Course coordinator
Dr Robert Davidson
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Music School
This course is a project-based exploration of improvisation, giving you experience in skills that are important components of secondary music teaching. The focus is a public concert with music improvised by all members of the class. Composition and improvisation skills will be taught throughout the semester in various settings, with small group work. As this is a music course rather than an education course, learning will be strongly focused on practical music making.
This course is a project-based exploration of composition and improvisation, giving you experience in skills that are important components of secondary music teaching. The focus is a public concert late in the semester with music composed and performed collaboratively during the semester by all members of the class. Composition and improvisation skills will be taught throughout the semester in various settings. As this is a music course rather than an education course, learning will be strongly focused on practical music making.
Additionally, creative processes associated with composition and improvisation will be explored in lectures and assignments.
Course requirements
Assumed background
You must be willing to participate in creating and performing music, though there is no assumed background in any area of music beyond being able to play an acoustic instrument (or electric guitar/bass if you are able to provide an amplifier). Laptop musicians will not find the course suitable in most cases.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
MUSC4800
Course contact
Course staff
Tutor
Dr Erik Griswold
Mrs Christina Lieberwirth-Morris
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide a context for students to experience practical composition and improvisation as preparation for teaching these skills in the classroom or using them in your musical activities. The rationale is that when teaching musical skills, it is advisable to have experience in those skills; as composition and improvisation are important components of secondary music education, this class provides experience in these skills for those who will teach, and also for those wishing to understand and use musical imrprovisation more broadly.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of individual improvisation techniques.
LO2.
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the application of musical elements in an applied way.
LO3.
Integrate understanding of musical elements in an applied way.
LO4.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the above techniques through the use of communication and interactional skills.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Performance |
Week 6 in-class performance
|
35% |
31/03/2025 -
Takes place during class time. |
| Performance | Week 12 In-class performance | 35% |
19/05/2025 - 23/05/2025
Takes place during class time. |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Teacher's Report
|
30% |
24/02/2025 - 26/05/2025
Students receive a report from the teaching team on their participation and engagement with learning activities throughout the semester |
Assessment details
Week 6 in-class performance
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Performance
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
31/03/2025 -
Takes place during class time.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
In the week 6 class, your quartet will perform for approximately 8 minutes. While not performing, you will write comments on the other groups performing.
Details about the specific tasks will be provided in class and on Blackboard under "Assessment".
Submission guidelines
Not a submissible item, takes place during class time.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extension requests must be received on or before the due date. No extensions will be grated afterwards.
Late submission
A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.
Week 12 In-class performance
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Performance
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
19/05/2025 - 23/05/2025
Takes place during class time.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
In the week 12 class, your quartet will perform for approximately 8 minutes. While not performing, you will write comments on the other groups performing.
Details about the specific tasks will be provided in class and on Blackboard under "Assessment".
Submission guidelines
Not a submissible item, takes place during class time.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extension requests must be received on or before the due date. No extensions will be grated afterwards.
Late submission
A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.
Teacher's Report
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
24/02/2025 - 26/05/2025
Students receive a report from the teaching team on their participation and engagement with learning activities throughout the semester
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Students receive a report from the teaching team on their participation and engagement with learning activities throughout the semester, including the public and livestreamed concert in week 13 of class. The concert will showcase the improvisatory skills developed during the course: the assessment is based on how effectively you have developed and demonstrated improvisation skills to create music in classes and in the concert.
Supplementary assessment is not available for this assessment task because assessment is based on your participation and engagement with learning activities undertaken throughout the semester.
Submission guidelines
Not a submissible item.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Extensions are not available as assessment is based on your participation and engagement with learning activities undertaken throughout the semester.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Marks | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Occasional application of knowledge and skills |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Partial application of knowledge and skills |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Emerging ability to apply knowledge and skills |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Acceptable application of knowledge and skill |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Effective application of knowledge and skills |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Extensive application of knowledge and skill |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Original, novel and/or creative application of knowledge and skills |
Additional course grading information
The assessment follows criterion-based practices, and standards will be assessed based on criteria, then converted into set percentages (there is no variation within a standard).
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Supplementary assessment is not available for the Teacher's Reportﾠbecause assessment for that task is based on your participation and engagement with learning activities undertaken throughout the semester.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Your musical instrument/voice | You will need to bring your instrument (including amplifier for electric guitars or keyboards) to every seminar and the final concert |
Recommended
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Brockmann, Nicole. From sight to sound : improvisational games for classical musicians. Bloomington : Indiana University Press, 2009. | ||
| Sarath, Edward. Music theory through improvisation [electronic resource] : a new approach to musicianship training. New York: Routledge, 2010. | ||
| Agrell, Jeffrey. Improvisation games for classical musicians : a collection of musical games with suggestions for use : for performers, instrumental teachers, music students, music therapists, bands, orchestras, choirs, chamber music ensembles, conductors, composers, pianists, percussionists, and everybody else (even jazz players). Chicago : GIA Publications, c2008. | ||
| Eric Edberg, Improvisation and the classical musician (weblog) |
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Workshop |
Workshop Series Topics covered on a weekly basis include:
Please note, no classes are scheduled during the School of Music Project Week. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course:
- School of Music site
- Health and Wellbeing for Musicians