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Music

Year 12 - Elective

Length of Course: Full Year
Department: Music
Head of Department: Mr Scott Templeton
Year Available: 2024

The subject Music involves a selection of one of four options within the same class. Music Inquiry, Music Contemporary Performance, Music Repertoire Performance, or Music Composition.

Entry

Whilst there are no formal prerequisites for entry to Unit 3 Music Inquiry, Music Contemporary Performance, Music Repertoire Performance or Music Composition. it is strongly recommended that students have a background of commitment and achievement in music, in order to make the most of the opportunities presented in the course of study. Students must undertake Unit 3 and 4 as a sequence. For further details please email the Director of Music.

Curriculum focus

Music Inquiry

This study offers pathways for students whose main interest is a combination of performing, composing/arranging and investigating music through music making, analysing and responding in relation to their particular interests. Students explore and demonstrate musical influences of an existing style and/or performer through performance, analysis and composition.

Unit 3: Influence in music

Area of Study 1: Music making

Students develop performance, and composing/arranging music skills connected with a selected music style and/or creator

Area of Study 2: Analysing for music making

Students explore at least two music works from different times and/or locations, investigating how the creator’s treatment of music elements, concepts and compositional devices in one work may influence another work.

Area of Study 3: Responding

Students focus on further development of listening skills. They examine how music creators treat music elements, concepts and compositional devices across different times, styles and genres. Students develop an understanding of how styles influence others, using musical evidence to formulate critical responses to a wide range of music styles.

Unit 4: Project

Area of Study 1: Music making

Students focus on performing and composing/arranging music connected with their Area of Investigation from Area of Study 2. They use their knowledge and understanding to perform works and compose short works associated with their chosen area.

Area of Study 2: Analysing for music making

Students explore specific influences on their personal music making, analysing at least two works from their chosen Area of Investigation which may be a style, a performer, a creator or a musical genre.

Area of Study 3: Responding

Students focus on continuing to develop listening skills to identify commonalities and differences between musical approaches, developing skills in using musical evidence to substantiate their responses to a wide range of music styles.

Music Contemporary Performance

Unit 3

Area of Study 1: Performing

Students perform regularly in a variety of contexts and use these performances to explore ways of developing technical skills and interpretation approaches.

Area of Study 2: Analysing for performance

Students focus on the processes of analysis and practices that they undertake to develop their performances, trialling the use of a wide range of techniques and instrument-specific conventions.

Area of Study 3: Responding

Students develop their understanding of the ways elements of music, concepts and compositional devices can be interpreted and/or manipulated in contemporary performance.

Unit 4

Area of Study 1: Performing

Students perform regularly as for Unit 3 AOS 1 and select a program of works for external assessment.

Area of Study 2: Analysing for performance

Students continue to focus on the processes of analysis and practices that they undertake to develop their performances, including approaches to reimagining an existing work.

Area of Study 3: Responding

Students continue to develop their understanding of the ways elements of music, concepts and compositional devices can be interpreted and/or manipulated in contemporary performance.

Music Repertoire Performance

Unit 3

Area of Study 1: Performing

Students present performances of musical works including at least one ensemble work. Students perform regularly in a variety of contexts and reflect on these performances to explore and develop ways of communicating expressive intentions to an audience.

Area of Study 2: Analysing for performance

Students focus on the processes of analysis and research that they undertake when preparing musical works for performance.

Area of Study 3: Responding

Students develop their understanding of the ways elements of music, concepts and compositional devices can be interpreted and/or manipulated by other musicians.

Unit 4

Area of Study 1: Performing

Students perform regularly as for Unit 3 AOS 1 and working towards presenting thei recital program for external assessment.

Area of Study 2: Analysing for performance

Students continue to focus on the processes of analysis and research that they undertake when preparing musical works for performance.

Area of Study 3: Responding

Students develop their understanding of the ways elements of music and musical concepts are interpreted by other musicians.

Music Composition

This study allows students to explore the organisation of sound in music to create expressive outcomes through composition in notated and/or digital media.

Unit 3

Area of Study 1: Creating

Students explore approaches to music composition through creative exercises in response to characteristics of music studied. They develop appropriate methods to record and preserve their music.

Area of Study 2: Analysing for composition

Students explore two short works, movements and/or collections of minor works in different styles. Reflecting on this study of selected works, they also develop a Folio design brief for their Unit 4 work as part of their creative explorations.

Area of Study 3: Responding

Students focus on listening, aural analysis, and forming and presenting critical responses. They analyse the use of the elements of music, concepts and compositional devices in a wide range of music excerpts.

Unit 4

Area of Study 1: Creating

Students compose a short work, or group of short works, using the design brief formulated in Unit 3, Outcome 2.

Area of Study 2: Analysing for composition

Students document the creative processes they use in creating their original work for Outcome 1, charting their progress from original intention, through development and refinement, to final realisation.

Area of Study 3: Responding

Students focus on listening, aural analysis, and forming and presenting critical responses. They analyse the use of the elements of music, concepts and compositional devices in a wide range of music excerpts.

Assessment

Music Inquiry

1. School-assessed Coursework: the following tasks contribute 35% to the study score

Unit 3
Outcome 1: Performance of a short work and own composition
Outcome 2: Analysis of music elements and proposal for an Area of Investigation
Outcome 3: A response to selected music excerpts

Unit 4
Outcome 3: Identify, describe and discuss selected music excerpts

2. External assessment: An Externally-assessed task (folio containing videos and documentation of performances and compositions) will contribute 50% to the study score, and the end-of-year examination (1 hour exam covering all key knowledge and skills from Units 3 & 4) will contribute 15% to the study score

Music Contemporary Performance

1. School-assessed Coursework: the following tasks contribute 30% to the study score

Unit 3
Outcome 1: A short written/oral task explaining the choice of the proposed program of works to be performed
Outcome 2: A demonstration of an intended approach to reimagining an existing work
Outcome 3: Response to structured questions relating to previously unheard music

Unit 4
Outcome 2: A discussion and demonstration of an approach to reimagining an existing work

2. External assessment: An end-of-year performance of 20 minutes will contribute 50% to the study score, and the end-of-year aural and written examination will contribute 20% to the study score.

Music Repertoire Performance

1. School-assessed Coursework: the following tasks contribute 30% to the study score

Unit 3
Outcome 1: A short written/oral task explaining the process used to select a performance program
Outcome 2: A demonstration and discussion of techniques related to selected works
Outcome 3: Responses to structured questions and practical musicianship

Unit 4
Outcome 2: A demonstration and discussion of techniques related to selected works

2. External assessment: An end-of-year performance of around 20 minutes will contribute 50% to the study score, and the end-of-year aural and written examination will contribute 20% to the study score.

Music Composition

1. School-assessed Coursework: the following tasks contribute 30% to the study score

Unit 3
Outcome 1: Two short compositions/sketches and associated documentation
Outcome 2: Analysis of selected works and a folio design brief
Outcome 3: Written responses to structured questions making critical responses to music

Unit 4
Outcome 3: Written responses to structured questions making critical responses to music

2. External assessment: An Externally-assessed task (a folio of original work, audio recordings and documentation) will contribute 50% to the study score and an end-of-year aural and written examination will contribute 20% to the study score.

Links

For more detailed information, please click on the link/s below:

Key Resource

Instrumental Music Lesson Assistance

Students undertaking VCE Units 3 and 4 Music are entitled to one free 45-minute instrumental music lesson each week during school time up to their performance examination early in Term 4. The Geelong College is only able to support payments to members of the College music or College instrumental staff and these lessons are only to be conducted on our premises.