Music

Common Unit

Unit Description

The musical experience and skills of Year 7 students varies greatly, and this unit is designed to cater for those with little or no background and for those experienced in music performance. It complements the elective Instrumental and Vocal Tuition Program, and the Music Performance Program offered by the Music School.

There are two components to the Year 7 Music program, Classroom Music and Ensemble Music.

Classroom Music

A range of musical styles are studied. Through listening activities, students develop the ability to identify the elements of music. They begin to understand the way rhythm, pitch, harmony and texture are organised in music. Theory of music includes knowledge of basic musical notation in the treble clef.

The course is designed to relate the theory of music to its practical application. Students use a music processor program on their notebook computers as an aid to understanding musical notation.

Topics include how musical instruments work, the history of the blues and some original composition to fit with a given video sequence.

Ensemble Music

All Year 7 students are allocated to a music ensemble for their practical ensemble experience, the range of groups includes:

• Experienced Band;
• Experienced Strings;
• Beginner Mandolin;
• Beginner Band;
• Beginner Strings.

The Year 7 Music Information evening, held in July, outlines the options and possibilities.

Semester 1 Areas of Study

• An introduction to the physics of sound.
• Study of the instruments in the orchestra, classifying them according to the way in which sound is produced.
• History and development of a selected musical instrument.
• Music notation including treble clef notation as well as rhythm reading and writing.
• Practical music making using band, orchestral, percussion instruments or voice.
• Notation of musical ideas using a computer program.
• Singing a range of great music.

Semester 2 Areas of Study

• Study of the elements and styles of rock music, beginning with the evolution of contemporary music from the blues.
• Mastery of the bass clef.
• Composing and performing of music within the blues framework, including both notated and improvised work.
• Study of the use of music in film and television focussing on the way in which specific emotions are communicated through music.
• Composing music to create a specific mood using video and computer technology.
• Continuation of development of singing skills.
• Continuation of practical ensemble skill development.

Assessment

Assessment is made informally during class time through question and answer activities, revision tasks, teamwork, solo work and other activities. Formal assessment is done through unit tests and assignments.