Music

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 one or a number of 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.

CONTENT

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

UNIT 1

This unit focuses on performance in solo and group contexts, studying approaches to performance and performing, and developing skills in aural comprehension. Students present a solo and a group performance, demonstrate prepared technical work and perform previously unseen music. Students study the elements of music and further their inner-hearing through the development of aural studies and musicianship.

UNIT 2

This unit further develops skills in practical music and performance in solo and group contexts.

Students present a prepared program/s of solo and group works, demonstrate prepared technical work, perform previously unseen music and develop skills in aural comprehension.

Selected works are analysed to enhance performance interpretation and to understand their context, influences, characteristics and styles. This unit also focuses on music language that is relevant to performance and used to analyse, compose or improvise music.

Students use their knowledge of music language to compose an original work of composition or improvisation based around the music selected for performance.

UNIT 3

This unit focuses on the preparation and presentation of solo works. Students use performance techniques to develop understanding of interpretation of a range of styles. Music performance skills are broadened by ensemble performance, solo technical work and unprepared performance. Music language knowledge, aural comprehension skills and understanding of the structure and characteristics of an ensemble work are also developed.

UNIT 4

This unit focuses on the preparation and presentation of a solo program of works, demonstrating through performance an understanding of interpretation. Music performance skills are extended by development of technical work in ensemble performance and unprepared performance skills, and studies in aural comprehension. Understanding and recognition of musical characteristics of and ensemble work are further developed.

MUSIC INVESTIGATIONS

UNITS 3 AND 4

Students who select Music Investigations are primarily concerned with recreating music represented as published notated solo or group works and the interpretation of the musical techniques found within those works. Units 3 and 4 Music Investigations focus on the preparation and presentation of performances in solo and ensemble contexts, demonstrating through performance and understanding of interpretation and authenticity. A Focus Area will be selected by the student in collaboration with their classroom music teacher and their private music instructor. This Focus Area will shape the choice of selected repertoire for the final recital as well as the research and musical direction the student will take throughout the year.

UNIT 3

This unit focus on the preparation and presentation of solo or group works. Students use performance techniques to develop understanding of interpretation of a range of styles. Music performance skills are broadened by ensemble performance, student composition and unprepared performance. Music language knowledge and understanding of the structure and characteristics of an ensemble work are also developed. Students will select a specific Focus Area that is of particular interest to them and will help continue their musical development. Students select one song off the list of notated works and build their program around the selected work demonstrating specific techniques relevant to their instrument and musical development.

UNIT 4

This unit continues to focuses on the preparation and presentation of solo or group works. Students use performance techniques to develop understanding of interpretation of a range of styles. Music performance skills are broadened by ensemble performance, student composition and unprepared performance. Music language knowledge and understanding of the structure and characteristics of an ensemble work are also developed. Students will continue researching and developing their program within their specific Focus Area culminating in a final end of year performance and presentation of their written focus statement.

BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

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:

Instill 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

ASSESSMENT

UNIT 1

Assessment tasks for this unit will include:

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

The duration of the solo and group performance will vary depending on the works selected and whether the student is focusing mainly on solo or group performance. A report in one of the following formats:

Written report
Aural and written reports
Multimedia report
A test that includes aural, written and practical components

UNIT 2

Assessment tasks for this unit will include:

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 performance of unprepared material
A report in one of the following formats: Written, Aural and written, Multimedia
A test that includes aural, written and practical components
A folio of composition and/or improvisation exercises and accompanying documentation that describes the use of music language in one of the exercises

MUSIC INVESTIGATIONS

UNIT 3

Outcomes	Assessment Tasks	Marks Allocated*
Outcome 1 Demonstrate understanding of performance practices, contexts and influences on musical works	Present a report (multimedia/written/performance) that discusses characteristics, techniques and performance practices of works representative of their Focus Area, including: Analysis of a sample of works Audio/visual excerpts to support analysis Discussion of characteristics and practices and others issue that influence interpretation of works	20
Outcome 3 Present a performance of music works that communicates understanding of the Focus Area	Performance of technical work and exercises relevant to the Focus Area and description of how this technical work is informing development of the performance program	5
TOTAL MARKS		25
*School-assessed coursework for Unit 3 contributes 25 % to the study score

UNIT 4

Outcomes	Assessment Tasks	Marks Allocated*
Outcome 2 Compose/improvise/arrange and perform a music work and discuss the use of music characteristics, instrumental techniques, performance techniques and conventions in the work.	Present a composition, improvisation or arrangement of a music work that uses characteristics, performance techniques and other conventions relevant to the Focus Area AND	10
	An explanation of how the work is representative of the Focus Area. The explanation may be in one or more of the following formats: Written Oral Multimedia	10
Outcome 3 Demonstrate artistic intent and understanding of the Focus Area in a cohesive and engaging performance of musical works.	Demonstration of performance techniques, technical work and exercises relevant to preparing for performance of a program of works that relate to the Focus Area, and the discussion of how this technical work relates to the Focus Area.	5
TOTAL MARKS		25
*School-assessed coursework for Unit 4 contributes 25 % to the study score

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

UNITS 3 & 4

Unit 3 school-assessed coursework: 15 %
Unit 4 school-assessed coursework: 10 %
End-of-year Solo performance recital examination: 50 %
End-of-year Aural and written examination: 25 %

UNIT 3

Outcomes	Assessment Tasks	Marks Allocated*
Outcome 2 Perform a study, technical work and exercises on their main instrument, which will enhance the performance of the selected solo and/or ensemble works, and works that demonstrate unprepared performance skills.	Performance of a study or unaccompanied work with a technical focus. AND	25
	Performance of solo technical work and exercises unaccompanied. AND	20
	Unprepared performance of previously unseen material.	10
Outcome 3 Contribute to interpretation in a performance of a prepared ensemble program.	Ensemble performance.	20
TOTAL MARKS		75
*School-assessed coursework for Unit 3 contributes 15 % to the study score

UNIT 4

Outcomes	Assessment Tasks	Marks Allocated*
Outcome 2 Perform technical work and exercises on their main instrument, which will enhance the performance of the selected solo and/or ensemble works, and works that demonstrate unprepared performance skills.	Performance of solo technical work and exercises unaccompanied. AND	20
	Unprepared performance of previously unseen material.	10
Outcome 3 Contribute to interpretation in a performance of a prepared ensemble program.	Ensemble performance.	20
TOTAL MARKS		50
*School-assessed coursework for Unit 4 contributes 10 % to the study score