizzes

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Listen critically and analyse repertoire and sociocultural contexts in written and verbal forms

Assessment tasks

  • Individual Performance
  • Presentation and report
  • Group Performance

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate advanced technical and creative skills on the guitar
  • Demonstrate advanced skills relevant to an ensemble
  • Demonstrate an understanding and application of improvisational techniques through playing and analysing songs/pieces.

Assessment tasks

  • Individual Performance
  • Group Performance

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Demonstrate advanced skills relevant to an ensemble

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation and report
  • Group Performance

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Demonstrate advanced skills relevant to an ensemble

Assessment task

  • Group Performance