Overview
In the final of the music creation units, you will continue to build upon your repertoire of original works and learn about mastering. You will focus on skills and techniques for creating written arrangements for various ensembles in popular music. You will also explore compositional techniques that will support these arrangements. In music production, you will focus on the art of mastering and will explore the technical and aesthetic aspects of the final stage of the production process.
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.
- Apply advanced song writing and arrangement processes in the creation of original music compositions
- Apply advanced recording techniques to the creation of original music compositions
- Apply audio mastering techniques to contemporary popular music styles
- Apply standardised audio metering in the preparation of an audio master.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 40% | ||||
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 - Portfolio - 30% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 30% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 40% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
The Mastering Engineer’s Handbook: The Audio Mastering Handbook
- Second Edition (2008)
- Authors: Bobby Owsinkski
- Thomson Course Technology PTR
- Boston Boston , MA , USA
- ISBN: 9781598634495
- Binding: eBook
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Creative Arts Studio Facility
- Pro Tools software
- Izotope Ozone 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: Advanced melody writing
Production: Critical listening
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 22 Jul 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting: Advanced melody writing continued
Production: Introduction to audio mastering
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 29 Jul 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting: Non-diatonic dominant 7ths
Production: Tools for mastering
Chapter
The Mastering Engineer's Handbook : The Audio Mastering Handbook. Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 05 Aug 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting: Non-diatonic dominant
7ths
Production: Mechanics of
mastering - compression
Chapter
The Mastering Engineer's Handbook : The Audio Mastering Handbook. Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 12 Aug 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting: Flat direction
major 7ths
Production: Mechanics of
mastering - limiting
Chapter
The Mastering Engineer's Handbook : The Audio Mastering Handbook. Chapter 4
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: Flat direction
major 7ths continued
Production: Mechanics of
mastering - equalisation
Chapter
The Mastering Engineer's Handbook : The Audio Mastering Handbook. Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 02 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting: Non-diatonic minor
7ths
Production: Mechanics of
mastering - fades
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 09 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting: Non-diatonic minor
7ths continued
Production: Mastering for
CD
Chapter
The Mastering Engineer's Handbook : The Audio Mastering Handbook. Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 16 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting: Rhythm section
considerations
Production: Mastering for
Vinyl
Chapter
The Mastering Engineer's Handbook : The Audio Mastering Handbook. Chapter 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 23 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting: Rhythm section
considerations continued
Production: Mastering for digital
distribution
Chapter
The Mastering Engineer's Handbook : The Audio Mastering Handbook. Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 30 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting: Pedal points
and ostinatos
Production: Digital
distribution platforms
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 07 Oct 2019Module/Topic
Songwriting: Pedal points
and ostinatos continued
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 14 Oct 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 21 Oct 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Portfolio
In this assessment, you are required to create 3 original 16 bar compositions in contrasting styles within the popular music genre. The compositions will contain both music and lyrical elements developed over the term. The compositions will be accompanied by a written analysis describing the musical constructs of each piece.
You must submit:
- Three 16 bar lead sheets 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
- 750- word analysis covering the 3 pieces
Week 8 Friday (13 Sept 2019) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 10 Friday (27 Sept 2019)
- Contextually appropriate harmony (20%)
- Musical and technically informed melody (20%)
- Accurate notation of rhythm, harmony and melody (20%)
- Lead sheet presentation including time signature, key signature,
tempo and feel indication, section markings and dynamics (20%)
- Accurate analysis including discussion of harmony, melody, rhythm
and form (20%)
- Apply advanced song writing and arrangement processes in the creation of original music compositions
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Portfolio
The mastering stage is the final stage in the
production process and requires both technical and creative skills. In this
assessment, you will be required to submit a mastering portfolio of 2 songs.
One song will be an acoustic or electronic production that you have recorded in
a previous unit and the other song will be provided to you by your lecturer.
The songs will be mastered using Pro Tools software
and other third party plugins. You will be required to use the tools available
in the DAW to produce a balanced, competitive master that is comparable to
other songs in its genre. Processing will include but is not limited to:
- EQ
- Compression
- Limiting
- Reverb
Your master should be ready to for either CD, vinyl
or digital distribution and observe the peak and RMS levels for that medium.
These will be supplied to you by your lecturer.
You will submit:
- A stereo bounce of your two songs in audio red book format (16 bit,
44.1kHz).
Week 10 Friday (27 Sept 2019) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 12 Friday (11 Oct 2019)
- Spectral processing implemented effectively (20%)
- Dynamic processing implemented effectively (40%)
- Fades implemented effectively (20%)
- Exports and session handling (20%)
- Apply advanced recording techniques to the creation of original music compositions
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
3 Portfolio
In this assessment, you are required to create an original composition in a chosen genre. The composition will be a minimum of 64 bars in length, multi-sectioned and contain both music and lyrical elements developed over the term. The composition will be recorded in the studio and accompanied by a lead sheet. You will also submit a 500-800 word discussion on the arrangement of the composition.
The composition
The composition should be at least 64 bars in length and should include:
- A lead sheet 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, key signature, tempo and feel indication, section markings, dynamics and lyrics (if applicable).
The recording
You are to submit an audio recording of an original composition. All sounds will be recorded, edited and mixed and demonstrate genre specific production techniques. You may work in small groups to record all instrumental parts of the song but must edit and mix the song individually. You may also use software instruments and samples to create instrumental parts as required.
Recordings will be topped and tailed and free from extraneous noise. Your final bounce will be a stereo mix of your signals with an RMS level of no more than -14dBFS.
Portfolio submission components
- A lead sheet as a PDF
- A 500 - 800 word discussion of your arrangement as a Microsoft Word Document (.docx)
- A recording of the song in wav format (Stereo, 44.1kHZ 16 bit)
Week 12 Friday (11 Oct 2019) 11:59 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (25 Oct 2019)
- Demonstrated use of melodic construction techniques (20%)
- Effective use of harmony (20%)
- Clear lead sheet, including chords, melody and rhythm section notation (20%)
- Effective use of section development (10%)
- Discussion is considered, reflective, and complete (15%)
- Recording is free from extraneous noise and distortion (15%)
- Apply audio mastering techniques to contemporary popular music styles
- Apply standardised audio metering in the preparation of an audio master.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- 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?
