The Foundational Musicianship course runs through all music majors at ANU. Here students will develop core skills underpinning analytical and practical engagement in a variety of musical idioms, including classical, jazz, and popular styles. In this course, students apply their knowledge of functional harmony to gain a deeper appreciation of music while developing greater fluency in reading and interpreting different modes of music notation. Analytical skills are complimented by relevant aural skills, including audiation (inner hearing) and aural awareness of related melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic structures.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. apply critical thinking through written reflection and verbal discussion demonstrating theoretical understanding and an ability to apply the core elements of music to creative practice;
2. fluently apply theoretical knowledge through analysis of music scores using appropriate terminology and notation;
3. demonstrate an ability to read and interpret relevant music notation, including the inner hearing of melody, harmony, and rhythm, through sight-singing, sight-reading; and improvisation activities; and
4. aurally identify and interpret the various elements of music, including pitch, chords, harmony, and rhythm, as demonstrated through notation and performance tasks.

Research-Led Teaching

Academic staff involved in the ongoing evolution of this course are working to lead the international conversation regarding the teaching and learning of theory and aural skills in the decolonising academy. We are in a constant state of reevaluating the materials, techniques and perspectives utilised in this course in order to reflect the dynamic postmodern cultural landscape of Australia and the rest of the planet in the 21st Century. Students in this course are provided with a creative, playful and academically rigorous space in which to explore their musical practice.

Field Trips

Students are encouraged to attend live and online concerts and other artistic and performance events throughout the semester, as well as trips to the library for research materials and training sessions.

Examination Material or equipment

Laptops, headphones, and writing materials may be required for exams.

Required Resources

Notebook (digital or paper); headphones; access to a computer with notation (Sibelius, Musescore, Finale), DAW (Logic, Reaper, ProTools, Ableton, etc.), video editing (iMovie, Final Cut, Openshot, etc.) and analysis (Sonic Visualiser) software; metronome and other apps for your mobile phone (as discussed in class)

Recommended Resources

Students will be provided with weekly resources and are also required to seek out resources from the library and various online sources throughout the semester.

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	Intro to the course; what is music, and how do we study it?
2	From the harmonic series to timbre, pitch, scales, keys, rhythm and beyond
3	Counterpoint
4	Tonal harmony in major keys
5	Tonal harmony in minor keys
6	Applied dominants, modulations, key changes	Assessment 1 during the Friday workshop
7	Phrase structure and analysis
8	Motivic analysis
9	Small forms
10	Large forms
11	Orchestration and analysis group project presentations	Assessment 2 in class
12	Orchestration and analysis group project presentations	Assessment 2 in class
13	Examination period	Assessment 3 individually scheduled

Tutorial Registration

Students will have the opportunity to select a tutorial via MyTimetable.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Mid Semester Exam (30%)	30 %	28/03/2025	1,2,3,4
Orchestration and analysis project (40%)	40 %	23/05/2025	1,2,3,4
End of Semester Conference/Exam (30%)	30 %	15/06/2025	1,2,3,4

* 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 attend and participate in weekly lectures, tutorials and workshops.

There will also be opportunities for communicating with, learning from and supporting your classmates online via Teams throughout the semester.

Examination(s)

All students within this course must sit the mid-semester examination and the end of semester examination.

Assessment Task 1

Mid Semester Exam (30%)

During the Friday workshop time, students will complete a 50min exam covering materials and concepts from the first 6 weeks of class.

Details will be available nearer the time, and students will design, complete, and discuss a mock exam in class earlier in the semester.

Assessment Task 2

Orchestration and analysis project (40%)

Students will be asked to complete a folio of orchestrations/arrangements based on a selected short form musical work (e.g. 32 bar jazz standard). Students will select a piece from a set of options and produce:

• A piano reduction featuring a melodic line, bass line, and right hand chord voicings (score submitted with annotations and appropriate analyses)
• A series of two orchestrations/arrangements for ensembles of 4 musicians (scores submitted with annotations and appropriate analyses) utilising reharmonisation techniques from the course materials

Each of the arrangements will have a clear texture/style and instrumentation, selected from lists given at the start of the semester. Example combinations might be a European Baroque string quartet, an instrumental post-rock quartet, a minimalist brass quartet, or a Latin jazz piano trio with vocalist. For each arrangement students will discuss the choices they made in the context of at least one example from both the texture/style and instrumentation used. Of particular interest are the ways in which particular combinations of instruments and textures/styles highlight different musical elements found in the initial analysis of the original work. Students will also be provided with a list of reharmonisation techniques to choose from and apply in their arrangements.

This folio of work will be the subject of a 10min in-class presentation given during weeks 11 or 12. During this presentations students will be asked to:

• Articulate the choices made during the piano reduction (voicings, voice leading, etc.), giving a summary of their annotations/analysis
• Discuss their arrangements, including a brief summary of their reharmonisations, analyses, and discussions of the works from which they drew inspiration and techniques
• Share their insights into what worked and what didn't work in applying these textures/styles and instrumentations to the original works

Your presentation should include references to at least 5 external sources (recordings, interviews with composers/musicians, journal articles, text/method books, course materials, etc.). You will also be asked to submit your annotated scores, audio files, and presentation materials (slides) via Wattle before your presentation.

Assessments submission:

• 10min in-class presentation with relevant media (audio files, scores, etc.)
• Submitted annotated scores (PDFs), audio files (WAV), and other presentation materials (including bibliography slide) via Wattle (submission as a single folder)

Assessment criteria (equally weighted):

• Demonstration of appropriate reduction, annotation, and analysis techniques
• Demonstration of relevant research regarding texture/style, including appropriate application of techniques
• Demonstration of relevant research regarding instrumentation, including appropriate application of techniques
• Appropriate application of reharmonisation techniques
• Quality of notation and score formatting including dynamics, phrasing, etc.
• Clear and well-organised in-class presentation with appropriate materials (media files, scores, sketches, bibliography slide, etc.)

Assessment Task 3

End of Semester Conference/Exam (30%)

During the exam period each student will be invited to attend a final conference and 'viva voce' exam with the course convenor. Students will be given set materials to prepare based on the course materials, including guest workshops. This assessment will require students to demonstrate singing, listening, analysing, sight reading, and other skills and knowledge from the course. More details will be provided in class and via Wattle in advance of this assessment.

Assessments submission:

• 15min conference and 'viva voce' exam with the course convenor during the exam period

Assessment criteria (equally weighted):

• Demonstrated abilities in singing prepared melodic passages
• Demonstrated abilities in performing rhythmic passages
• Demonstrated abilities in transcription/dictation
• Demonstrated abilities in sight reading analysis and performance

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. 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

In exceptional circumstances, an amended assessment task may be set for resubmission in place of the original assignment. You must consult with the Course Convenor and Lecturer for the assessment task in question to apply and your request will be considered. Timeline on due dates for any approved resubmission will be considered on a case by case basis depending on the student's personal circumstances.

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