KMB236 Music Performance, Practice and Persona
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: | KMB236 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | KMB117 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Students should have previous musical experience at a foundational level. |
| 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 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | KMB236 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | KMB117 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Students should have previous musical experience at a foundational level. |
Overview
This unit develops advanced performance skills for contemporary music contexts, integrating live performance, audio documentation, and multimedia presentation techniques used across the modern entertainment industry. Students master stage presence, audience engagement, and technical proficiency while learning to adapt their musical expression to diverse performance environments including concerts, festivals, streaming platforms, and multimedia events. The unit connects performance practice with sound engineering, introducing students to both artist and technical career pathways in live music.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Develop a deeper understanding of music and sound and their significance in live performance.
- Demonstrate live performance techniques applicable to music artists and professionals involved in live sound recording and live sound reinforcement.
- Cultivate critical thinking and analytical skills in evaluating and improving live performances.
- Adapt musical expression to different performance settings and environments.
Content
In this unit, you'll develop the skills to captivate audiences and deliver professional-quality live performances across any venue or platform. You'll master stage presence and audience connection techniques that transform you from someone who plays music into a compelling performer who creates memorable experiences.
You'll optimise your vocal and instrumental techniques specifically for live contexts, learning how performance differs from studio work and how to construct setlists that take audiences on a journey. Beyond performing, you'll gain hands-on experience with live sound engineering, learning to set up microphones, manage real-time audio processing, and troubleshoot technical issues that every working musician encounters.
The unit prepares you for today's diverse performance landscape - from intimate coffee shop gigs to festival main stages, from professional recording studios to live streaming platforms. You'll explore how to integrate multimedia elements like lighting design, projection mapping, and interactive technologies that can elevate your performances and set you apart in a competitive industry.
Through critical analysis of live performances across genres, you'll develop your aesthetic judgment and professional standards, learning to evaluate what makes performances truly exceptional. You'll also gain practical business knowledge including tour logistics, performance contracts, and revenue generation strategies that every professional performer needs to understand.
By the end of this unit, you'll be equipped to deliver confident, professional performances in any context while understanding the business side of live music that can sustain your career.
Learning Approaches
You'll perform regularly in multiple contexts, receiving constructive feedback from your peers and mentors. Your workshop sessions will combine technique development with real performance experience, while recording sessions will document your progress and develop your professional presentation skills. You'll rotate between performer and sound engineer roles, gaining comprehensive understanding of live music production. Your culminating performances will simulate professional scenarios with real audiences, technical requirements, and promotional responsibilities.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You are supported in your learning over the semester by a range of weekly activities and tasks. These activities and tasks are designed to help develop the skills and understanding you will need to successfully complete assessment items and deepen your musical abilities. You will receive both formative and summative feedback throughout the semester through both written and verbal feedback from teaching staff.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment 1 is a written essay that requires you to critique a live performance from a range of perspectives placing the performance in its relevant social and cultural context.
Assessment 2 is a final project showcasing a fully developed live performance concept that is performed in both a live studio recording context, and also on stage in front of an audience.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Live performance critique
Critique of a live performance from multiple perspectives, placed in its appropriate social and cultural context.
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: Live Performances
Students develop an original performance persona and present a 25 minute show for an audience. Students will perform and operate sound for each other's performances.
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 are requested to visit and review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages (CIESJ Tier 1 HSE requirement).
This unit also requires a Tier 2 CIESJ Health and Safety Induction which is provided by the technician on site in the theatre, workshop or studio.
Resources
Readings and resources deemed necessary by staff will be provided online through the unit's Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information. For CIESJ Tier 2 Health and Safety requirements, you will be instructed on safe procedures and the required safety gear for all studio and workshop processes that are demonstrated.
- 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, ULO3, Live performance critique, Live Performances - Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, ULO4, Live performance critique, Live Performances - Demonstrate complex problem solving through iterative experimentation and the creative and critical development of ideas and outcomes.
Relates to: ULO2, Live Performances - 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, Live Performances - Communicate independent learning clearly and coherently in diverse modes relevant to your field of creative practice.
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Live performance critique, Live Performances - Communicate, represent, and promote your work in ways relevant to your creative field.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Live Performances - Discern, critically analyse, and synthesise knowledge in complex creative and critical settings.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, ULO4, Live performance critique, Live Performances - Work productively as a leader and collaborator in disciplinary and interdisciplinary practices.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Live Performances - Formulate and apply an independent perspective through contextual research, reflection, and by acting on the informed critique of others.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, ULO4, Live performance critique, Live Performances - Demonstrate respect for cultural and social differences, sustainability, and work with integrity across all practice and professional settings.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Live Performances - Operate with initiative, ethical judgement and professionalism, both alone and in groups.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Live Performances