Composition, Arranging, and Sound Design 1 addresses three fundamental skills of music composition: melodic construction, creation of chord progressions and short forms.  These fundamentals will be examined through a combination of analysis and independent supervised composition.  Students will develop a portfolio of short compositions in a variety of genres and styles using Logic Pro X software. 

Learning Outcomes

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

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

1.  Compose original melodies with chordal accompaniments which reflects the students individual musical interests and goals.
2. Present works of a proficient standard using both correct notation and Logic Pro X software.
3. Describe melodic compositional issues in aesthetic and technical terms.
4. Communicate and articulate their creative decisions.

Research-Led Teaching

This course responds to current artistic practice research, which sets to chart a series of best practice methods for the combination of new composition and discursive exegesis. Relevant academics have established research profiles in this area.

Field Trips

Students are encouraged to attend as many concerts as possible, both on and off campus.

Additional Course Costs

Students will require manuscript paper and pens for this course. Additional costs for binding of scores and parts, for the final portfolio, will be discussed during the semester and will be kept to a minimum.

Required Resources

Resources, including class handouts, weekly readings and listening examples, will be made available via the course website.

Recommended Resources

• Manuscript paper
• Note paper
• Pens, pencils, ruler (transparent), eraser

Staff Feedback

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

• Written comments
• Feedback to the entire class
• Verbal comments, in office hours/meetings Student Feedback

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). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Referencing requirements

While ANU does not require a specific citation style, research in Music Theory/Composition is typically cited using the Chicago Manual of Style. See the following link for details: https://academicskills.anu.edu.au/resources/handouts/referencing-style-guides

Reading List

Adler, Samuel. The Study of Orchestration. 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2002.

Baker, David, Arranging & Composing for the small ensemble: jazz/r&b/jazz-rock. Bloomington, Indiana: Frangipani Press, 1985.

Brant, Henry. Textures and Timbres: An Orchestrator’s Handbook. New York: Carl Fischer Music, 2009.

Burkhart, Charles. Anthology for Musical Analysis. 7th ed. New York: Schirmer, 2011.

Cassella, Alfredo and Virgilio Mortari. The Technique of Contemporary Orchestration. 2nd ed. Milan: Ricordi, 2004.

Dobbins, Bill. Jazz Arranging and Composing: A Linear Approach. Rottenburg. Germany: Advance Music, 1986.

Gould, Elaine. Behind Bars: The Definitive Guide to Music Notation. London: Faber and Faber, 2011.

LaRue, Jan. Guidelines for Style Analysis. 2nd ed. Sterling Heights, Michigan: Harmonie Park Press, 2011.

Schoenberg, Arnold. Fundamentals of Musical Composition. New. ed. London: Faber and Faber, 1967.

Wright, Rayburn. Inside the Score. Delevan, New York: Kendor Music, 1982.

Additional texts

Arnold Schoenberg, Fundamentals of Music Composition (London: Faber and Faber Ltd, 1967)

Michael Nyman, Experimental Music, Cage and Beyond (New York: Cambridge University Press, second ed. 1999).

Robert P. Morgan, ed., Anthology of Twentieth Century Music (New York: WW Norton and Company, 1992).

Arnold Whittall, Musical Composition in the Twentieth Century (New York: Oxford University Press Inc, 1999)

Paul Griffiths, Modern Music and After (Oxford University Press Inc, New York, third ed. 2010)

Vince Corozine, Arranging Music for the Real World, Classical and Commercial Aspects (USA: Mel Bay Publications, 2002)

Russell Garcia, The Professional Arranger Composer, (New York: Criterion, Music Corp, 1954)

William Lovelock, The Elements of Orchestral Arrangement, (London: G Bell and Sons Ltd, 1968)

Roger Fiske, Score Reading, Book 1 Orchestration (New York: Oxford University Press, New York, any edition)

Walter Piston, Orchestration (London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1982)

David Tunley, Introductory Studies in Tonal Harmony (Perth: University of Western Australia Music Dept, 1978).

Additional resources

Recommended online resources/sites Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/) Concerts, recordings and also scores are found on youtube.

Notafina at http://www.notafina.de/index.jsp?lang=en (then go to search, product preview) Latest scores online.

ScoresonDemand at http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/ondemand (then go to composers listing), concerts. Latest scores online.

Public domain scores at http://imslp.org/ At left under Browse Scores select Composer. One can download scores as a pdf and hear audio.

Artistic Orchestration by Alan Belkin. View at: http://alanbelkinmusic.com/bk

Australian Music Centre (AMC) library http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/ Become a member and borrow scores and recordings of Australian composers

University or section library (scores and recordings)

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Intro to the course; Intro to melody and harmony, Intro to Sibelius software	Composition Exercise 1
2	Form and Structure: Combining phrases and filling boxes; Intro to Logic and other DAWs, Time to work and consultation	Composition Exercise 2
3	Form and Structure: Loops; Time to work and consultation	Composition Exercise 3
4	Control and Randomisation in Composition; Time to work and consultation	Composition Exercise 4
5	Musique Concrète and Sampling; Time to work and consultation	Composition Exercise 5
6	Electronic and Electroacoustic Musics; Time to work and consultation; field recording trip	Composition Exercise 6; Assessment 2 due by Midnight on 7 April
7	Orchestration: Bowed Strings; Group analysis presentations, time to work and consultation	Assessment 1 presentations
8	Orchestration: Plucked Strings; Group analysis presentations, time to work and consultation	Assessment 1 presentations
9	Orchestration: Brass; Group analysis presentations, time to work and consultation	Assessment 1 presentations
10	Orchestration: Woodwinds; Group analysis presentations, time to work and consultation	Assessment 1 presentations
11	Orchestration: Pitched Percussion, Harp and Keyboards; Group analysis presentations, time to work and consultation	Assessment 1 presentations
12	Orchestration: Unpitched Percussion; Group analysis presentations, time to work and consultation	Assessment 1 presentations; Assessment 3 due by Midnight on 2 June; Assessments 4 and 5 due by Midnight on 9 June

Tutorial Registration

Students should register for a tutorial time via Wattle.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Tutorial Participation	14 %	02/06/2019	16/06/2019	1,2,3,4
Folio of Weekly Composition Exercises	14 %	07/04/2019	21/04/2019	1,2,3
Folio of Weekly Orchestration Exercises	18 %	02/06/2019	16/06/2019	1,2,3,4
Original Work	30 %	09/06/2019	25/06/2019	1,2
Exegesis and Program Note	20 %	09/06/2019	25/06/2019	3,4

* 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 Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

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 ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

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

Students are expected to attend and participate in weekly lectures and tutorials.

Assessment Task 1

Tutorial Participation

In groups of 2-3, you will present a 10min critical response to one of the following, as approved by the Course Convenor:

·      Single piece of music

·      Recording or album

·      Concert

·      Composer

·      Style or genre

·      Movement or time-period

·      Etc.

Your presentation should identify, analyse and critique key issues in the selected topic, while situating it in a relevant historical and cultural context. You should/may include audio, video or other media in your presentation as appropriate.

You will also submit an individual account of your activities during the preparation of this presentation (dot points are fine).

Assessment Criteria:

 

·      Understanding of the topic and evidence of preparation and collaboration

·      Demonstrated ability to identify, analyse and critique key issues within the chosen work

·      Demonstrated ability to connect the work to its context and relevant history and movements

·      Clear and well-organised presentation

 

Value: 14%

 

Presentation requirements:

 

·      10min presentations take place in-class during weeks 6-12

·      Your individual presentation summary is due on Wattle by midnight of the Friday of your presentation.

 

Due date: Each group will select a single slot in weeks 6-12

 

• Estimated return date: Within two weeks of presentation

Assessment Task 2

Folio of Weekly Composition Exercises

During weeks 1-6 we will be covering a range of compositional techniques, and these weekly exercises will give you the chance to try out these new methods in a controlled setting.

Within the restrains of each exercise you are completely free to find and use your unique compositional voice. There are absolutely no stylistic guidelines.

 

Assessment Criteria:

 

·      Demonstrated understanding of and ability to apply the technique covered that week

·      Demonstrated ability to articulate the choices made in the work and reasons for those choices (in 100 words)

·      Clear and well-formatted score (as appropriate)

·      Well-mixed audio file

 

Value: 18% (comprising 6 exercises which are each worth 3% of your overall mark)

 

Submission requirements:

 

·      A zipped folder with 6 subfolders, one for each of the six weeks/exercises submitted via Wattle. Each subfolder should include the following:

o  Score (PDF or other as appropriate)

o  Audio file (.WAV or other as appropriate)

o  100 words explaining and analysing your exercise

 

Due date: Midnight, 7 April

 

• Estimated return date: Within two weeks of submission of complete folio

Assessment Task 3

Folio of Weekly Orchestration Exercises

During weeks 7-12 we will be covering a range of orchestration techniques, and these weekly exercises will give you the chance to try out these new methods in a controlled setting.

Within the restrains of each exercise you are completely free to find and use your unique compositional voice. There are absolutely no stylistic guidelines.

 

Assessment Criteria:

 

·      Demonstrated understanding of and ability to apply the technique covered that week

·      Demonstrated ability to articulate the choices made in the work and reasons for those choices (in 100 words)

·      Clear and well-formatted score (as appropriate)

·      Well-mixed audio file

 

Value: 18% (comprising 6 exercises which are each worth 3% of your overall mark)

 

Submission requirements:

 

·      A zipped folder with 6 subfolders, one for each of the six weeks/exercises submitted via Wattle. Each subfolder should include the following:

o  Score (PDF or other as appropriate)

o  Audio file (.WAV or other as appropriate)

o  100 words explaining and analysing your exercise

 

Due date: Midnight, 2 June

 

• Estimated return date: Within two weeks of submission of complete folio

Assessment Task 4

Original Work

This assessment calls for a completely unconstrained original work which should show the culmination of your skills and experiences this semester. The size and length of this work should be approved by the Course Convenor before submission. Focus on clarity of ideas and techniques, rather than duration.

You are completely free to find and use your unique compositional voice. There are absolutely no stylistic guidelines.

 

Assessment Criteria:

 

·      Technique and approach: appropriate use of instruments and technology – utilising techniques drawn from the course materials

·      Creativity: the ability of the piece to stand on its own, as a self-contained work of an unique and developing compositional voice

·      Clear and well-formatted score (as appropriate)

·      Well-mixed audio file (or video, if working to visual media)

 

Value: 30%

 

Submission requirements:

 

·      A zipped folder including the following:

o  Score with title page (Hard copy and PDF or other as appropriate)

o  Media file (.WAV or other as appropriate)

 

Due date: Midnight, 9 June

 

• Estimated return date: Within two weeks of submission of complete folio

Assessment Task 5

Exegesis and Program Note

Your exegesis will contextualise and analyse your original work. In this 1000 word document you will (using Chicago Style citations) build a context for your work, and describe how your works combines and/or builds on existing works and traditions. As a starting point, it may be helpful to describe and explain choices you’ve made in terms of:

·      Structure

·      Instrumentation

·      Pitch/Sonic content

·      Melody/Harmony

The program note should be around 200 words in length, and can include any information you think the audience might want access to.

Assessment Criteria (for both):

 

·      Establishment of a clear context for the work

·      Usefulness and appropriateness of analysis

·      Organisation of thoughts and ideas

·      Clearly referenced work – Chicago Style

·      Grammar, spelling and clarity of writing

 

Value: 20%

 

Submission requirements:

 

·      1000 word exegesis – submitted via Turnitin

·      200 word program note – submitted via Turnitin

·      Citations (for the exegesis only) in Chicago Style

 

Due date: Midnight, 9 June

 

Estimated return date: Within two weeks of presentation

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

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) as 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

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

OR

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

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Student work will be returned through Turnitin with instructor comments. Students who wish to receive additional feedback on assignments should make an appointment to see the instructor.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions 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.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of assigned work is possible in this course. Resubmissions should be turned in no later than two weeks following the original due date, and only after consultation with the course convenor.

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 Diversity 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