Overview
While studying the Principal Music Studios series of units you will undertake a series of developmental practical music studies relating to your primary study area. In Principal Music Studios 2, you will continue to engage in practical music studies in one instrument, voice or composition, focusing on foundation level repertoire and technical work. These practical studies will be underpinned by your ability to demonstrate personal and professional skills necessary for your profession, such as punctuality and preparedness for each of your lessons, consistent attendance and thorough personal practice, and a mature response to direction. You are expected to demonstrate cumulative levels of skill and knowledge through this series of units.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must be enrolled in CG51 Bachelor of Music or CC41 Diploma of Music to enrol in this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Email and personal communication
Students commented positively on aspects of teacher quality; teacher experience; personalisation of curriculum; and the mentorship of their teacher.
Continue to provide high quality staff with vast experience and a commitment to the development of each individual student.
- Perform the foundation technical work covered in this unit to a high level
- Execute the foundation level repertoire and skills studied in this unit to a high level of musicianship
- Engage in the process of developing and reflecting on the personal and professional skills necessary for your area of study.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 40% | |||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 40% | |||
| 3 - Critical Review - 20% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.smyth-tomkins@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 14 Jul 2025Module/Topic
All students: Individual lesson
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 21 Jul 2025Module/Topic
Masterclass 1: See Moodle for the relevant Zoom link.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 28 Jul 2025Module/Topic
All students: Individual lesson
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 04 Aug 2025Module/Topic
All students: Individual lesson
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 11 Aug 2025Module/Topic
All students: Individual lesson
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 18 Aug 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 25 Aug 2025Module/Topic
All students: Individual lesson
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 01 Sep 2025Module/Topic
Masterclass 2: See Moodle for the relevant Zoom link.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 08 Sep 2025Module/Topic
All students: Individual lesson
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 15 Sep 2025Module/Topic
All students: Individual lesson
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 22 Sep 2025Module/Topic
All students: Individual lesson
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 29 Sep 2025Module/Topic
All students: Individual lesson
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 06 Oct 2025Module/Topic
All students: Individual lesson
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 13 Oct 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 20 Oct 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Structure
The unit comprises 12 hours of dedicated instruction, including individual lessons and collaborative group Masterclasses with our expert staff.
Masterclass Focus Areas
The two Masterclasses may cover essential topics, including:
- Understanding Unit Requirements: Clarifying expectations and objectives to help you navigate the course successfully.
- Personal Practice Routines: Establishing effective practice habits tailored to your individual needs.
- Time Management Strategies: Learning to balance practice, study, and personal commitments efficiently.
- Confidence Building: Developing techniques to boost your confidence in performance settings.
- Health and Wellbeing: Emphasising the importance of physical and mental health in sustaining a long-term music career.
- Exam Preparation
1 Practical Assessment
The technical assessment evaluates the practical study and application of technical aspects in your individual development as instrumentalists, vocalists or composers. This assessment focuses on acquiring technique and musicianship skills, encompassing a range of technical materials relating to scales/modes, arpeggios/chords, etudes/studies, comping exercises, sight reading, rudiments, and the application of compositional devices and elements. Students will study a curriculum for this assessment, which will be individually designed by the tutor and communicated by the Unit Coordinator.
Vocalists and instrumentalists: You will present this assessment as part of an in-class test or an approved assessment recording.
Composers: You will present this assessment item as a portfolio of work relating to the specific technical tasks developed throughout the term.
Week 10 Monday (22 Sept 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
It is expected that technical assessments take place on the same day/time as your weekly scheduled lesson.
Students will be assessed on a combination of criteria relating to the development of musical and technical skills as applied to their instrument and genre of study. The criteria may include the assessment of:
- Technical Proficiency: Students will demonstrate the application of technical elements, including accuracy of pitch and intonation, agility/dexterity, and fluency, in the performance or notation of assigned scales/modes, arpeggios/chords, etudes/studies, comping exercises, sight reading or rudiments, relevant to their chosen instrument, voice or composition.
- Articulation and Phrasing: Students will demonstrate command and stylistic application of articulation techniques, as well as an understanding and execution of appropriate phrasing within the assigned practical technical materials or compositional works.
- Tone Production: Students will produce a quality tone or vocal sound, displaying aspects such as breath control, vocal resonance, instrumental tone control, and consistency of tone across different registers. For composers, students will demonstrate an understanding and use of timbre and instrumentation in their compositions.
- Rhythmic Accuracy: Students will display precision and rhythmic control in performing the assigned technical materials. Composers will demonstrate precision and accuracy in the notation of rhythmic patterns and devices relative to their compositional works.
- Composition Analysis: Students will demonstrate their knowledge of composition structure, melodic content, harmony, rhythm, instrumentation, texture and phrasing through a variety of analytical tasks.
- Overall Musical Interpretation: Students will apply technical skills in context, demonstrating musicality through expression, phrasing, dynamics, memorisation, tempo and stylistic understanding, in either performance or compositional works.
- Perform the foundation technical work covered in this unit to a high level
2 Practical Assessment
This repertoire assessment evaluates students' practical study of repertoire for instrumentalists or vocalists, or the development of a composition portfolio for composers. This task focuses on the acquisition of performance skills, interpretation, musicianship, or composition techniques in the presentation of either a performance or portfolio of works. Instrumentalists and vocalists are required to perform a repertoire assessment from a defined list of pieces, relative to each instrument and genre. Composers develop a portfolio of works of varying styles and specifications. The curriculum for this assessment is individualised and planned by the tutor, in consultation with the unit coordinator, with approved repertoire lists communicated individually to each student.
Detailed instructions regarding length, number of works studied and submission instructions are available on the unit Moodle site.
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (15 Oct 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
End of term
Students will be assessed on a combination of criteria relating to the development of musical and technical performance skills as applied to their instrument and genre of study. The criteria may include the assessment of:
- Technical Proficiency: Students will demonstrate the application of technical elements, including accuracy of pitch and intonation, agility/dexterity, and fluency, in the performance or notation of assigned repertoire, relevant to their chosen instrument, voice or composition.
- Articulation and Phrasing: Students will demonstrate command and stylistic application of articulation techniques, as well as an understanding and execution of appropriate phrasing within the assigned repertoire or developed compositional works.
- Tone Production: Students will produce a quality tone or vocal sound, displaying aspects such as breath control, vocal resonance, instrumental tone control, and consistency of tone across different registers. For composers, students will demonstrate an understanding and use of timbre and instrumentation in their compositions.
- Rhythmic Accuracy: Students will display precision and rhythmic control in performing the assigned technical materials. Composers will demonstrate precision and accuracy in the notation of rhythmic patterns and devices relative to their compositional works.
- Improvisation / Interpretation: Students will be evaluated on their ability to demonstrate improvisational skills and stylistic interpretive choices, relative to the assigned repertoire.
- Overall Musical Interpretation: Students will apply musical skills in context, demonstrating musicality through expression, phrasing, dynamics, memorisation, tempo and stylistic understanding, in either performance or compositional works.
- Execute the foundation level repertoire and skills studied in this unit to a high level of musicianship
3 Critical Review
In this assessment item, your tutor will reflect on your progress during this term of study, relating to a number of expected professional and developmental attributes, including: attendance and punctuality, preparation and practice, application of directions and concepts, focus and concentration, and evidence of improvement.
This assessment item is graded and submitted by your individual tutor. As such, no specific due date is required.
End of term.
- Attendance and Punctuality: Regular and timely presence in classes and rehearsals.
- Preparation and Practice: Demonstrated evidence of thorough lesson preparation and consistent practice.
- Application of Direction and Concepts: Ability to effectively apply given directions and apply learned concepts.
- Focus and Concentration: Degree of attentiveness and concentration during lessons and performance.
- Improvement: Observable evidence of ongoing growth and development.
No submission method provided.
- Engage in the process of developing and reflecting on the personal and professional skills necessary for your area of study.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
