Overview
In this unit, you will be introduced to the fundamental principles of electronic music production including synthesis, sampling, MIDI sequencing and signal processing and apply these to the composition of an original piece of electronic music. You will explore genre-specific music production and composition techniques in the analysis of a chosen genre of electronic music. You will use these findings to inform the planning stage of your original composition project. Once you define the scope of your composition project, you will pitch this to your peers. Your project planning will culminate in the creation of an original piece of electronic music that adheres to the conventions of your chosen genre.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
For entry into this minor, you must have completed 36 credit points in this course.
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 - 2022
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.
- Analyse the compositional elements and production techniques of a chosen electronic music genre in a written essay
- Prepare and pitch a concept document and project plan for an original electronic music composition
- Apply music technology fundamentals and genre-specific composition techniques to the creation of an original electronic music composition.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||
| 2 - Presentation - 20% | |||
| 3 - Portfolio - 50% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 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 - 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 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Presentation - 20% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Ableton Live software
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
p.preece@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to MIDI and electronic music styles
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
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A brief history of synthesisers
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
A brief history of drum machines
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Track deconstruction
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sound design and programming - drums
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sound design and programming - bass lines
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sound design and programming - keys and chords
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sampling
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Arrangement, form and transitions
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Project week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Project week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Final mix and media preparation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Music Tech 2 students require some very specific equipment to facilitate the production requirements of this unit. This unit provides training in performing, recording and mixing music. Because of this, you will need to have access to the following:
- Ableton Live software
- An audio interface
- Your instrument
- A quick stable internet connection (preferable ethernet)
- Microphone or instrument lead
- Studio headphones and your computer / webcam
About Ableton Live
Ableton Live is an industry standard DAW (digital audio workstation) and learning how to use it is extremely beneficial. You will be required to submit Ableton Live sessions as part of your assessments and therefore need to have access to a copy of Ableton software. As the production classes are based on the Ableton software, no other DAWs are acceptable for this unit. A free 90 day full use trial version of the Ableton Live software is available for download from the Ableton Live website (https://www.ableton.com/en/trial/). If you have already used your free trial version, please email the unit coordinator for an extension code.
If you have any questions regarding these requirements, please contact the Unit Coordinator, Patty Preece (p.preece@cqu.edu.au).
1 Written Assessment
Over the duration of the unit, you will be required to plan, pitch and compose an original piece of electronic music from either the House or Hip Hop genre. Your production may fall into a sub or derivative genre of these two primary styles.
Pre-production and planning are essential steps in ensuring your electronic music production project runs smoothly, is informed by research and meets all project deadlines. In this assessment, you are required to write a plan for the production that you will produce for assessment task 3. Your plan is broken into two parts: Part A is an analysis of two songs and Part B addresses the project administration.
Part A
In Part A, you are to complete a comparative analysis (1000 words) of two contrasting songs whose production aesthetics and instrumentation are primarily electronic. The excerpts will be provided on the assessment page located on the Moodle site. In your analysis, you must address the following:
- A description of the historical / sociological context of each genre
- A description of the following technical attributes of each excerpt (hardware or software synthesisers or samplers)
- A description of the musical elements of each excerpt ( instrumentation, form, use of effects etc.).
Your analysis may also consider sub or derivative genres of these two primary styles of music and your research should use primary sources to support your discussion.
Part B
In Part B, you are to design a project plan (maximum 500 words) which will align with Assessment 3 of this unit. This project plan will be for an electronic music composition. The project plan must include the following:
- Production timeline - include major milestones in a Gantt chart format.
- Equipment requirements
- Software requirements
- Equipment list
- WHS considerations
- Address how you will receive and implement peer and lecturer feedback
Submission details
- Your final submission will be:
- No more than 1500 words*
- 12pt font
- Submitted as a word document
- APA referencing style
*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 5 Monday (8 Aug 2022) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 7 Friday (2 Sept 2022)
Part A
- Appropriate discussion of the historical/sociological context of the genre (20%)
- Accurate analysis of technical attributes of the two excerpts (20%)
- Accurate analysis of musical elements of the two excerpts (20%)
Part B
- Timeline is realistic and achievable (15%)
- Project requirements clearly articulated (15%)
General Points
- Meeting delivery requirements (presentation, word count*, style guide) (10%)
- Analyse the compositional elements and production techniques of a chosen electronic music genre in a written essay
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Presentation
In this assessment, you will expand upon the plan you created in assessment task 1 and develop a project pitch for the electronic music production you will create for assessment task 3. Pitching takes on many forms and is used in the creative industries to secure investment and funding for projects.
This assessment task is designed to introduce you to the process of pitching your ideas and concepts to a group. Your project pitch should demonstrate that you understand the project brief and that your final production will be informed by the research you carried out in assessment task 1.
Your objective with this pitch will be to convince the client that you:
- Understand the brief
- Understand the genre traits for this style of production
- Can produce a product that fulfils the brief.
Your project pitch presentation will be created in presentation software, be no more than 5 minutes in length and will contain both audio and visual content. Your pitch should use this structure:
- An introduction to yourself
- An overview of the music style
- The product - present an audio teaser of your final product (8 – 16 bar loop)
Week 8 Monday (5 Sept 2022) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 10 Friday (23 Sept 2022)
- Clear and insightful overview of music styles (30%)
- Demonstrates an understanding of the project brief (20%)
- Competent use of project presentation software (10%)
- The audio example contains excerpts from the final production (40%)
- Prepare and pitch a concept document and project plan for an original electronic music composition
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Information Technology Competence
3 Portfolio
Over the duration of the unit, you will be required to plan, pitch and compose an original piece of electronic music from either the House or Hip Hop genre.
In this assessment, you will produce an original composition that of an electronically produced song of either the House or Hip Hop genre (or sub genre) or of a sub or derivative genre of these two primary styles. Your project must be:
- No more than 5 minutes in length
- Created in Ableton Live software
- Contain at least two software instruments
- May contain audio samples (attribution of samples should be clearly articulated in supporting documentation)
- Arranged and mixed according to accepted genre conventions
Submission requirements
- Your final bounce will be a stereo mix of your signals with a peak level of no more than -3dBFS.
- You will be required to submit a stereo bounce of your composition and your Ableton Live Project.
- Your project should not contain any missing media or unused tracks.
Notes
You may add additional sounds as you see fit, including acoustic instruments and samples (eg vocals or guitar).
Review/Exam Week Friday (14 Oct 2022) 11:55 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (21 Oct 2022)
- Composition demonstrates genre-specific production techniques (20%)
- Composition meets submission requirements (20%)
- Sound design is implemented effectively (20%)
- MIDI sequencing is implemented effectively (20%)
- Session layout and project handling (20%)
- Apply music technology fundamentals and genre-specific composition techniques to the creation of an original electronic music composition.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
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?
