Overview
This is the first unit in the Music Ensemble minor. Studying at an intermediate level in music and production, you will gain knowledge of how music is created, rehearsed, recorded, and performed. You will specialise in contemporary musical styles. Using industry recognised software, you will gain experience with multi-track recording, editing and audio mixing. The study of practical and theoretical principles gives you the opportunity to establish various performance, technical and creative skills.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must be enrolled in CG51 Bachelor of Music (Specialisation).
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 1 - 2023
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 Personal communication
Unit design
Students continue to comment positively on the integration of performance and production focused studies in this unit. They have indicated that they place high value on the diverse skills developed in the project work undertaken in this unit. It is recommended that the delivery of this unit continues to provide these opportunities for technical and performance development.
- Demonstrate musical knowledge and relevant skills needed for the performance of repertoire at an intermediate level
- Apply technical knowledge and relevant skills needed for the performance of repertoire at an intermediate level
- Collaborate with others to perform musical arrangements of repertoire at an intermediate level
- Implement a range of professional skills relating to performance including punctuality and preparedness, attendance and personal practice
- Create a portfolio of audio work, relevant to intermediate repertoire, using audio production techniques in a digital audio workstation.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 35% | |||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 35% | |||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 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 | |||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Webcam
- Ableton Live software
- Microphone or instrument lead
- Audio interface
- Studio headphones
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.
j.smyth-tomkins@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Online students: Meeting with Unit Coordinator
Mackay: Production Class #1
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Online: Virtual rehearsal
Mackay: Production Class #2
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mackay: Production Class #3
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Online: Virtual rehearsal
Mackay: Production Class #4
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mackay: Production Class #5
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Online: Virtual rehearsal
Mackay: Production Class #6
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Online: Production Class #1
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Online: Virtual rehearsal
Online: Production Class #2
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Online: Production Class #3
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Online: Production Class #4
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Online: Production Class #5
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Online: Production Class #6
See Moodle for specific details
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Equipment Requirements for Recording Projects
Performance and Production Studies students require some very specific equipment to facilitate the recording 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 and lead or an 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 any questions regarding these requirements, please contact the Unit Coordinator, Jason Smyth-Tomkins (j.smyth-tomkins@cqu.edu.au).
1 Practical Assessment
This assessment task involves you preparing for and presenting practical performance recordings, relative to repertoire selected for the online ensemble.
You are required to develop a selected repertoire of the chosen style by:
- accurately transcribing, learning and playing the set repertoire to performance standard.
You are expected to approach the genre of study in a professional and conscientious manner. This involves seeking to attain the highest possible standards of achievement.
Recording Your Tracks
All recordings of your individual parts will take place in Ableton Live.
Submission Requirements
You may record and refine your parts as many times as possible in the process of producing your recorded work.
You are required to submit:
- Weekly audio recordings as evidence of progress with a brief explanation of the alterations / improvements in each version (this represents your contribution to the recording process)
- A video recording of your individual ensemble parts for the repertoire studied
- An audio recording of your individual part/s at the final stage of recording.
Week 6 Friday (21 Apr 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 8 Friday (5 May 2023)
You will be assessed on a combination of criteria relating to the development of musical and technical skills as applied to the repertoire and genre of study.
The criteria may include the assessment of:
- Accuracy of intonation and quality of tone
- Accuracy of rhythm and articulation
- Appropriateness of stylistic phrasing
- Accuracy of melody and harmony
- Clarity of lyrics
- Quality of recorded performance
- Contribution to the recording process
- Create a portfolio of audio work, relevant to intermediate repertoire, using audio production techniques in a digital audio workstation.
2 Practical Assessment
This assessment task involves you preparing for and presenting practical performance recordings, relative to repertoire selected for the online ensemble.
You are required to develop a selected repertoire of the chosen style by:
- accurately transcribing, learning and playing the set repertoire to performance standard.
You are expected to approach the genre of study in a professional and conscientious manner. This involves seeking to attain the highest possible standards of achievement.
Recording Your Tracks
All recordings of your individual parts will take place in Ableton Live.
Submission Requirements
You may record and refine your parts as many times as possible in the process of producing your recorded work.
You are required to submit:
- Weekly audio recordings as evidence of progress with a brief explanation of the alterations / improvements in each version (this represents your contribution to the recording process)
- A video recording of your individual ensemble parts for the repertoire studied
- An audio recording of your individual part/s at the final stage of recording.
Week 9 Friday (12 May 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 11 Friday (26 May 2023)
You will be assessed on a combination of criteria relating to the development of musical and technical skills as applied to the repertoire and genre of study.
The criteria may include the assessment of:
- Accuracy of intonation and quality of tone
- Accuracy of rhythm and articulation
- Appropriateness of stylistic phrasing
- Accuracy of melody and harmony
- Clarity of lyrics
- Quality of recorded performance
- Contribution to the recording process
- Demonstrate musical knowledge and relevant skills needed for the performance of repertoire at an intermediate level
- Apply technical knowledge and relevant skills needed for the performance of repertoire at an intermediate level
- Collaborate with others to perform musical arrangements of repertoire at an intermediate level
- Implement a range of professional skills relating to performance including punctuality and preparedness, attendance and personal practice
3 Practical Assessment
In this assessment task, you will perform a sound mix on a pre-recorded song using Ableton Live software. In performing the mix, you will create a balanced mix using levels, pans, and signal processing. You should reference other songs from a similar genre as you make decisions about the relative level of each instrument and their position in the stereo image.
Your completed mix will require you to demonstrate the use of the following techniques:
- Manipulate the level balance of instruments in the recording
- Manipulate the panning of instruments in the recording
- Control the dynamic of instruments where required (compression)
- Add depth to your mix (reverb, chorus and delay)
- Shape or enhance the spectral content of the instruments (EQ)
- Apply automation
Review/Exam Week Friday (9 June 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
End of term.
- Level balance, pan and automation are implemented effectively
- Spectral processing implemented effectively
- Dynamics processing implemented effectively
- Time based processing implemented effectively
- Ableton Live Set should not contain any unused or missing audio files
- Demonstrate musical knowledge and relevant skills needed for the performance of repertoire at an intermediate level
- Apply technical knowledge and relevant skills needed for the performance of repertoire at an intermediate level
- Collaborate with others to perform musical arrangements of repertoire at an intermediate level
- Implement a range of professional skills relating to performance including punctuality and preparedness, attendance and personal 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?
