Students
MMCS200 – Musical Authorship and Songwriting
2019 – S1 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor/Lecturer/Tutor
Dr Andrew Robson
Contact via Email
Rm 256
Please email for a consultation time
Associate Professor
Di Hughes
Please email for a consultation time
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
3
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
12cp at 100 level or above
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
The phenomenon of 'the song' in contemporary music is undisputed. This unit will explore 'the song' in various cultural and historical contexts. Students will deconstruct some of the most popular and critically regarded contemporary compositions in order to better understand and facilitate their own creative techniques. Song structure will be a unit focus and topics will include lyrical, melodic, rhythmic, chordal and musical components, and will build on and provide links between existing Music units in music production, voice, guitar, music business, and popular music. Recording as a compositional tool, loop stations and aspects of music production will enable students to work with various music technologies in their creative practice. In the context of music business, the authorship and ownership of original material will be discussed.
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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:
- Demonstrate the context of the song in popular and/or world musics
- Analyse critically the components of song structure in a variety of contexts
- Analyse forms of authorship
- Analyse the song in publishing, performance and recording contexts
- Create an original song
- Demonstrate musical and lyrical components of the song
- Demonstrate the use of various technologies
- Communicate effectively through an original song
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation | 15% | No | 17/3 (script); Wks 4-6 (pres) |
| Song analysis | 10% | No | Week 6 - 5/04/19 |
| Creative Process Journal | 25% | No | Week 8 - 3/05/19 (from wk 2) |
| Original song | 50% | No | Week 12 - 31/05/19 |
Presentation
Due: 17/3 (script); Wks 4-6 (pres)
Weighting: 15%
For this task you are required give a five minute presentation during tutorials (Wks 4-6) in which you will discuss a cover version of a popular song. For example, Aretha Franklin’s 1967 version of RESPECT is a cover of Otis Redding’s original version (released in 1965). Compare your chosen example with the original version of the song and consider the ways in which the cover differs from the original. Your presentation will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Ability to research and analyse appropriate examples of a popular song (cover and original version) Analysis should include the song's authorship, arranger, performance and/or recording contexts and date/timeframe.
- Identification of the song's context (historical, social and/or cultural)
- Presentation is clear, concise and demonstrates preparation and planning
- Academic writing and referencing
Audio visual aids (such as PowerPoint) can be used for this assessment task. A 500 word referenced script of your presentation is to be submitted via Turnitin by 11pm on 17/3/2019
To ensure fairness, students will be selected to give their presentations at random, beginning in tutorials from Monday 18 March (week 4).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the context of the song in popular and/or world musics
- Analyse critically the components of song structure in a variety of contexts
- Analyse forms of authorship
- Analyse the song in publishing, performance and recording contexts
- Demonstrate musical and lyrical components of the song
- Demonstrate the use of various technologies
Song analysis
Due: Week 6 - 5/04/19
Weighting: 10%
You are required to comprehensively analyse a song. The song may be from popular music traditions and styles or from world musics. For this assessment, a song is considered to include lyrics, melody and musical accompaniment. Only commercially released audio tracks may be used for this assessment. You are required to analyse an original song of any artist or band (that is, no cover versions are to be analysed). Please note that the maximum word count of 500 words includes the reference list. It is recommended that you refer to the assessment criteria below for analytical content. The use of sub-headings is permitted.
You will be assessed on:
- Identification of the song's authorship, including date/timeframe
- Identification of the song's context (historical, social and/or cultural) and style
- Analysis of song components
- Analysis of any publishing, performance and/or recording contexts
- Academic writing and referencing
The essay is to be submitted through Turnitin by 11pm on the due date.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the context of the song in popular and/or world musics
- Analyse critically the components of song structure in a variety of contexts
- Analyse forms of authorship
- Analyse the song in publishing, performance and recording contexts
- Demonstrate musical and lyrical components of the song
- Demonstrate the use of various technologies
Creative Process Journal
Due: Week 8 - 3/05/19 (from wk 2)
Weighting: 25%
You are required to write a process journal consisting of weekly entires (up to 300 words per entry) that documents your musical authorship. It is expected that your journal entries will correlate to weekly course content (lectures, readings, your own research and tutorials) and any subsequent influences on your creative processes. in addition, the journal should answer the weekly question that relates to each week's lecture content.
You will be assessed on:
- Effective communication of original ideas
- Creative components
- Documentation of the creative processes and song context
- Identification of musical authorship
- Integration of unit content
- Academic writing and referencing
The journal is to be submitted through Turnitin by 11pm on the due date.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse forms of authorship
- Create an original song
- Demonstrate musical and lyrical components of the song
- Demonstrate the use of various technologies
- Communicate effectively through an original song
Original song
Due: Week 12 - 31/05/19
Weighting: 50%
PART 1 (40%) - Your Song
You are required to write an original song during the course of this unit. This is a song to be written by you and not by a band that you may be part of. You will be required to discuss/play your song progressively through the Session in tutorials.
For this assessment, a song must include melody, lyrical content and musical accompaniment. You will record the song for assessment submission. The level of production is an individual choice; for students who do not play an instrument, you may want to consider using a loop station to assist in the creation/recording of your song.
Your final song will be submitted digitally as an audio or visual recording. The uploaded file should be of sufficient sound quality to do justice to your song. This will be uploaded to iLearn.
Song Submission: iLearn
PART 2 (10%) - Relevant Documentation
You are required to submit a credit list stating all those who assisted in bringing your project to fruition - e.g., musician/s, vocalist/s, recording engineer/s. Please include the dates, places and method/s relevant to your recording.
Submission for Part 2: Turnitin
You will be assessed on:
- Effective communication of original ideas
- Creative components
- Documentation of the creative process and song context
- Identification of musical authorship
- Academic writing and referencing
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the context of the song in popular and/or world musics
- Analyse critically the components of song structure in a variety of contexts
- Analyse the song in publishing, performance and recording contexts
- Create an original song
- Demonstrate musical and lyrical components of the song
- Demonstrate the use of various technologies
- Communicate effectively through an original song
Delivery and Resources
| MMCS200/S1/Day/Lecture_1/01 |
Monday |
10:00am |
11:00am |
1:00 |
9‑15,18‑23 | 10 Hadenfeld Ave - 187 Drama Studio |
|
Andrew Robson |
| MMCS200/S1/Day/Tutorial_1/01 |
Monday |
11:00am |
12:00pm |
1:00 |
9‑15,18‑23 | 10 Hadenfeld Ave - 123 Ensemble Rm |
|
Andrew Robson |
| MMCS200/S1/Day/Tutorial_1/02 |
Monday |
12:00pm |
1:00pm |
1:00 |
9‑15,18‑23 | 10 Hadenfeld Ave - 123 Ensemble Rm |
|
Andrew Robson |
Students are required to attend weekly lectures and tutorials. The lecture is not recorded.
The weekly schedule and reading list will be available on iLearn.
Tutorials begin in week 1
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/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
Additional information
Late submission of work:
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) 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 (b) 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.
MMCCS Session Re-mark Application http://www.mq.edu.au/pubstatic/public/download/?id=167914
Information is correct at the time of publication
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
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.
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
- Create an original song
- Demonstrate musical and lyrical components of the song
- Demonstrate the use of various technologies
- Communicate effectively through an original song
Assessment tasks
- Presentation
- Song analysis
- Creative Process Journal
- Original song
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:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate the context of the song in popular and/or world musics
- Analyse the song in publishing, performance and recording contexts
- Create an original song
Assessment tasks
- Song analysis
- Original song
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
- Demonstrate the context of the song in popular and/or world musics
- Analyse critically the components of song structure in a variety of contexts
- Analyse forms of authorship
- Analyse the song in publishing, performance and recording contexts
- Create an original song
- Demonstrate musical and lyrical components of the song
- Demonstrate the use of various technologies
- Communicate effectively through an original song
Assessment tasks
- Presentation
- Song analysis
- Creative Process Journal
- Original song
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 outcomes
- Demonstrate the context of the song in popular and/or world musics
- Analyse critically the components of song structure in a variety of contexts
- Analyse forms of authorship
- Analyse the song in publishing, performance and recording contexts
- Create an original song
- Demonstrate musical and lyrical components of the song
- Demonstrate the use of various technologies
- Communicate effectively through an original song
Assessment tasks
- Presentation
- Song analysis
- Creative Process Journal
- Original song
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 the context of the song in popular and/or world musics
- Analyse critically the components of song structure in a variety of contexts
- Analyse forms of authorship
- Analyse the song in publishing, performance and recording contexts
- Create an original song
- Demonstrate the use of various technologies
- Communicate effectively through an original song
Assessment tasks
- Presentation
- Song analysis
- Creative Process Journal
- Original song
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 outcomes
- Analyse critically the components of song structure in a variety of contexts
- Analyse forms of authorship
- Analyse the song in publishing, performance and recording contexts
- Create an original song
- Demonstrate musical and lyrical components of the song
- Demonstrate the use of various technologies
- Communicate effectively through an original song
Assessment tasks
- Presentation
- Song analysis
- Creative Process Journal
- Original song
Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate the context of the song in popular and/or world musics
- Analyse the song in publishing, performance and recording contexts
- Create an original song
Assessment tasks
- Song analysis
- Original song
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
- Analyse the song in publishing, performance and recording contexts
Changes from Previous Offering
The assessment tasks have been amended in line with the assessment policy introduced in S2 2016.
Changes since First Published
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 22/02/2019 | Clarification has been added to the submission requirements of first assessment task (the presentation) |