FORM 1S (To be submitted prior to Form 1 being prepared.)
November 2013
Before completing this form, please read Important notes for completing proposals: Form 1S Indicative Proposal and
Form 1 which is located on the Proformas for New Proposals web page:
http://www.otago.ac.nz/administration/academiccommittees/proformas.html.
Indicative Proposal for New Qualification
or New Major Subject or Endorsement or
New Minor Subject (where there is no established major in the subject)
Name of Division/School/Department: Humanities/Music
1
Name of New Honours area of specialisation:
Music Production
2
Year of introduction (year proposal takes effect):
2016
3
Purpose of proposal:
To introduce Music Production as an area of specified study for the Bachelor of Music Honours, MusB(Hons,) degree.
This leads to the specialisation of Music Production in the Master of Music Degree (MMus) and Doctor of Musical Arts
(DMA) degree, which are currently offered by the Music Department.
4
Justification (include information on strategic importance, level of alignment with the strategic direction
of the University and the Division and perceived demand):
This proposal addresses the anomaly that Music Production is not a Major or area of specialisation in the MMusB or
MusB(Hons) degrees, and is submitted alongside another proposal to introduce Music Production as a new Major
within the MusB.
The Music Department wishes to add Music Production as a fourth area of specified study for the MusB(Hons) degree.
It is an anomaly that the subject is not included as the Music Department already offers Music Production as an area of
study within the Master of Music (MMus) degree and the Doctor of Music Arts (DMA) degree.
Over recent decades, digital music production methods and technologies, as well as modes of popular music distribution
and consumption, have undergone considerable and rapid change. This specified area of study is designed to build on
the Music Production and Music Technology pathways that develop tools to embrace these radical changes, and provide
students with practical skills that align with emerging music industry revenue streams and business models. The
contemporary music industry demands that practitioners are multi-skilled and aware of technological and media
developments to a professional level. This new Honours programme builds on the existing Music Technology Minor
currently offered by the Department of Music, as well as the proposed new Major in Music Production, which seeks to
consolidate the Department’s Music Technology papers (MUSI 132, MUSI 232, MUSI 332) and Popular Music papers
(MUSI 103, MUSI 269, MUSI 369, MUSI 266, MUSI 366). This topic also reflects a distinct research area of
permanent staff, which will help the programme achieve excellence in research-informed teaching, a goal outlined by
the University (Strategic Plan 2012-2018, Strategic Goal 2).
Context:
The proposed new Honours topic is in accordance with the Music Department’s Mission Statement, specifically goal 6:
‘To continue to explore opportunities in music technology’. The existing papers in Music Technology have proven
popular among students. The key papers for this Minor are MUSI 132, MUSI 232 and MUSI 332, and in 2014
collectively attracted a total of 241 students, which equates to 15% of the Department’s total EFTS.
Over the last decade, many other universities nationally and internationally have expanded their music technology and
production offerings. A particular example is Massey’s new Commercial Music program, which commences in 2016.
United Kingdom examples include the music production and the music technology degrees – which include Honours offered by the University of West London, the University of Surrey, the Royal Academy of Music, the University of
Kent, the University of Leeds and the University of Sussex. Degrees such as these are already offered in Australia at
Southern Cross University and at Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University. Equally, several UK universities
offer music degrees in electronic music from the perspectives of performance and/or composition.
It must also be noted that skills acquired in the Music Production Honours course are also relevant to careers outside
music production-practice, and include support roles, such as distribution, promotion and marketing, which are essential
to the recording industry. This area has been addressed by the University of West London and the University of
Brighton, which are the first UK universities to offer degrees in music industry studies. Griffith University already has
an industry component that runs through all its BMus offerings.
Graduates of Music Production Honours will be equipped with industry-standard skills relevant to music recording and
production, as well as research skills in studio production. This could lead to career pathways in the music industry, and
related entertainment industries, as well as research pathways and further postgraduate study. Specific outcomes include
the following industry-standard production skills:
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5
Knowledge of recording methods and approaches;
Knowledge of research methods;
Knowledge of relevant theories to music production research;
Practical knowledge of acoustics and sound design;
Knowledge of various creative approaches to music production;
Knowledge of the music industry and career pathways in both global and local contexts;
Knowledge of microphone techniques;
Knowledge of MIDI synth sequencing skills;
Knowledge of drum sequencing skills;
Remixing skills;
Post production skills;
Audio-editing skills;
Mixing techniques;
Mastering techniques;
Knowledge of interdisciplinary approaches to music-production research;
Knowledge of literature about music production;
Research skills – both practice-led and practice-based, and scholarly;
Ability to continue to adapt to future technological and industry changes.
Summarise the structure of the programme (e.g. Length? Progression? What are the core papers
required? What existing papers will be included? What new papers will be introduced? Will there be a
research project?)
Requirements:
Music Production
MUSI 432 and three of MUSI 403, 407, 410, 442.
Prerequisites: at least a B+ grade in MUSI 332 or 333.
6
Please consult with the Planning and Funding Office to request a Strategic Assessment (resources, costs,
and funding issues) to attach to this Form. It is expected that departments obtain the Assessment before
this proposal is considered by the Divisional Board. Once approved by the Division, the proposal is
submitted to the DVCs/PVC’s Group, and Board of Undergraduate Studies or Board of Graduate
Studies. Please consult the Senior Analyst, Planning and Reporting (David Geraghty) phone 479-5260
or email david.geraghty@otago.ac.nz.
See attached.
Signed: ....................................................
(Head of Department)
Date: ...........................................
.....................................................
(Pro-Vice-Chancellor)
Date: ..........................................
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Dr Oli Wilson, Department of Music
David Geraghty, Planning and Funding Office
16 February 2015
Strategic Assessment: Music Production Major for the Bachelor of Music with Honours
Dear Oli,
I write with regard to the indicative proposal to introduce music production as an area of specified study/major for the
Bachelor of Music with Honours (MusB(Hons)).
The programme as outlined in your form 1S proposal meets the points and structure requirements specified for a
discrete 120-credit bachelor’s honours degree in the Universities New Zealand in the CUAP (Committee on University
Academic Programmes) 2015 Handbook. The programme is thus technically fundable from the Universities New
Zealand viewpoint.
The Department of Music implemented a doctorate and master’s degree in recording studio and popular music
production in 2010, but as yet music production is only available as a minor at the undergraduate level. This proposal
(jointly with the proposal for a new music production major for the Bachelor of Music) seeks to address that anomaly
by providing a named, structured pathway into the relevant Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts (and, indeed,
Doctor of Philosophy) programmes.
The proposed honours programme will equip graduates with industry standard skills relevant to music recording and
production, as well as research skills in studio-production. This may lead to further post-graduate study (as above)
and/or to career pathways in the music industry and related entertainment industries.
The proposal’s authors describe a number of international benchmark programmes, and note that Massey is the only
other New Zealand university offering a similar music technology and production programme. The authors note that
the proposed major will be particularly relevant to students seeking to enter the electronic gaming industry – an industry
that is now bigger than the film industry.
The authors also note that the major comprises an area of staff research expertise within the Department of Music. The
research-teaching synergies therein will support the University’s strategic commitment to “Excellence in Teaching”
(Strategic Imperative 2 of Strategic Direction to 2020). The proposed major is also in accordance with the Department
of Music’s mission statement, specifically goal 6: “To continue to explore opportunities in music technology”.
The programme’s developers describe strong interest in the current minor in music production. The key-papers for the
existing minor (introduced in 2010) have collectively attracted a total of 241 students, equating to 15% of the
departments total EFTS. It is expected that some of this interest will flow through to the proposed undergraduate major
and the honours programme.
Planning and Funding notes that the proposed honours programme comprises existing papers, thus additional resourcing
requirements will be minimal.
Planning and Funding supports development of this 1S proposal into a full programme proposal. We see that the
proposed honours programme meets structural requirements, aligns well with the University’s strategic objectives, will
efficiently use existing resources to target an area of specialized need, and that student demand is likely to be strong.
Yours sincerely,
David Geraghty (Senior Analyst, Planning and Funding).