Unit rationale, description and aim
Music making contributes to Australia’s social, cultural and economic well-being. Creating and performing music is an important leisure and professional activity for many Australians and this activity functions to inform issues of cultural identity and belonging. To understand Australia’s musical past, present and future, music students need the skills and knowledge to contextualise, interrogate and research a range of music-making practices in Australia.
The unit introduces key concepts that inform scholarly discourse surrounding Australian music including a study of musical practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and transplanted musical cultures. The unit explores Australian art, community and popular music as well as the institutions that support music making in Australia. Listening, writing and performing are employed as vehicles for analysing and understanding examples of music practice.
The aim of the unit is to assist students to acquire skills in music research, and to develop an appreciation of the diversity of musical expression in Australian culture.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Demonstrate a critical awareness of music style an...
Learning Outcome 01
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the cultural, po...
Learning Outcome 02
Apply skills in critical analysis of music scores,...
Learning Outcome 03
Construct evidence-based arguments around the idea...
Learning Outcome 04
Appreciate the diverse world views and music pract...
Learning Outcome 05
Content
Topics will include:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and music-making and its role in societies and cultures
- The interaction between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and musicians and white Australia, including ethical practice and cultural safety
- A survey of music and music-making in Australia in the 19th century
- The development of Australia's musical institutions through the 20th century
- Transplanted musical cultures in Australia through the lens of different waves of migration
- The place of music in 21st century Australian society and culture
- Social and political influences on music education in Australia
- The exploration of national identity and cross-cultural influences in Australian music
- Developments in Australian art, folk and popular music, composition and performance
Assessment strategy and rationale
Three assessment tasks have been developed to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements.
Assessment one requires students to interpret and comment on music styles, genres and music making in Australia through listening to music examples. Assessment two requires students to express their understanding of music in an Australian context through performance or the construction of an informative program. Assessment three applies the knowledge and skills developed in earlier assessment and requires students to select, research, and critically analyse a topic that relates to an aspect of Australian music and culture.
Overview of assessments
Listening analysis task Requires students to dem...
Listening analysis task
Requires students to demonstrate understanding of Australian music through analysis of musical materials
30%
Presentation: Performance or Program Requires s...
Presentation: Performance or Program
Requires students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding through performance or development of a program
30%
Research task Requires students to demonstrate ...
Research task
Requires students to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a particular aspect of Australian music and culture
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
The unit is designed to promote understanding of the context and development of music in Australia. The learning and teaching strategy encourages critical and reflective thinking, and assists students to develop values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline of music in the Australian context. Repertoire and scholarly ideas are shared with students in the context of formal lectures (which may be in the form of online lecture vignettes) and students are required to work independently and collaboratively to evaluate research and music practice in context. The exploration of Australian music is organised around relevant historical and social themes, and opportunities for practical performance of Australian music are offered. Where the unit engages with the music of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, student learning will be informed by Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices drawn from community.