The Research Process for Musicians (MUSI40064)
HonoursPoints: 12.5On Campus (Southbank)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Tim Daly: daly.t@unimelb.edu.au
Semester 2
Melanie Plesch: mplesch@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides students with the tools and skills necessary to devise and conduct professional research in music at graduate level. Through group discussions and peer review sessions students will engage with the key principles of research and academic writing and apply them to a context relevant to them.
Students will be supported in defining and focusing their research questions, developing a critical summary of the literature, constructing an adequate conceptual framework, adhering to and meeting deadlines, and presenting their work persuasively, both in oral and written form. The main outcome will be a full research project that could potentially serve as the basis of an application for a graduate program.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- devise and develop a successful research proposal within their field;
- frame their creative work or performance into research questions and conceptual frameworks;
- engage critically with the relevant scholarly literature;
- position their creative work or performance practice within the current state of research;
- communicate effectively about their compositional or performing practices within the conventions of academic language;
- reflect critically on their own work;
- work constructively yet rigorously with peers.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed:
- critical thinking and analytical skills;
- ability to seek out, organise and evaluate relevant information;
- time management skills;
- advanced communication skills, both oral and written;
- collaborative skills;
- capacity for independent, self-reflective and critical enquiry.
Last updated: 7 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 7 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Three written assignments
| Throughout the teaching period | 30% |
A written project proposal, elaborated from the material developed in the three written assignments
| During the examination period | 40% |
A 10-minute oral presentation on the project
| Second half of the teaching period | 20% |
Participation
| Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
| Hurdle requirement: Students must attend 80% of all scheduled classes to be eligible for a pass in this subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 7 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Tim Daly Mode of delivery On Campus (Southbank) Contact hours 24 hours, comprising one 1-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial per week. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
Tim Daly: daly.t@unimelb.edu.au
- Semester 2
Coordinator Melanie Plesch Mode of delivery On Campus (Southbank) Contact hours 24 hours, comprising one 1-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial per week. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025 Census date 1 September 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 September 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025 Semester 2 contact information
Melanie Plesch: mplesch@unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 7 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Music Course Bachelor of Music (Degree with Honours) Informal specialisation Composition Informal specialisation Musicology/Ethnomusicology Informal specialisation Performance - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Students must meet the course entry requirements in order to be considered for a CAP enrolment in this subject. Approval to be sought from the course coordinator.
Last updated: 7 March 2025