MUSI20164 Free Play New Music Improvisation Ensem
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Summer, Semester 1, Winter, Semester 2.
- No final exam: all coursework
- About 2 class hours a week
Is MUSI20164 hard?
MUSI20164: Easier. #15 on the easy list for Bachelor of Science. Makes it easier: Reviewers say it’s manageable (3 reviews), Reviewers say the workload is light, No final exam, Only 2 class hours a week. Makes it harder: 1 other hurdle task.
What you learn
Free improvisation for any instrument or voice: make music in real time as a group, no improvising experience needed.
After it you can
- Treat improvising as composing in real time
- Develop your own approach to improvised performance
- Listen and respond to others in a group
What you need first
None
How it’s assessed
Participation 50%, Assignments 15%, Presentations 35%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 3 students on StudentVIP (2023–2026)
- Reviewers found it relaxing and manageable, with no music background needed; putting real effort and creativity into the sound tasks pays off.
- It is experimental sound-making rather than instrument training, which disappointed one instrumentalist; the 50% contribution mark is made of small tasks.
- A 2026 summer-term reviewer said results came out about a month later than promised.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate MUSI20164
Quick answers
- When is MUSI20164 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Summer, Semester 1, Winter, Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking MUSI20164?
- No prerequisites.
- Does MUSI20164 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Participation 50%, Assignments 15%, Presentations 35%.
- Is MUSI20164 hard?
- From 3 student reviews on StudentVIP: Reviewers found it relaxing and manageable, with no music background needed; putting real effort and creativity into the sound tasks pays off.
- What do students say about MUSI20164?
- Reviewers found it relaxing and manageable, with no music background needed; putting real effort and creativity into the sound tasks pays off. It is experimental sound-making rather than instrument training, which disappointed one instrumentalist; the 50% contribution mark is made of small tasks. A 2026 summer-term reviewer said results came out about a month later than promised.
- How many class hours a week does MUSI20164 have?
- 2 h a week in class
- Can I take MUSI20164 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Science.
- Can I rate MUSI20164?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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