Students

MMCC3032 – Music at the Limits: Experimentation and Innovation

2026 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor and Lecturer
Nadine Manion
nadine.manion@mq.edu.au
Contact via nadine.manion@mq.edu.au
Hub 191, 10 Hadenfeld Ave
Consultation by appointment
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 addresses musical experimentation and innovation. It examines key movements, innovations, and major ideas that have shaped, and continue to shape, the evolution of musical forms and practices. The unit also addresses contemporary approaches to musical hybridity and sound production as related to contemporary performance practice in a globalized environment. This includes approaches to songwriting and digital production. In particular, the unit will explore examples of musical creativity such as progressive rock, jazz, psychedelic music, punk/post-punk, ambient, mash-up, minimal techno and electronics, glitch and noise, post-rock and post-classical music. Students will gain a current and historical overview of the dynamic pattern of innovative ideas in music across writing, performance and production.

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: demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
  • ULO2: evaluate critically the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
  • ULO3: analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
  • ULO4: synthesise and communicate independent judgement in musical experimentation.
  • ULO5: utilise historical models to assess and/or create musical works.

General Assessment Information

Penalties for the late submission of assessment tasks

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.
 
The Special Consideration application can be found here:

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Essay 50% No 13/09/2026 Individual Yes Open
Creative Work 50% No Week 12 - times TBA Individual No Observed

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 13/09/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Students will write an essay addressing one of the set topics on iLearn. The essay topics will require students to draw on unit content and independent research.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
  • evaluate critically the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
  • synthesise and communicate independent judgement in musical experimentation.

Creative Work

Assessment Type 1: Creative task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: Week 12 - times TBA
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Students will create a musical work that implements the ideas specified on iLearn. The work must be accompanied by a viva voce. Further details on how to prepare for a viva voce will be available on iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
  • evaluate critically the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
  • analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
  • synthesise and communicate independent judgement in musical experimentation.
  • utilise historical models to assess and/or create musical works.

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Delivery

There is one lecture and one tutorial per week. Lectures will be recorded and available on iLearn (Echo360). It is expected that all students will have attended/viewed each lecture before they attend the associated tutorial. Lectures begin in Week 1. Tutorials begin in Week 2. Online students will be able to access the tutoials via the Zoom link on ilearn. Please see iLearn for further information about delivery and resources in this unit.

Unit Schedule

Please see iLearn for details.

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 connect.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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

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 2026.02 of the Handbook