Overview
Through continuing your studies in music and production fundamentals, you will gain knowledge of how music is created, rehearsed, recorded and performed. You will specialise in genres such as jazz, rock, pop, rhythm and blues, funk and soul. Using industry recognised software, you will gain further experience with Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), software synthesisers, sequencing, multi-track recordings, editing and audio mixing. The study of practical and theoretical principles gives you the opportunity to explore various performance, technical and creative skills.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for 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 Lecturer feedback
Encourage peer to peer collaboration
Create more opportunities for students to work together on projects, and share feedback. Collaborating on tasks will foster a supportive learning community and help develop important skills in teamwork, communication, and critical analysis.
- Implement at a foundation level, a range of music and production techniques pertinent to your specialisation within various live or recorded music and production contexts
- Apply, at a foundation level, a range of technical and creative skills pertinent to your specialisation, specific to music and production within various live or recorded contexts
- Develop, to a foundation level, musical skills of stylistic authenticity pertinent to your specialisation within a range of live or recorded music and production contexts.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 35% | |||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 35% | |||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||
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)
- Ableton Live software
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.
p.preece@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 14 Jul 2025Module/Topic
Introduction to Unit
Introduction to MIDI and software instruments
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 21 Jul 2025Module/Topic
MIDI sequencing 1 – drums and percussive patterns
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 28 Jul 2025Module/Topic
MIDI sequencing 2 – creating chords
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 04 Aug 2025Module/Topic
MIDI sequencing 3 – bass and lead lines
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 11 Aug 2025Module/Topic
Subtractive synthesis
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
Sampling
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 01 Sep 2025Module/Topic
Instrument racks
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 08 Sep 2025Module/Topic
MIDI effects
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 15 Sep 2025Module/Topic
MIDI arrangement
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 22 Sep 2025Module/Topic
Transitions
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 29 Sep 2025Module/Topic
Project Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 06 Oct 2025Module/Topic
Final mix, automation and media preparation
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
1 Practical Assessment
In this assessment, you will be required to perform a series of MIDI sequencing tasks. To complete this assessment, download the 'project brief' document from Moodle as well as the Ableton Live set. You will be required to use the MIDI sequencing and edit functions of Ableton Live including but not limited to:
- Draw
- Note length
- Velocity
- Copy
- Paste
- Cut
- Duplicate
- Loop
Once you have completed all the steps outlined in the project brief, “collect all and save” your session. Navigate to the location on your computer where you saved your session. Right-click on the top level project folder to compress/zip the Ableton Live project.
Name the folder: Edit assessment_YourName. This will create a .zip file that you can upload to Moodle as your submission.
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 2 - You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Week 5 Monday (11 Aug 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Monday (1 Sept 2025)
- MIDI sequencing - correct note placement - 30%
- MIDI sequencing - correct note velocity - 30%
- MIDI sequencing - correct note duration -10%
- Loop points are applied effectively to all clips - 20%
- Ableton Live session handling - 10%
- Implement at a foundation level, a range of music and production techniques pertinent to your specialisation within various live or recorded music and production contexts
2 Practical Assessment
In this assessment task, you will be required to create a series of sounds using the Ableton Live software instruments. To complete this assessment, download the 'project brief' document from Moodle as well as the Ableton Live set. You will be required to apply principles of synthesis and sampling as well as use the built-in sound design tools of Ableton Live, including but not limited to:
- EQ
- Time-based effects
- Arpeggiator
- Modulation
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 1: You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Week 9 Monday (15 Sept 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 11 Monday (29 Sept 2025)
- Sound design meets the requirements of the brief - 20%
- Drum sound design using drum racks and informed by genre - 15%
- Bass sound design informed by genre - 15%
- Pad sound design informed by genre - 15%
- Time-based effects applied effectively to all instruments - 10%
- Ableton Live racks used to create performative instruments - 10%
- MIDI effects applied effectively – 5%
- Ableton Live session handling - 10%
- Apply, at a foundation level, a range of technical and creative skills pertinent to your specialisation, specific to music and production within various live or recorded contexts
3 Practical Assessment
Objective:
Recreate a 32-bar arrangement of the provided reference track using Ableton Live and software instruments. This task will assess your ability to accurately transcribe, arrange, and produce a piece of music using MIDI sequencing.
Task Description:
- Reference Track: You will be provided with a reference track. Your objective is to recreate a 32-bar section of this track.
- Software Instruments: Use Ableton Live and its built-in software instruments to recreate the arrangement. You may also use any additional software instruments available to you.
- MIDI Sequencing: Focus on accurately transcribing the melody, harmony, bassline, and percussion parts from the reference track.
- Arrangement: Arrange the MIDI parts to match the structure and style of the reference track as closely as possible.
- Effects and Automation: Apply appropriate MIDI effects, time-based effects, and automation to enhance the arrangement and replicate the sound of the reference track.
- Session Handling: Ensure your Ableton Live session is well-organised with clearly labelled tracks and clips
Notes
You may add additional sounds as you see fit, including acoustic instruments and samples (eg vocals or guitar).
Submission guidelines
- Your final bounce will be a stereo mix of your signals with a peak level of no more than -3 dBFS.
- You will be required to submit both a stereo bounce of your composition as well as your Ableton Live Project.
- Your project should not contain any missing media or unused tracks.
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 2 - You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (24 Oct 2025)
- Composition demonstrates genre-specific production techniques - 20%
- Use of Techniques (10%): Effective use of genre-specific production techniques, such as instrumentation, rhythm, and stylistic elements that align with the reference track.
- Authenticity and Style (10%): The composition authentically captures the style and feel of the genre of the reference track.
- Composition meets submission requirements - 20%
- The submission follows the task instructions, including the accurate recreation of a 32-bar section of the reference track.
- Sound design is implemented effectively - 20%
- Instrument Selection (10%): Appropriate selection of software instruments that closely match the sounds in the reference track.
- Sound Quality and Creativity (10%): High-quality and creative sound design that enhances the overall composition.
- MIDI sequencing is implemented effectively - 20%
- Melody and Harmony (10%): Accurate transcription and sequencing of the melody and harmony parts.
- Rhythm and Percussion (10%): Accurate transcription and sequencing of the drum and percussion parts, including any groove or swing characteristics.
- Presentation and project handling - 20%
- Organisation and Workflow (10%): Well-organised Ableton Live session with clearly labelled tracks, clips, and a logical arrangement.
- Technical Proficiency (10%): Effective use of Ableton Live features, including track management, clip launching, automation, and effects handling.
- Develop, to a foundation level, musical skills of stylistic authenticity pertinent to your specialisation within a range of live or recorded music and production contexts.
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?
