This course will enable students to undertake an individual or group music project to investigate a music research question relevant to one or more areas of the School's activities, including but not limited to performance; composition, arranging and sound design; musicology; and music technology. The output may range from  creative practice such as performance or composition supported by a short text, to multimedia, to a traditional linear verbal text. The project may be group-based or individual. Examples include: composition and performance of a music theatre work; research, composition, performance or recording of classical, jazz and contemporary works; rehearsal and performance of an historically performed early music piece; a participation / observation project with a practising music specialist, or a musicological study drawing on archival sources.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. pose a question relating to music;
2. investigate this question creatively, critically, ethically, and independently through one or more of performance, composition, arranging, sound design, multi-media, music technology, or extended verbal form;
3. demonstrate creative, practical and research skills that can be applied to a range of professional environments within the broad music industry; and
4. communicate their research and its findings in an appropriate medium, such as public performance, multi-media, or extended written form, to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Research-Led Teaching

The projects undertaken in this course are framed around research questions.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction and discussion of individual projects
2	Framing Creative and Research Projects in Music: Posing Questions
3	Research in Music
4	Writing the project proposal	Project proposal
7	Reflective writing
8	Individual consults
10	Individual consults
12		Project outcome
13		Reflective writing

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date
Project proposal	20 %	17/03/2023
Reflective writing	40 %	09/06/2023
Creative Practice and/or Research Outcome	40 %	02/06/2023

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Participation in the seminars (online or in person) is highly recommended.

Examination(s)

There is no exam for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Project proposal

This assessment task requires you to complete a succinct, focused, proposal for the project you will complete throughout the rest of the course. The proposal will present the proposed research questions, your goals for the project, the topic of the creative project and/or research project, and foreshadow likely research outcomes.

Task

In the creative arts, the writing of a project proposal can be an important task, allowing you to pitch your ideas to a potential supporter or partner. The ability to communicate your ideas clearly and succinctly may be the difference between whether a project, be it in the creative or research spheres, comes to fruition. A proposal also requires you to set out clearly the different components of a project and their purposes.

This assessment task requires you to set out a formal proposal for your proposed project for the course for the semester. In doing this, you need to consider whether the outcomes of your project are primarily creative or research-focused. For projects which are primarily creative, you will need to also consider how your creative work contributes to answering a research question. Some framing of your project statement in relevant prior research is often helpful here.

The proposal needs to include the following:

A project title

A statement of purpose setting out:

• o Research questions/aims
• o Description of the components of the project and their relationship to the projects aims

Proposed project outcomes

• o May include a creative (performance/compositional etc.) component and/or a
• research component, depending on the project
• o Must include a reflective journal (see Assessment Task 2)

A planned schedule of work for the project

A proposed supervisor for the project, and specification of meeting times.

Word Limit: 500 words Value: 20%

Assessment Criteria

• Demonstrated ability to pose an appropriate, relevant and achievable research question.
• Demonstrated cohesiveness of structure within the proposal.
• Demonstrated capacity to effectively contextualise and describe aspects of the project.
• Demonstrated presentation of a high standard of academic writing, and the acknowledgement of sources through correct referencing procedures.

Assessment Task 2

Reflective writing

This task encourages you to engage with a progressive, reflective process of recording and evaluating the creative and research processes involved in the undertaking of your project. It is designed to enable regular journal entries to trace developments of your creative and research process. The details and reflections recorded in your journal can then form part of your supporting evidence for the final outcomes of the project as a whole.

Task

The reflective journal draws on concepts and theories of iterative practice, the recording of progress through journaling, and reflective practice regarding progress towards aims. These concepts will be discussed in the course seminars.

The journal should set out an introduction that provides context and background to the enquiry, and a succinct, appropriate and well-considered research question. The principal section of the journal should reflect upon the research undertaken over the course of the project, drawing connections between the central component of the study, and your earlier understandings. Finally, the journal should present the project’s key findings in relation to the research question, the implications of your new understandings of the subject investigated through the project, how and what you have learned about your own assumptions and pre- conceived ideas from the experiences acquired through the course of the project, and the potential significance of the outcomes for other music practitioners—performers, teachers, researchers, technicians, writers or producers etc.

The journal section of the assessment task may record:

• Details of actions taken, relating to either the creative or research components of a project, during a week
• Details of progress made towards the completion of a creative work (performance, composition, sound recording etc.)
• Details of research activities completed during a week (of particular importance to observational research)
• Reflections on how activities undertaken during a week altered your thinking or perspectives on the project in some way

For creative projects, progressive recordings or documentations of compositional process Word Limit: 1800-2000 words

• Value: 40%

Assessment Criteria

• Demonstrated ability to pose and answer a relevant research question through the documentation and critical analysis of creative practice, research process and self- reflection.
• Demonstrated capacity to present relevant, cohesive and substantiated concepts relating to the creative processes of music making and/or research in music.
• Demonstrated understanding of the ways in which the aspects of the project inform and complement one another.
• Demonstrated presentation of a high standard of academic writing, and the acknowledgement of sources through correct referencing procedures.

Assessment Task 3

Creative Practice and/or Research Outcome

Introduction

The third piece of assessment for MUSI2205 is the culmination of your project, and represents the major creative and/or research outcome of your investigations, as originally set out in your Project Proposal (Assessment Task 1).

Task

You are to upload via the relevant portal on the course Wattle site an applied research outcome realised through creative practice and/or a formal research paper. The form of this assessment task is to be agreed at the proposal stage (Assessment Task 1) and may take the form of an audio-visual recording, a performance or lecture recital, a compositional work, some other form of creative output, or a formal research essay or presentation.

Within formalised group projects within the course, the form of this assessment task may be specified, with further information being provided in specific project outlines. See the relevant sections of the course Wattle site for details (Laptop Ensemble; Jazz Contemporary Transcription and Analysis).

Scope/Word Limit: Scope of creative outcomes to be defined by the Project Proposal. Work roughly equivalent to that of a 2500 word written paper.

Value: 40%

Assessment Criteria

• Demonstrated ability to present relevant, cohesive and substantiated concepts relating to the creative processes of music making and/or a research project in music.
• Demonstrated capacity to make effective use of appropriate resources applicable to research and creative practice.
• Demonstrated thoroughness of preparation.
• Demonstrated alignment with the other analytical and creative components of the
• project.
• Demonstrated high standard of musical proficiency, creativity, presentation and/ or academic writing, and the acknowledgment of sources through correct referencing procedures.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students