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Music

“The aim and final reason of all music should be nothing else but the glory of God and the refreshment of the spirit.” Johann Sebastian Bach

OVERVIEW

VCE Music offers students opportunities to approach the study of music as a performer, as a creator of music works or arrangements and as a person who studies music works from diverse cultural and historical traditions.  Through a study of the music of others and experimentation in their own music making, students are able to demonstrate and discuss meaning in music. 

Each unit of Music includes:

  • Music making: the study of ways of making music through developing skills in playing instruments or singing, performing in solo and group contexts, composing, arranging and/or improvising
  • Listening and aural perception: developing skills in listening, aural comprehension and making a critical response to music by analysing the characteristics of music of a wide range of styles and geographical locations
  • Music language: the elements of music, compositional devices, and ways of preserving a record of works, and
  • The study of music works and approaches to music making in diverse historical and cultural contexts: researching and considering information and scenarios surrounding the creation of musical compositions and performances, and perceiving and understanding trends and patterns in the way music styles emerge from different cultures, geographical locations and eras

To supplement the educational and musical development taking place in the classroom it is expected that all VCE Music students will be having private instrumental lessons with a teacher of their choosing either inside or outside of school.  This is a particularly important step in their musical development over the VCE Music process.  It is also expected that all VCE students be involved in at least one ensemble at the Waverley Christian College to further their abilities in working with others musically.

Because music is an integral part of worship and fellowship within the body of Christ and in regard to our relationship with God, the music course purposes to:

  • Instil and develop an attitude of excellence in presenting our best to God
  • Raise an awareness of the creativity of our God and the potential for creativity that He has placed within each of us, to be used for His glory and for the building up of others

SUBJECT LENGTH

Each Unit is 1 semester long. Units 3 & 4 must be completed together in a calendar year for a study score to be generated.

TOPICS INCLUDE

Unit 1

  • Performance in solo and group contexts
  • Presentation of a solo and a group performance
  • Demonstration of prepared technical work and perform previously unseen music
  • Development of aural studies and musicianship

Unit 2

  • Practical music and performance in solo and group contexts
  • Selected works are analysed to enhance performance interpretation and to understand their context, influences, characteristics and styles
  • Language that is relevant to performance and used to analyse, compose or improvise music
  • Composition of an original work of composition or improvisation based around the music selected for performance

Unit 3

  • Preparation and presentation of solo works
  • Techniques relevant to performance of selected works
  • Music language knowledge, aural comprehension skills and understanding of the structure and characteristics of an ensemble work

Unit 4

  • Preparation and presentation of a solo program of works, demonstrating through performance an understanding of interpretation
  • Understanding and recognition of musical characteristics of ensemble work are further developed

PREREQUISITES

  • Must be able to sing confidently or play an instrument

ASSESSMENT

Units 1&2:

  • A solo technique test that includes material that supports development of the student as an instrumentalist (or vocalist) and preparation of solo and/or group works for performance
  • A solo performance of at least two works
  • A group performance of at least two works
  • A performance of unprepared material
  • A report

Unit 3:

  • School Assessed Coursework (15%)

Unit 4:

  • School Assessed Coursework (10%)
  • External Performance Examination (50%)
  • External Aural and Written Examination (25%)