Course coordinator
Dr Robert Davidson
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
This course assists musicians to extend their skills and understanding in techniques for creating
music compositions, without requiring prior composing experience. Using a diverse range of
techniques learned through analysis and exercises, students create a folio of original notated works
to be performed in class.
This is a practical course in which students compose exercises based on compositional techniques studied in class and the readings, and subsequently perform the exercises in class. The techniques areﾠintegrated into compositions for submission at the end of semester.
This course has been developed with consideration of Indigenising the curriculum.
Course requirements
Assumed background
You are assumed to have a musical background, with ability to read and write staff notation.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
MUSC7790
Restrictions
Course offering may be cancelled if fewer than 10 students enrol
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Professor Paul Dean
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to give you practical skills in composing music.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
command a broad palette of contemporary composition techniques in order to express your musical goals
LO2.
understand your own distinctive compositional voice
LO3.
compose for and work with instrumentalists and/or digital equipment effectively and idiomatically
LO4.
work independently to complete high-quality, authentic musical compositions
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Portfolio | In-class composition exercises | 50% |
24/02/2025 - 30/05/2025
Due weekly at the conclusion of the class time. The exercise is completed fully during class time, in the second hour of the class. |
| Creative Production/ Exhibition | One-minute composition | 10% |
21/03/2025 5:00 pm |
| Creative Production/ Exhibition, Performance |
Three-minute composition with live performance
|
15% |
Performance in class time 17/04/2025 6:00 pm recording and score is due 6/05/2025 2:00 pm
The performance is due in the week 8 class time, and the submitted recording and score is due on Turnitin on Tuesday of Week 10. |
| Creative Production/ Exhibition | Five-minute composition | 25% |
13/06/2025 5:00 pm |
Assessment details
In-class composition exercises
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Portfolio
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
24/02/2025 - 30/05/2025
Due weekly at the conclusion of the class time. The exercise is completed fully during class time, in the second hour of the class.
- Learning outcomes
- L01
Task description
Each week in class, you will complete composition exercises. These are explained in class at the time of the exercise (in the first half of the lecture) and are submitted at the conclusion of the class. The grade for this assessment will be based on the best seven submitted exercises.
Submission guidelines
Submit your exercise as a hard copy at the end of class.
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. Extensions will consist of an alternative composition task that will be individually explained.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
No late submissions are accepted without an extension.
One-minute composition
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Creative Production/ Exhibition
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
21/03/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
Compose a completely original musical composition that has a one-minute duration. All musical ideas must be your own. You may score the composition for any instruments. The composition must be notated and also realised in audio form, either as a live recording or a MIDI realisation (eg. by using notation software such as MuseScore).
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn. Submit your one-minute composition as both score and recording. Your recording may be either a live performances or realisations using MIDI (e.g.. through notation software such as MuseScore). Submit your score as a PDF file and your recording as an mp3 file.
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 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.
Three-minute composition with live performance
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Creative Production/ Exhibition, Performance
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
Performance in class time 17/04/2025 6:00 pm
recording and score is due 6/05/2025 2:00 pm
The performance is due in the week 8 class time, and the submitted recording and score is due on Turnitin on Tuesday of Week 10.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
Compose a completely original musical composition that has a three-minute duration, scored for the instruments available in your assigned group. All musical ideas must be your own. Perform your composition in class in week 10 with your assigned group (the groups will be assigned in class in advance).
Submission guidelines
Submit on Turnitin. Submit your score as a PDF and your recording as mp3. The recording will be made in class of your group. The quality of recording is not crucial; a recording made on a smartphone is typically what is expected.
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.
If an extension is required, you will need to organise your group to perform in another week of class, or (as a last resort) to record a video of your performance together and submit via email to the lecturer.
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.
Five-minute composition
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Creative Production/ Exhibition
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
13/06/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
Compose a completely original musical composition that has a five-minute duration. All musical ideas must be your own. You may score the composition for any instruments. The composition must be notated and also realised in audio form, either as a live recording or a MIDI realisation (eg. by using notation software such as MuseScore).
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn. Submit your one-minute composition as both score and recording. Your recording may be either a live performances or realisations using MIDI (e.g.. through notation software such as MuseScore). Submit your score as a PDF file and your recording as an mp3 file.
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.
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.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Usually reserved for where grossly deficient work has been presented. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Severely deficient grasp of learning materials as demonstrated by frequent errors and misunderstandings in submitted work. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Submitted work demonstrates grasp of many features of course content but with frequent misunderstandings and some serious errors in contrapuntal idioms present. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Submitted work demonstrates a basic level of competence across all areas of assessable course content with occasional errors of understanding and limited use of contrapuntal idioms. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Submitted work demonstrates proficiency of understanding and achievement across all areas of the course with mostly minor errors of part writing and limited understanding of idioms across different contrapuntal genres. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Submitted work demonstrates clear understanding of all course content with few and mostly minor errors of part writing and stylistic requirements across contrapuntal idioms and genres. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Submitted work demonstrates mastery of all course content with imaginative responses to requirements of all contrapuntal idioms and genres. |
Additional course grading information
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
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.
Other course materials
Recommended
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| MuseScore 4 | Free cross-platform music notation software. Download at https://musescore.org/en/download |
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 Weekly workshops covering compositional techniques. 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