Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Music School
Study of individual, group & large ensemble choral pedagogy, including rehearsal techniques; study of choral literatures; peer teaching activity & performance observations.
MUSC7160 allows students with an experience of choral music to develop further understandings of choral processes and skills. It is assumed that students have at least some experience as a choral singer and preferably experience as a conductor.
Master of Music students who are keen to do this course but who lack such a background are encouraged to enrol in MUSC3160 (semester two) as a preparation to this course, and then do MUSC7160 in the subsequent semester.ﾠ
Course requirements
Assumed background
It is assumed that students taking this course will have a background and interest in choral music of the western traditions. ﾠStudents without this interest or background should meet with the course coordinator before enrolling in the course.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Permission of course coordinator
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
MUSC7620
Restrictions
Please note that this course offering may be cancelled if fewer than 10 students enrol.
Course contact
Course staff
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
Students will develop an understaning of the contexts in which choirs function effectively, and the processes used by conductors to demonstrate effective choral leadership and develop successful ensembles. Students will develop a knowledge of choral repertoire and musical style as an aid to understanding choral music as an Artform.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Develop the skills necessary to train choral singers to become an effective choral ensemble.
LO2.
Understand the ways different choirs function, and evaluate the various strengths of different ensembles.
LO3.
Understand the key role of repertoire in developing an ensemble, and demonstrate an ability to evaluate choral repertoire suitable for varying contexts.
LO4.
Perceive problems encountered in the choral ensemble and formulate creative and appropriate solutions to these problems.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Performance, Practical/ Demonstration | Conducting Task 1 | 20% |
11/04/2025 5:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Choral Research Repertoire Study | 20% |
2/05/2025 5:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Auto-ethnographical Evaluation and Reflection | 20% |
30/05/2025 5:00 pm |
| Performance, Practical/ Demonstration | Conducting Task 2 | 40% |
7/05/2025 - 30/05/2025
Each student will be allocated a date to rehearse the class choir for 10 mins. Up to 6 per week will be allocated. Annotated score must be handed in on the same day as conducting task 2 is assessed. |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Student engagement and Participation
|
Formative |
24/02/2025 - 30/05/2025
Weekly participation and engagement is required for this task. |
Assessment details
Conducting Task 1
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Performance, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
11/04/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04
Task description
Task: Conducting Mid-semester Basic Skills
This task consists of a video submission and fully prepared notated score with conductor notes that you will upload to Blackboard. This task is designed to allow you to demonstrate the acquisition and internalization of basic conducting skills, and provides the foundation for the final video submission in this course.
You will be assessed on Beat pattern, Flow, ictus, wrist and elbow, and changing metre.
Upload a video of you conducting a recording of O Magnum Mysterium (Victoria).
Score available from www.cpdl.org
You are required to choose a recording suitable to the style of the work to conduct.
The camera will face you and be full body length.
The notated score will show your conducting preparation and understanding of gesture and style, including breathing marks, cutoffs, tempo or meter changes etc.
Submission guidelines
Video and score submitted to Blackboard.
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 granted afterwards.
Please note that extensions on this assessment item may disadvantage you, as the final assessment relies on the completion of this task.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
10% per day for late submissions.
Choral Research Repertoire Study
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
2/05/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
Choral Research – Repertoire and Style Study 20%
Written Task – 2000 words
This assignment requires you to study two pieces from the perspective of the conductor who is preparing to rehearse and perform such music.
The works are: Kyrie from Missa "Aeterna Christi Munnera" by Palestrina and "The Glory of the Lord" by Handel
Write an account which provides background to performance in the Renaissance and in the Baroque. For each style it should discuss such things as:
- The environments/contexts in which this music was performed in the period;
- The type of ensemble likely to have performed this repertoire in that period, the genre of the respective pieces discussing the typical features of that genre;
- The stylistic considerations to be considered when performing this music in as authentic a way as is possible.
- Include a “conductor’s score” of the works clearly marked with analytical and musical annotations valuable to the conductor.
Your submission should be double spaced and referenced appropriately.
Submission guidelines
To be submitted via Turnitin
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 granted afterwards.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
10% per day deducted for late submission
Auto-ethnographical Evaluation and Reflection
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
30/05/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
This Auto-ethnographical evaluation and review will have two parts.
Part 1 Reflection of the Semester
Write a reflection of your development as a conductor, considering the aspects of your work and what you have learnt throughout the semester. You could reflect on your own development of conducting gestures, patterns, cues, musical understanding and response to the music. Also how this impacted the choral sound and how it influenced your conducting. You will analyse the importance of each skill and your effectiveness in demonstrating these skills undertaken this semester. Then, in part two discuss how these will influence your approach to future choirs and choral conducting.
Part 2 The Future as a choral conductor
Your analysis of your learning this semester and future plans will now look at how it will specifically impact and how you implement it into the future as a choral conductor. This should include conductors preparation (ie what skills do you still need to practice and develop), how you would plan your rehearsals and what elements will your rehearsal include, how would you choose your repertoire with a sample of what you would choose, performance opportunities and why you would pick them. The final section will be your written personal Choral Conductor philosophy.
This auto-ethnographical Evaluation and Reflection should be approx. 2000 words.
Your submission should be double spaced.
Submit via Blackboard.
Submission guidelines
Submission via Blackboard
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 granted afterwards.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
10% per day of late submission
Conducting Task 2
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Performance, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
7/05/2025 - 30/05/2025
Each student will be allocated a date to rehearse the class choir for 10 mins. Up to 6 per week will be allocated. Annotated score must be handed in on the same day as conducting task 2 is assessed.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04
Task description
Students are to rehearse the class choir during an allocated lecture or tutorial. Students must submit an original annotated score and self reflection as evidence of emerging skill as a choral trainer/conductor. They will conduct from this score and then hand in for assessment at the end of their conducting assessment.
Students must rehearse the class for 10 mins with the following work. Students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the work, show development of choral conducting and rehearsal techniques including working on tone, pitch, diction, dynamics, pacing of rehearsal and musical understanding and response to the music reflected in your gestural language.
Work for conduction task 2
Rejoice in the Lamb, (Movement 1,2 and 3) - Benjamin Britten
Students are required to purchase an original copy of the score.
Submission guidelines
To be submitted in class
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extension requests must be received on or before the due date. No extensions will be granted afterwards.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Student engagement and Participation
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- Formative
- Due date
24/02/2025 - 30/05/2025
Weekly participation and engagement is required for this task.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04
Task description
Students will be required to participate in weekly class activities during both lecture and tutorials. Minimum of 90% attendance and consistent engagement in weekly lecture AND tutorial is required. Students will receive verbal feedback in tutorials with their practical tasks and written tasks. This will alert them to their strengths and weaknesses, how they are progressing and what changes to undertake to succeed with subsequent tasks and summative assessment. The engagement will include their participation in practical conducting with feedback each week leading up to each summative assessment. Students are required to participate in all practical assessments as singers for their peers conducting assessment tasks. This will be rehearsed and practiced weekly in tutorials and lectures.
Submission guidelines
Students engagement will be assessed through heir participation in weekly lecture and tutorial activities. If student miss more then 10% of lecture and tutorials this will result in students unable to pass this task.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
As weekly participation and engagement is required, no extension or deferral is available for this assessment.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
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: Some engagement with the assessment tasks; however no demonstrated evidence of understanding of the concepts in the field of study |
| 2 (Fail) | 2 - |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Deficiencies in understanding the fundamental concepts of the field of study |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | <p>45</p> - |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Superficial understanding of the fundamental concepts of the field of study |
| 4 (Pass) | <p>50</p> - |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Adequate knowledge of fundamental concepts of the field of study |
| 5 (Credit) | <p>65</p> - |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Good knowledge of fundamental concepts of the field of study |
| 6 (Distinction) | <p>75</p> - |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Substantial knowledge of fundamental concepts of the field of study |
| 7 (High Distinction) | <p>85</p> - |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Mastery of content |
Additional course grading information
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Determining final grades:
The final grades are determined by consideration of the weighting of individual assessment items, through the use of weighting formula and the profile of individual grades across accumulated assessment tasks.
All assessment items in the course (other then pass/fail items) will be provided a grade from 7–1 in accordance with the 7-point UQ grading scale. The final grade will be calculated using the weighting and the individual assignment grades as follows.
Example: A student receives the following three grades
Assignment 1 (A1): grade of 6 at 40% weighting
Assignment 2 (A2): grade of 5 at 30% weighting
Assignment 3 (A3): grade of 6 at 30% weighting
The final grade for this student, taking into account the weighting of each assignment, would be:
(A1) + (A2) + (A3)
(0.4 x 6) + (0.3 x 5) + (0.3 x 6) = 2.4 + 1.5 + 1.8 = 5.7
The final grade would be rounded to the nearest whole number; in this case the grade would be 6.
In the case where the final grade is 0.5 or above, the grade will be rounded up to the nearest whole number (e.g. 5.5 would become 6). In the case where the final grade is 0.49 or below, the grade will be rounded down to the nearest whole number (e.g. 5.49 would become 5)
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Release of assessment item marks and feedback
In addition to the grade awarded, feedback will be provided in a timely manner to enable students to apply the feedback to further tasks within the course or program and/or plan for supplementary assessment, requests for re-mark, or re-enrolment. However, as per UQ Policy and Procedures Library under the Assessment Procedure<https://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.10.02-assessment#Procedures>, results for the final assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released. Time frames for applications for assessment re-mark are indicated under the Assessment Procedure<https://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.10.02-assessment#Procedures>.
Re-mark policy
After each assessable item, students will be given the opportunity to view their assessment and so satisfy themselves that a marking or administrative error has not occurred. The formal process of querying a course result (requesting a remark on academic grounds) is set out in the UQ Policy and Procedures Library under the Assessment Procedure<https://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.10.02-assessment#Procedures>.
This course evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
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
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Own copy required
You'll need to have your own copy of the following reading resources. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Score |
O Magnum Mysterium
by Victoria; Tomás Luis de |
| Book |
Rejoice in the Lamb: festival cantata for chorus (SATB) with treble, alto, tenor and bass solos, and organ : op. 30
by Britten; Benjamin; Hussey; Walter; Smart; Christopher - 2013 Publisher: Distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation; Boosey & Hawkes ISBN: 9781458424518 |
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Rejoice in the Lamb, Benjamin Britten | Music Score - must be a original score (NOT an illegal photocopy) that you can used to mark up for assessment. | own item needed |
| O Magnum Mysterium, Victoria | Score available form www.cpdl.org This is public domain and is freely available to all. | own item needed |
Additional learning resources information
Students must conduct from their own original score of Rejoice in the Lamb by Benjamin Britten for final conducting assessment.
Copies can be purchased from JW Pepper Music Resources https://www.jwpepper.com/Rejoice-in-the-Lamb/172171.item
or Music Room https://www.musicroom.com/benjamin-britten-rejoice-in-the-lamb-mixed-choir-bhm060015120?srsltid=AfmBOoocVCyXMvoQwtF1Pxmp52C2_rdSflNq1h0RuGqdav2JCXt7c7O4
or from your preferred supplier
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 |
Lecture |
Lecture-Discussion-Practice Each week consists of a two hour lecture including approx one hour of knowledge acquisition and approx one hour of practical repertoire development. Week 1: Introduction to the course – content and assessment. Week 2: Choral Philosophy: Contexts of Choral Activity - the value of choir; the role of choral activity; why do people sing? Week 3: The role of the conductor in creating choral sound Week 4: Expressive Conducting/Choral Warm-ups Week 5: Learning in the Choir Understanding choral tone Rehearsal Techniques to improve choral tone Week 6: Choral Music in the Renaissance Week 7: Choral Music in the Baroque Week 8: Choral Music in the Classic and Romantic periods Week 9: Project Week - No Lecture or Tutorials Week10: Contemporary Music Week 11: Australian Music: Past Life Melodies and more Week12: Rehearsal Plans and preparation; Role of accompanist Week13: Course Conclusion: Choral resources; copyright; organizational support Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial - Practice Each week in tutorials student will be required to conduct musical works in preparation for assessment and participate in class activities developing their skills as a choral conductor. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Additional learning activity information
Week 1 commencing 24/02/2025 - Week 13 commencing 26/05/2025
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