Foundations of Composition addresses a range of topics and skills used by composers. In this course students will develop techniques including how to generate musical ideas and how to structure and orchestrate them, regardless of their stylistic interests. Students will work with a variety of industry standard technologies including notation, recording, audio editing, spectral analysis, computer music, and other software packages. These skills and techniques will be critically examined and discussed in large and small group tutorial settings. Students apply these skills to one or more new original compositions utilising these techniques while developing their own unique compositional style.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. recognise and apply terminology, concepts and core skills fundamental to music composition;
2. work independently and collaboratively to acquire skills and knowledge for use in music composition;
3. experiment with musical materials to take aesthetic and conceptual risks in the realisation of a completed work; and
4. critically analyse and discuss the musical works of one’s self and others.

Field Trips

Students will be encouraged to attend concerts, art galleries, and other performances, as well as to move around in their homes and neighbourhoods to experience and think about new sonic events.

Required Resources

A small notebook (fits in your pocket); a large notebook (ideally graph paper); pens and pencils; a computer with: notation software (Sibelius, Musescore, Finale) and Digital Audio Workstation software (Reaper, Logic, Protools, Ableton, etc.); a MIDI keyboard; headphones; a field recorder (or app and windscreen for your mobile phone)

Recommended Resources

Students are encouraged to seek out recorded and notated musics in the library and via the internet throughout the course, as well as articles, books, interviews, etc.

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 (via Wattle and Teams)
• 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	Intro to workflows and composition as a set of concepts; how do composers work?	Composing a single phrase/short idea
2	Combining phrases and filling boxes - building structures for your ideas	Taking the previous or new idea and building a form for it
3	Loops, repetition, and dynamic video game music - getting the most out of your ideas	Composing a short exercise that explores the use of loops, repetition, drones, etc.
4	Control and randomisation – developing content by relinquishing, reallocating, or retaining control	Exploring chance operations, serialism, openness, and similar concepts in practical tutorial activities
5	Found sounds and field recordings – exploring diverse sound sources and working with microphones	Composing a short exercise that includes field recordings and/or found sounds
6	Electronic and electroacoustic music – working with Digital Audio Workstations and synthesis	In-tutorial activity with synthesisers. Assessment 1 (exercises from weeks 1, 2, 3, and 5 + reflection document) due
7	1-on-1 conferences	1-on-1 conferences
8	1-on-1 conferences	1-on-1 conferences
9	Workshops/lab	Lab
10	Workshops/lab	Lab
11	In-class presentations (crits) on your works-in-progress	In-class presentations (crits) on your works-in-progress
12	In-class presentations (crits) on your works-in-progress	In-class presentations (crits) on your works-in-progress

Tutorial Registration

Tutorial sign-up sheets are available on the course Wattle site.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Exercise Folio & Reflection Document (30%)	30 %	31/03/2025	1,2,3,4
Project Planning (20%)	20 %	23/05/2025	1,2,3,4
Final Project (50%)	50 %	30/05/2025	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 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
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• 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

Students are expected to be present at all course activities - lectures, tutorials, 1-to-1 meetings, as well as to comment and support their peers in these and online activities.

Assessment Task 1

Exercise Folio & Reflection Document (30%)

Exercise Folio & Reflection Document (30%)

During weeks 1-6 we will be covering a range of compositional techniques. These weekly exercises will give you the chance to try out these methods in a controlled setting. Within the constraints of each exercise (as outlined in class and on Wattle) you will be given the opportunity to experiment and discover potential new approaches to your craft. The completed score and audio for exercises 1, 2, 3, and 5 will be due at the end of week 6, and the techniques covered in weeks 4 and 6 will be explored in a more practical way during tutorials. You will also submit a reflection document as part of this assessment (at the end of week 6) that will allow you to summarise, analyse, and meaningfully reflect on the techniques covered.

 

Assessment submission:

• Composition exercises from week 1, 2, 3, and 5 (PDF, media, and other files as necessary for each weekly exercise)
• Reflection document

 

Assessment criteria:

• Active engagement with techniques covered and an ability to apply these techniques
• Organisation and presentation of composition exercises (quality and neatness of audio and score files)
• Demonstrated ability to articulate and reflect upon the choices made in the exercises and reasons for those choices.

Assessment Task 2

Project Planning (20%)

Project Planning (20%)

This assessment consists of two milestone tasks that are due at different times in the second half of the semester: (1) a one-to-one meeting with the course lecturer (during week 7/8) and (2) an in-class crit presentation (week 11/12). This assessment aims to provide avenues for you to discuss, get and give feedback, and ultimately work toward clearly articulating both your compositional plan (pre-composition) and process (during and post-composition) with regards to your final composition project. Part A: One-to-one Conference (week 7 or 8): During week 7 or 8, you will be required to attend a 10-15min meeting with the course lecturer to discuss your current progress and final project plan. Part B: Crit Presentation (week 11 or 12): In your tutorial time in week 11 or 12 you will present a 5-10min presentation (with 5-10min of Q&A time). (Exact duration of presentation and question time will depend on student numbers.) You will need to submit your presentation slides and any other accompanying materials as appropriate during the week of your presentation. Your presentation slides should include a bibliography slide with at least 10 sources that are relevant and have directly informed your project. There should be a mix of sources which may include interviews, scores, recordings, articles, album reviews, blog posts, etc.

 

Assessment submission:

Part A: due week 7/8

• Attendance at a 10-15min 1-to-1 meeting during week 7 or 8
• Final project plan (does not need to be submitted, but you should have this ready for discussion during your 1-to-1 meeting)

·     

Part B: due week 11/12

• In-class presentation of 5-10 min (with 5-10 min of questions)
• Submission of your presentation slides and any other relevant materials during the week of your presentation. This includes a bibliography slide that is correctly formatted in Chicago Style, including at least 10 sources that are directly relevant to your project.

 

Assessment Criteria:

• Attendance at the scheduled 1-to-1 meeting and evidence of developing plans for the final project
• In-class presentation with relevant media (media files, scores, sketches, etc.)
• Presentation slides and other appropriate materials submitted during the week of your presentation, clearly presented and formatted as appropriate.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate compositional plans and processes in a way that both describes your project and reflects your understanding of the course content
• Developing ability to meaningfully draw on appropriate academic sources to support your compositional practice as research

Assessment Task 3

Final Project (50%)

Final Project (50%)

Due at the start of the exam period, this assessment calls for a completely unconstrained original work which should show the culmination of your skills and experiences this semester. The scale and duration of this work should be approved by the Course Lecturer before submission (projects are usually 4-6min in duration and for 1-4 musicians, and may include visual media). It is recommended that you focus on clarity of ideas and techniques, rather than duration and complexity. You are completely free to find and use your unique compositional voice; there are absolutely no stylistic guidelines. There will be 1-to-1 feedback meetings to discuss the outcome of your final project scheduled during the exam period.

Assessment submission:

• Uncompressed or lossless audio file (no MP3s) or HD video, as appropriate
• PDF document including: title page, program note (~200words), performance note, score (and parts as appropriate).
• Attendance at the 1-to-1 feedback meeting during the exam period

 

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 a unique and developing compositional voice (e.g. this doesn’t feel like one of the composition exercises from weeks 1-6)
• Clear and well-formatted score that includes all necessary elements (title page, program note, performance note (if needed), score, and parts (if needed).
• Well-mixed audio file (or video, if working to visual media)

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

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.

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. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Feedback and marks will be provided within two weeks of assessment submission.

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.

Resubmission of Assignments

As composition and reflection are ongoing processes, students are always encouraged to consider and discuss the potential for the re-submission of assessments. Please get in touch ASAP to chat about this if you think you would like to resubmit anything.

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 Accessibility 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 supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students