Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials and workshops to complete components of the course.

Learning activities including seminars and tutorials will not always be available as recordings.

The course may include some live online events such as small group tutorials.

Attendance on campus is required for the songwriting and performance assessments.

Throughout the course, there will be essential in-class assessments that students must participate in.

These assessments, are distinct from formal assignments. Students are required to be present to complete these assessments, which typically focus on specific techniques related to composition, arrangement, music theory, and music production. Students will demonstrate their understanding through various activities, including practical applications of concepts learned from pre-class video materials, written tests, and creative exercises conducted in group breakouts. Additionally, formative assessments such as drafts and draft demos will be evaluated during class discussions. Participation in peer reviews, where students listen to and critique each other’s tracks, is also critical for accessing and benefiting from these assessments.

This course will be delivered by way of weekly creative practice lectures, songwriting tutorials, and performance workshops. The curriculum design and its rationale are intended to prepare students for the next Popular Music creative practice course, MUS 181. The degree’s long-term goal is to assist students to begin a career in the music industry, as a songwriter, performer, recording artist, and/or music industry administrator or educator.
During this course, students will compose songs and song arrangements applying a prescribed set of composition techniques and songwriting parameters. The inclusion of these parameters is designed to focus and advance each student’s skill base. The effectiveness of their composition process is assessed through the successful completion of exercises, songs, recordings, charts and analyses, live performances and via thoughtful peer review and written reflection.
Throughout the course, students will participate in group sessions and practical workshops to analyse specific vocal and instrumental performance techniques; students are expected to practice and apply these techniques on a regular basis during their self-directed study time. Contact with professional popular music practitioners by way of attendance, and at times, participation in the weekly afternoon visiting artist workshops is designed to help students keep abreast with the demands and skill set required of an established industry professional.
The Creative Practice Performance Assessment at the end of the semester provides an opportunity for students to perform a selection of their MUS 180 original songs to a wider audience.

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Students need to have ready access off-campus to their primary instrument and/or guitar/piano/keys. We strongly advise students to have ready access off-campus to a microphone, a basic audio interface, a computer and computer DAW software to record their original songs and arrangements. Music production and composing techniques will be taught using Logic Pro software and may be assessed via the same platform. Private ownership of recording equipment and Logic Pro software is not compulsory to complete the coursework—this software is available on the School of Music's computer lab computers, however, it is highly recommended.

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Students need to exercise care by ensuring they adequately warm up their singing voice, hands and fingers before all rehearsals, recording sessions, performance assessments and class-based song presentations.

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Attendance and Participation
Attendance in class, as well as engagement with course activities and readings, is vital to academic success. Owing to the nature of music teaching and learning, consistent attendance is essential at all lectures, tutorials and studio lessons. Students must make every effort to attend class and complete all the necessary in-class requirements. Students are encouraged to talk or communicate with the course coordinator if they have any personal issues, health issues, or financial problems that are affecting their ability to effectively study and complete assignments on time. All planned absences (such as overseas and national tours, family events, or major work-related commitments) must be pre-approved by the Head of School. If approval is given, all Course Coordinators, tutors and other teachers must be informed of your absence in advance. Students should notify the Course Director/Course Coordinator (or nominee) regarding unplanned absences relating to illness, bereavement, or other emergencies as soon as practicable, and preferably before any due date. Notifications received after an assessment due date should still be accepted where that is reasonably possible within the context of the course. 
Mental and Physical Wellbeing The School of Music takes the mental and physical well-being of its students and staff seriously. If you are aware of a situation in which someone’s welfare is compromised, you must alert the Course Coordinator. The University counselling service can offer advice on mental health. Student Disability Services can advise and advocate for students with medical disabilities. Please liaise with SDS about disability accommodations well in advance of assignment due dates or tests.

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

• Honesty - in all aspects of research work
• Accountability - in the conduct of research
• Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
• Good stewardship – on behalf of others
• Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
• Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Assignments are to be submitted, according to submission type specified on CANVAS, by the due date. If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, please complete an application for extension form at the following link 

https://www.forms.auckland.ac.nz/en/student/creative-arts-and-industries/te-whare-o-ng_-pkrero-poro---school-of-music-undergraduate-exten.html

You must submit your extension application as early as possible before the assignment due date.

Late assignments that do not have an approved extension will be penalised 10% for each day or part thereof and will be automatically deducted on CANVAS. No assignment will be accepted after that assignment has been returned to students.

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Students will have earlier access to upcoming assessment overviews and resources.

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.