Students

MMCC3043 – Vocal Studies: The Singer

2023 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor, lecturer
Diane Hughes
diane.hughes@mq.edu.au
Contact via By e-mail
10HA 254
By appointment
Co-convenor, lecturer
Sarah Keith
sarah.keith@mq.edu.au
Contact via By e-mail
10HA 165G
See iLearn
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: situate individual artistry in an academic context.
  • ULO3: apply and analyse the use of technology to the contemporary singing voice.
  • ULO4: demonstrate understanding of creative vocal practices and musical integrity.
  • ULO5: communicate through singing and collaborate as appropriate with creative professionals.
  • ULO6: maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies.

General Assessment Information

Vocal recording processes

MSR refers to the mid-session recess (10/04/23 - 21/04/23).

 

Artistry Project

The practical component - performances or presentations - will be individually scheduled during Week 13.

 

Late Assessment Submission Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl. essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/ exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special

Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

 

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Creative vocal exercises 15% No Written: 23:55, 19/3/23. Sung: Week 5 tutorial
Vocal recording processes 30% No Recording: During MSR. Written: 23:55, 30/4/23
Artistry Project 55% No Written: 23:55, 28/5/23. Perform/Present: Wk 13

Creative vocal exercises

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Written: 23:55, 19/3/23. Sung: Week 5 tutorial
Weighting: 15%

 

Students sing a selection of creative vocal exercises. A fully referenced outline of exercises will be submitted, documenting the relevance of each exercise in relation to vocal and/or creative musical development and goals. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • situate individual artistry in an academic context.
  • demonstrate understanding of creative vocal practices and musical 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: Recording: During MSR. Written: 23:55, 30/4/23
Weighting: 30%

 

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:
  • situate individual artistry in an academic context.
  • apply and analyse the use of technology to the contemporary singing voice.
  • demonstrate understanding of creative vocal practices and musical integrity.
  • communicate through singing and collaborate as appropriate with creative professionals.
  • maintain vocal health and vocal care strategies.

Artistry Project

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 55 hours
Due: Written: 23:55, 28/5/23. Perform/Present: Wk 13
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 collectively 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 formally 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.
  • situate individual artistry in an academic context.
  • demonstrate understanding of creative vocal practices and musical integrity.
  • 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 held in-person and commence in Week 1. Tutorials will commence in Week 2.

See the MQ TImetables website for location information.

Readings and exercises

  • Required readings are available through Leganto. 
  • Recommended readings will be listed on iLearn.
  • Set singing exercises are available on iLearn.

Individual Learning

  • Due to the practical and interactive components of this unit, students are responsible for attending weekly lectures and tutorials, reading the essential readings prior to attending weekly lectures, conducting individual research and working on vocal development progressively throughout the semester. Students therefore need to devise a progressive rehearsal schedule that enables regular practice of vocal exercises. 

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 delivered throughout the session.

Technology, Performance and Referencing Requirements

  • A computer and Internet access are required. Music playback facility is also required.
  • Due to copyright issues, no practical assessments may be recorded or posted to social media by students in either audio or video format.
  • Students will be required to provide an instrumental backing track in a suitable key for performing or recording. 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 (including backing vocals) are to be on the backing track used for assessment purposes (i.e., it should be instrumental accompaniment only).
  • Performances are to be from memory. That is, no reading of scripts (e.g., spoken introductions), lyrics or music.
  • For all written work, students are required to use the APA 7th referencing system for all in-text referencing, reference lists and spoken introductions. This also includes references for recorded material as appropriate.

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 2023.01R of the Handbook