KMB226 Studio-Based Music Production

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit situates music in collaborative contexts, preparing students for diverse career pathways and professional partnerships in today's music industry. Students learn different roles in contemporary music practice and across creative disciplines, such as composition and production for film, theatre, animation, and multimedia. Students connect individual practice with collaborative partnerships to produce studio recordings and/or live performances of original works. Students further their knowledge of the music sector and learn to build sustainable portfolio careers typical to the contemporary industry. Key sustainability concepts related to touring and record production are introduced. Students develop understanding of how contemporary music is produced by undertaking practice in professional roles such as studio engineer, songwriter, producer, session musician, top-liner, or media composer, gaining direct insight into industry career pathways.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Apply a range of creative approaches to demonstrate your developing technical proficiency and understanding within specified areas of creative musical practice.
2. Conceive, develop, and realise new musical works in collaboration with peers through the development of communication skills, professional development, and awareness of current industry trends.
3. Critically reflect on your own work and that of your peers in order to inform your musical creative practice.

Content

Learning Approaches

You'll work in a studio environment where you take on different professional roles across multiple projects. Six-week intensive workshop cycles will prepare you for self-directed project work, while ongoing mentorship from industry professionals will provide you with authentic career guidance. You'll manage real deadlines, client relationships, and creative partnerships, developing the resilience and adaptability essential for music industry success. Portfolio development and professional presentation skills will prepare you for industry networking and employment opportunities.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback on your work in this unit is provided to you via: 

Class discussions, peers and teaching staff's constructive comments during class activities, on-line peer review, criteria sheet grading of written assessments, generic comments about tasks and assessments to the cohort posted to Canvas, comments from teaching staff on creative work. 

Assessment

Overview

The first assessment item is designed to help inform and guide your progression throughout the semester by demonstrating a contextual understanding of your musical practice and how this relates to collaboration practice. You will identify collaborators and develop a production plan for assessment 3.

The second assessment task is staff-assessed and peer reviewed work-in-progress. This task values the ability and importance of you and your peers in being able to critically analyse, provide feedback and measure your and other's creative practice. 

Assessment three is where you present musical works that have been instigated, developed and completed within the unit in response to a brief and guided by feedback throughout the semester. These may be presented via a range of creative outputs, which could include live performance and or recorded outputs. 

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Context review and production plan

You will research key practitioners in your area of creative practice to develop a contextual understanding of your musical practice and how this relates to collaboration practice and the broader professional field. You will identify collaborators and develop a production plan for assessment 3.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

Assessment: Work in progress and peer review

A series of staff-assessed and peer reviewed work-in-progress works. This task values the ability and importance of you and your peers in being able to critically analyse, provide feedback and measure your and other's creative practice. Written peer reviews will be uploaded to Canvas in Week 5 and 10. You will complete a minimum of 3 reviews for each submission at 100 words each. 

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: Portfolio of work

A portfolio where you present musical works that have been instigated, developed and completed within the unit in response to a brief and guided by feedback throughout the semester. 

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

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 buildingsare requested to visit and facilities are required to completereview the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages (CIESJ Tier 1 General HSE requirement). 

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

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 (see Overview) 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 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

CA01 Bachelor of Creative Arts

1. 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: ULO3, Context review and production plan, Work in progress and peer review, Portfolio of work
2. Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Context review and production plan, Work in progress and peer review, Portfolio of work
3. Demonstrate complex problem solving through iterative experimentation and the creative and critical development of ideas and outcomes.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Context review and production plan, Work in progress and peer review, Portfolio of work
4. 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: ULO1, ULO2, Context review and production plan, Work in progress and peer review, Portfolio of work
5. Communicate independent learning clearly and coherently in diverse modes relevant to your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Context review and production plan, Work in progress and peer review, Portfolio of work
6. Communicate, represent, and promote your work in ways relevant to your creative field.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Context review and production plan, Work in progress and peer review, Portfolio of work
7. Discern, critically analyse, and synthesise knowledge in complex creative and critical settings.
   Relates to: ULO3, Context review and production plan, Work in progress and peer review, Portfolio of work
8. Work productively as a leader and collaborator in disciplinary and interdisciplinary practices.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Context review and production plan, Work in progress and peer review, Portfolio of work
9. Demonstrate respect for cultural and social differences, sustainability, and work with integrity across all practice and professional settings.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Context review and production plan, Work in progress and peer review, Portfolio of work
10. Operate with initiative, ethical judgement and professionalism, both alone and in groups.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Context review and production plan, Work in progress and peer review, Portfolio of work