Overview
In this unit, you will continue to develop and refine your music theory and production knowledge as applied to songwriting and studio recording. You will study a range of musical styles that will inform the development of your own original composition in a chosen genre. You will explore a range of recording techniques and develop your skills in project management as you create a portfolio of recorded work.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Students
The lyric class delivered by an external facilitator and industry leader, was integral to the students experience.
Continual engagement of industry professionals should continue as it increases student satisfaction and engagement.
Feedback from Staff and DDLT
The unit is large with too broad a range of focus.
Review the unit and refine its focus.
- Evaluate song writing processes of contemporary popular music styles
- Apply song writing processes in the creation of an original music composition
- Apply advanced recording techniques in the creation of a recorded and mixed piece of music
- Demonstrate genre specific mixing and production techniques.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||
| 2 - Creative work - 25% | ||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||
| 4 - In-class Test(s) - 20% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 25% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Creative work - 25% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 30% | |||||||||||
| 4 - In-class Test(s) - 20% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Creative Arts Studio Facility
- Pro Tools software
- Muse Score software
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
p.preece@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 15 Jul 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Lead sheet writing
Lyric Class: Introduction to songwriting
Production: Term overview and analogue studio revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 22 Jul 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Lead sheet writing continued
Lyric Class: Methodology and brainstorming
Production: EQ workshop
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 29 Jul 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Numeric melodic analysis
Lyric Class: What is a song?
Chapter
Pat Pattison: Essential Guide to Lyric and Form Structure, pg 82-8
Events and Submissions/Topic
In class test 1
Week 4
Begin Date: 05 Aug 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Numeric melodic analysis continued
Lyric Class: Lyrical building blocks
Production: Recording the piano
Chapter
Pat Pattison: Essential Guide to Lyric and Form Structure, pg 88-98
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 12 Aug 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Functional roman numeral analysis
Lyric Class: The hook
Production: Compression workshop
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 19 Aug 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 26 Aug 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Functional roman numeral analysis continued
Lyric Class: Write the song
Chapter
Pat Pattison: Essential Guide to Lyric and Form Structure, pg 135 - 145
Events and Submissions/Topic
In class test 2
Technical Song Analysis due
Technical Song Analysis Due: Week 6 Friday (30 Aug 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7
Begin Date: 02 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Introduction to harmonisation
Lyric Class: Phrasing technique
Production: Live recording session 1
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 09 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Introduction to harmonisation continued
Lyric Class: Phrasing technique part 2
Production: Compression workshop
Chapter
Pat Pattison: Essential Guide to Lyric and Form Structure, pg 11 - 32
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 16 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Chords of Similar Function
Lyric Class: Breaking the rhythm
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
In class test 3
In Class Production Tests Due: Week 9 Tuesday (17 Sept 2019) 1:00 pm AEST
Week 10
Begin Date: 23 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Chords of Similar Function continued
Lyric Class: Investigating closure in songwriting
Production:
Recording workshop 2
Chapter
Pat Pattison: Essential Guide to Lyric and Form Structure, pg 51-41
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 30 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Secondary Dominant 7ths
Lyric Class: Advanced Rhyme
Production: Mixing workshop 1
Chapter
Pat Pattison: Essential Guide to Lyric and Form Structure, pg 48 - 50
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 07 Oct 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting
Class: Secondary Dominant 7ths continued
Production: Mixing workshop 2
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Original Song Composition due
Original Song Composition Due: Week 12 Friday (11 Oct 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 14 Oct 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recording Project due
Recording Project Due: Review/Exam Week Friday (18 Oct 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week
Begin Date: 21 Oct 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
In collaboration with the
lecturer select a song from the popular music genre. Write a 1000 word analysis
of the song.
Your analysis should
consider/ include
- Roman Numeral harmonic analysis
- Numeric melodic analysis
- Root movement analysis
- Melodic construction devices
- Lyrical content
- Form
- Historical / sociological context
Your analysis should use
primary sources to support your argument. Your assessment (1000 words) must be submitted
as a Microsoft Word Document (.docx) and:
- Must use 12 point Times New Roman font
- Must use 1.5 spacing for the body of the
assignment
- May use sub-headings to organise your assignment
clearly
- Must adhere to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide.
The word count is considered
from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It
excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and
appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.
Week 6 Friday (30 Aug 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 8 Friday (13 Sept 2019)
- Technical accuracy of analysis 40%
- Demonstrated research on historical and sociological aspects of
the track 25%
- Reference pages and appendices 25%
- Presentation 10%
- Evaluate song writing processes of contemporary popular music styles
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
2 Creative work
In this assessment, you are
required to create an original composition in a chosen style. The composition
will be at least 32 bars in length and contain both music and lyrical elements
developed over the term.
You must submit:
- A lead sheet for the song. This may be created on
a music notation program (e.g. Sibelius) or by hand and scanned. This
should be in pdf format.
- Lead sheet should include chords, melody, time
signature, lyrics, key signature, tempo and feel indication, section
markings and dynamics
- Roman Numeral analysis of the harmony
- Numeric Melodic analysis
Week 12 Friday (11 Oct 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Friday (18 Oct 2019)
- Contextually appropriate harmony (20%)
- Musical and technically informed melody (20%)
- Accurate notation of rhythm, harmony and melody
(250
- Lead sheet presentation including time signature,
key signature, tempo and feel indication, section markings, lyrics and
dynamics (20%)
- Accuracy of harmonic and melodic analysis (20%)
- Apply song writing processes in the creation of an original music composition
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
3 Portfolio
As a sound engineer, it
is important to be able to capture music at a high quality, so that artists may
disseminate their work on a multitude of platforms (Soundcloud, Facebook, Spotify,
Apple Music, YouTube). This assessment will ask you to record and mix a song
for a local artist. You will not be required to master the song. The local
artist may be someone
from your cohort or someone
outside the University. You may seek assistance from your lecturer to identify a
suitable artist for your project.
You will record the song in
the campus studios using Pro Tools Software and other supplied equipment, including
microphones, leads and headphones. The song should be at least 3 minutes in
length and should contain at least 4 acoustic instruments; Eg Drums, Guitar,
Bass, Vocals, Percussion. The song may also contain an electronic elements and
samples.
The recording should be mixed
and 'bounced' according to the submission guidelines (see Moodle for details).
Feedback is an essential part
of the recording and mixing process. Your recording and mix will be shared with
your cohort in each phase of the production process. You will participate in
feedback sessions during class time to develop your work.
Assessment Requirements
Your final graded submission
will be the delivery of the final music product. Your submission will include:
· A stereo bounce – ready for mastering. 24 bit 48kHz
· An mp3 ‘listener’ for the artist. 320kbp/s
· A Pro Tools Sessions at the final stage of the mix
· The session must contain no unused or missing audio
files.
See Moodle for detailed
submission guidelines.
Review/Exam Week Friday (18 Oct 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (25 Oct 2019)
- Recordings
comply with the requirements of the task – 20%
- Recordings
should be free from extraneous noise and distortion – 20%
- Mixing:
level balance, pan, EQ, compression and effects are implemented effectively –
20%
- Recordings
should be saved and exported according to the submission guidelines - 20%
- Pro Tools Sessions should not contain any unused or missing audio files - 10%
- Audio edits are applied effectively – 10%
- Apply advanced recording techniques in the creation of a recorded and mixed piece of music
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Information Technology Competence
4 In-class Test(s)
In class exercises
Assessment four of CART12004
is comprised of three practical in-class tests held during your normal lesson
times in weeks 3, 6 and 9.
EQ
You are required to perform a
series of tasks as instructed by your lecturer that are normally required to EQ
a source signal. These tasks may include:
· Identify centre frequency of an EQ
· Describe EQ effects quality: warm, muddy, harsh etc.
· Apply a HPF
· Reduce resonant frequencies in source instruments
Compression
You are required to perform a
series of tasks as instructed by your lecturer that are normally required to compress
a source signal. These tasks may include:
· Create a side chain compression effect for kick and
bass
· Apply compression to a vocal to control dynamics
· Add a bus style compressor to a drum group
Effects
You are required to perform a
series of tasks as instructed by your lecturer that are normally required to compress
a source signal. These tasks may include:
·
Create a dub style delay for a snare drum
·
Create a reverse reverb vocal effect
·
Use the Hass effect to create a doubled electric
guitar sound
·
Add saturation to a bass guitar
Week 9 Tuesday (17 Sept 2019) 1:00 pm AEST
In class tests are held during regular class time in weeks 3, 6 and 9.
Week 11 Friday (4 Oct 2019)
Students are assessed on the practical application of effects covered in class. This includes EQ, compression and effects.
- EQ is weighted at 5% of the final unit mark.
- Compression is weighted at 5% of the final unit mark.
- Effects are weighted at 10% of the final unit mark.
- Demonstrate genre specific mixing and production techniques.
- Problem Solving
- Information Technology Competence
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
