Students

MMCC3043 – Vocal Studies: The Singer

2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor/Lecturer
Sarah Keith
sarah.keith@mq.edu.au
Contact via E-mail
10HA 165G
Tuesday 10-12
Lecturer, Tutor
Belinda McMahon
belinda.lemonmcmahon@mq.edu.au
Contact via E-mail
Lecturer
Diane Hughes
diane.hughes@mq.edu.au
Contact via E-mail
10HA 157
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit enables students to explore various contemporary singing practices including vocal recording and performance. With the aim of exploring individuality in singing, the unit explores a variety of creative vocal skills. Vocal processing and technological applications on the singing voice are also explored. The unit provides students with experiences of singing for recording, constructing a singer's profile and structuring/analysing individual performance showcases. Students will be allocated an individual recording/mixing session. Students engage in critical thinking and listening exercises related to the singer as artist.

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:

  • ULO1: identify and define the contemporary singer/artist.
  • ULO2: analyse, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques, reflexivity and/or analysis.
  • ULO3: apply and analyse the use of technology to the contemporary singing voice.
  • ULO4: identify and/or maintain vocal integrity.
  • ULO5: communicate through singing and collaborate as appropriate with creative professionals.
  • ULO6: maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies.

General Assessment Information

Late submission / Special Consideration

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved:

  1. a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and
  2. no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (including weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests, online participation.

Assessment standards

  1. Rubrics are used for all assessments and will be available on iLearn.
  2. Assessment standards in this unit align with the University's grade descriptors, available on Schedule 1 at: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment

Written Assessment Submission

  • All written assessment submissions must be through Turnitin by the due date (by 11:59 PM on the specified day). For all written work, students are required to use APA referencing system for all in-text referencing and reference lists. This includes recorded material as appropriate.

iLearn Forums

  • Students are required to participate in iLearn Forums for all group discussions. Please do not use social media, e.g., do not use Facebook. Due to copyright issues, the posting of lyrics, sheet music and/or videos on iLearn is not permitted. If appropriate, please post only links to resources such as websites/YouTube.

Performance and Recording Assessments​

  • Students will be allocated an assessment time for the recording and for the final task. Students are required to provide instrumental backing tracks in a suitable key for these tasks or will provide musicians and instruments to accompany their final performance task (in accordance with NSW Health guidelines). It is the responsibility of students to ensure that backing tracks do not breach copyright legislation, are obtained legally and are not pirated copies. No melody or vocals are to be on backing tracks used for assessment purposes.
  • No practical assessment tasks (group or solo) may be recorded (video or audio) by individual students nor uploaded to social media/platforms.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Creative vocal exercises 15% No Sunday Week 4, 21/3/21 (written): Week 5 tutorial (sung)
Vocal recording processes 30% No In break (recording): Sunday Week 7, 25/4/21 (written)
Vocal performance OR presentation 55% No Sunday Week 12, 30/5/21 (written): Week 13 TBD (P/P)

Creative vocal exercises

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Sunday Week 4, 21/3/21 (written): Week 5 tutorial (sung)
Weighting: 15%

 

Students sing a selection of vocal exercises (including set exercises, individual exercises based on research and creative exercises). Students are required to submit a fully referenced outline of their exercises and document the relevance of each exercise in relation to vocal and/or creative musical development,. Singing exercises will be assessed in tutorial times (where possible). Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques, reflexivity and/or analysis.
  • identify and/or maintain vocal integrity.
  • maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies.

Vocal recording processes

Assessment Type 1: Qualitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: In break (recording): Sunday Week 7, 25/4/21 (written)
Weighting: 30%

 

During the mid-session break, students will undertake a vocal recording project including preparation, recording, and mixing. Students will then analyse the recording post-session, taking into account preparation, the recording process and the recorded product. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques, reflexivity and/or analysis.
  • apply and analyse the use of technology to the contemporary singing voice.
  • identify and/or maintain vocal integrity.
  • communicate through singing and collaborate as appropriate with creative professionals.
  • maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies.

Vocal performance OR presentation

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 55 hours
Due: Sunday Week 12, 30/5/21 (written): Week 13 TBD (P/P)
Weighting: 55%

 

Students analyse, document and perform/present on the singer as a creative, musical artist. As part of this assessment, students are required to submit a project outline and reflection that consolidate unit content, individual research and associated analyses. The outline will be used to provide spoken content when students individually perform OR present. All projects must be performed or presented from memory, that is, no lyrics or scripts are to be used. This project includes the use of technology as appropriate in ways that consider and communicate effective vocal sustainability. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify and define the contemporary singer/artist.
  • analyse, demonstrate and integrate individual artistry through contemporary singing utilising appropriate vocal technique, expressive techniques, reflexivity and/or analysis.
  • apply and analyse the use of technology to the contemporary singing voice.
  • identify and/or maintain vocal integrity.
  • communicate through singing and collaborate as appropriate with creative professionals.
  • maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Lectures for this unit will be online only (via Zoom and/or recorded), and commence in Week 1 of Session 1. Links will be posted on iLearn.

Tutorials will be held in Room 187, 10 Hadenfeld Ave (Drama Studio) and commence in Week 2.

Readings and exercises

  • Required readings are available through Leganto. An indicative allocation of 15 hours is an estimate of the time required to complete these readings.
  • Recommended readings will be progressively listed on iLearn.
  • Set singing exercises are available on iLearn.

Individual Learning

  • Due to the practical and interactive components of this unit, students are encouraged to attend weekly lectures and tutorials, to read the essential readings prior to attending weekly lectures, to conduct individual research and to work on vocal development progressively throughout the semester. Students therefore need to devise a progressive rehearsal schedule that enables regular practice of vocal exercises. An indicative allocation of 30 hours is an estimate of the time required to complete additional research and practice.

Vocal Health and Care

  • Students should bring bottled room temperature water to all tutorials. Students are requested to advise their tutor of any vocal health issues.

Feedback

  • Formal and informal feedback will be available throughout the session.

Technologies used and required

  • A computer and Internet access are required. Music playback facility is also required.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.

Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook