Graduate Composition, Arranging, and Sound Design 1 is designed for graduate students who wish to specialise at a professional level in composition, arranging and/or sound design. Students will work with a supervisor in preparing a composition portfolio of works, or a series of projects based upon principles of sound design that reflect the student's own interests and professional focus. This learning will be supplemented with attendance and participation at the School’s Composition Seminar. To support this creative work, students will analyse theories, structures, methods, approaches and techniques in a range of styles and in a range of instrumental and vocal repertoire. They will also study principles of sound design in relation to music for film and television, theatre, videogames, and sound installations. The study of instrumentation, orchestration and arrangement, and sound design will reference scores and musical sound design creations from a range of historical periods and styles complements the compositional work.

Upon successful completion of this course students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in composition, arranging, and/or sound design in one or more styles (classical, jazz, contemporary, or a blend of these) or genres (music for film or television, video games, sound installations, or theatre).
2. Compose and present works of a highly proficient standard utilising correct notation, instrumentation and orchestration techniques with the ability to produce work according to deadlines.
3. Describe relevant compositional, arranging and sound design issues in aesthetic and technical terms
4. Communicate clearly the creative decisions made in the course of composing, arranging and sound design

A substantial portfolio of original compositions and/or arrangements and/or sound design projects (scores, recordings and/or multimedia) (80%) [Learning Outcomes 1-3]

A written exegesis (c. 2,500 words) describing the rationale for the creative decisions made (20%) [Learning Outcomes 3-4]

3 hours of formal contact per week:

• One hour of individual supervision per week
• Two hours attendance and participation at a composition/arrangement workshop per week

17 hours of private study per week.

Prerequisite: completion of MUSI3304 Advanced Composition and Arrangement 2 with a mark of at least 65, or submission of a portfolio of equivalent standard.

See Requisite Statement