KMB117 Creative Musicianship
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | KMB117 |
|---|---|
| Assumed Knowledge: | An understanding of the fundamentals of melody, harmony and rhythm and the ability to demonstrate these fundamentals with voice and instrument/s. |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,020 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $4,944 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | KMB117 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | An understanding of the fundamentals of melody, harmony and rhythm and the ability to demonstrate these fundamentals with voice and instrument/s. |
| Coordinator: | Dominic Kingsford-Ross | dominic.kingsford@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This foundational unit develops core musicianship skills while guiding students to discover and articulate their emerging creative voice across contemporary music practices. Students build practical fluency in melody, harmony, rhythm, form, and musical communication through individual exploration and collaborative music-making that spans diverse genres and creative approaches. The unit emphasises creative identity development through musical creation, arranging, improvisation, and ensemble work, while introducing industry-standard documentation and presentation practices. Students explore career pathways through case study analysis and develop professional skills through simulated industry scenarios including creative briefs, collaborative projects with defined roles, and professional presentation formats.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate appropriate listening skills to recognise, differentiate and analyse key fundamental elements in the organisation of music and sound.
- Represent and discuss basic musical and sonic concepts, techniques and ideas using a variety of structures, skills, and literacies.
- Apply your understanding of basic music theory and organisational structures to musical works in a range of styles, settings and practices.
Content
In this unit, you'll develop practical musicianship through hands-on creative exploration, building your skills in performance, musical creation, arrangement, and collaboration while discovering your personal creative strengths and interests. You'll learn foundational techniques in musical composition, basic arranging principles, improvisation skills, ensemble leadership, and cross-genre musical exploration across a diverse range of contexts.
You'll have opportunities to work with a range of creative documentation practices, including voice memo capture, demo creation, musical notation, and portfolio presentation using industry-standard software. You'll explore different career pathways in performance, composition, production, education, and music business while experiencing simulated industry scenarios including responding to creative briefs, working within professional timelines, presenting your work for critique, and collaborating in structured professional scenarios that mirror real-world creative partnerships.
Learning Approaches
This unit adopts a blended learning approach through a range of learning experiences including online and in-class lectures, workshops and seminars. Using a combination of teacher-directed and student-led activities, students will discuss, critique and co-create music and sound materials from a wide range of sources. Ensemble-led learning opportunities will promote opportunities for knowledge sharing, collaboration and community empowerment.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Learning and assessment are supported by a range of weekly activities and tasks where you will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit. These activities and tasks are designed to help develop the skills and understanding you will need to successfully complete assessment items.
Assessment
Overview
You'll develop your musicianship through three interconnected assessments that mirror real industry experiences. First, you'll participate in weekly workshops while maintaining a creative practice journal and reflect on your emerging musical identity (10%). Next, you'll demonstrate your practical skills through a vive voce demonstration covering musical concepts covered in class (30%). Finally, you'll build a professional portfolio responding to short creative briefs and developing sustained original work through collaboration (60%). Each assessment builds on the previous one, guiding you from personal discovery to professional-level creative practice.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Participation and reflection
Maintain an active creative practice journal documenting your participation in weekly creative practice sessions (Weeks 1-4). Your journal should capture your creative exploration process, skill development, and emerging musical identity through various formats including voice memos, sketches, chord progressions, arrangement ideas, rhythmic ideas, and written reflections. Submit a 600-word reflection analysing your key learnings from the first four weeks. Discuss how the creative practice sessions have influenced your understanding of your musical strengths, interests, and creative voice. Reference specific examples from your journal to demonstrate your engagement with different musical elements (melody, harmony, rhythm, form) and collaborative processes.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
Assessment: Demonstration of musicianship tasks
You will submit a video demonstrating your practical musicianship skills across four core areas. For each demonstration, you will provide a brief explanation of your creative choices and technical approach.
Musicianship tasks could include arrangement tasks, rhythmic applications, harmonic exploration, expressive interpretation, textural layering and improvisational application.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
Assessment: Creative Brief Portfolio
In a range of collaborative settings, you will submit a portfolio containing both short musical responses to various creative briefs or prompts provided in class, alongside two more developed works. This assessment simulates real-world professional scenarios where musicians respond to specific creative challenges and develop original material, including arrangement and improvisation. You will also provide an individual 800-word process report analysing your creative responses, collaborative experiences, and professional development during the development of the portfolio.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
All students and staff who access campus buildings are requested to review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages (CIESJ Tier 1 General HSE requirements).
This unit also requires a Tier 2 CIESJ Health and Safety Induction and Tier 2 KG Studios induction. This must be completed online.which is provided by the technician on site in the theatre, workshop or studio.
Resources
Online readings will be made available from the Canvas site.
Resource Materials
Other
To enable your full participation in the virtual learning environment, for example, participating in online activities and engaging with online learning materials, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone, as well as a learning environment where you are able to fully participate undisturbed when required.
Risk Assessment Statement
For risks associated with using campus buildings or facilities, refer to the Tier 1 CIESJ General Health and Safety Induction and Tier 2 KG Studios and Workshops induction.
- Excessive noise in confined spaces can damage hearing. Exposure to such noise should be brief and controlled.
- Personal injury is possible from incorrectly lifting heavy electronic or acoustic instruments or equipment
- The physical demands of playing instruments may cause injuries such as repetitive strain injury. If in doubt consult a physician
- The use of electronic instruments and equipment may cause electrocution if handled incorrectly or an electrical fault occurs. Always ensure your equipment has been regularly tested by a qualified electrician
- Musical, electrical and computer equipment is prone to failure. Any loss of time for such failures should be accounted for in your planning
- Safety of data storage can never be fully guaranteed. You are required to take all steps necessary to ensure continuity of your data.
Where substantial computer-based work is required, particularly in the case of fully online students, you are recommended to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work, and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.CA01 Bachelor of Creative Arts
- Cite and discuss a broad and coherent knowledge of historical and contemporary cultural contexts for creative practice, including the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Participation and reflection, Demonstration of musicianship tasks, Creative Brief Portfolio - Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Participation and reflection, Demonstration of musicianship tasks, Creative Brief Portfolio - Demonstrate complex problem solving through iterative experimentation and the creative and critical development of ideas and outcomes.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Participation and reflection, Demonstration of musicianship tasks, Creative Brief Portfolio - Demonstrate technical proficiency and a knowledge of contemporary digital practices and technologies in one or more disciplines and apply these in creative and critical settings.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Participation and reflection, Demonstration of musicianship tasks, Creative Brief Portfolio - Communicate independent learning clearly and coherently in diverse modes relevant to your field of creative practice.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Participation and reflection, Demonstration of musicianship tasks, Creative Brief Portfolio - Communicate, represent, and promote your work in ways relevant to your creative field.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Participation and reflection, Demonstration of musicianship tasks, Creative Brief Portfolio - Discern, critically analyse, and synthesise knowledge in complex creative and critical settings.
Relates to: ULO1, Participation and reflection, Demonstration of musicianship tasks - Work productively as a leader and collaborator in disciplinary and interdisciplinary practices.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Participation and reflection, Demonstration of musicianship tasks, Creative Brief Portfolio - Formulate and apply an independent perspective through contextual research, reflection, and by acting on the informed critique of others.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Participation and reflection, Demonstration of musicianship tasks, Creative Brief Portfolio - Demonstrate respect for cultural and social differences, sustainability, and work with integrity across all practice and professional settings.
Relates to: ULO2, Demonstration of musicianship tasks, Creative Brief Portfolio - Operate with initiative, ethical judgement and professionalism, both alone and in groups.
Relates to: ULO2, Demonstration of musicianship tasks, Creative Brief Portfolio