Music

Semester Elective Unit

Prerequisites

This unit complements the Instrumental Music Tuition Program and the Music Performance Program offered by the Music School. This subject is highly recommended as preparation for the study of VCE Music Performance or IB Music in Year 11. Students need to play a musical instrument or sing in order to fully participate in class performances. It is expected that students taking this elective be enrolled for instrumental or vocal tuition either at Carey or with an external instrumental or voice teacher. A prior knowledge of some music theory is advisable.

Course Description

Students perform formally and informally, listen to, compose, analyse and write about music. An overview of Western Art Music from the Medieval to 20th century eras is a feature of this course.

Essential Questions

• How can critical analysis and aural skills heighten musical awareness in listening and responding?
• What is the relationship between thoughtful preparation, and a musical and precise performance?
• How do you select strategies when learning about music?
• How can the development of Art Music throughout history inform our contemporary musical environment?
• How can musical understanding be communicated articulately and concisely in a written format?

Areas of Study

Performance

• Discussion and application of learning strategies for effective musical practice and performance.
• Understanding of the structure of a work in a performance to inform a more artistically and stylistically appropriate presentation.
• Class recitals (one per term).

Composition

• The use of various musical elements to evoke intended styles and moods including the use of such computer software as Sibelius.
• Familiarity with instrumentation and score presentation, including layout, dynamics and performance techniques.
• The exploration of musical ideas and improvisation in conventional notation.

Music History

• The development of Western Art Music from the middle ages to current day.
• Aural and visual analysis of musical elements such as key, rhythm, harmony and period. 
• Critical listening, score reading, researching, articulating and writing.

Aural and Theory

• Aural work including recognition of selected scales, modes, intervals and chords (pitch).
• Time signatures, note durations, rhythmic patterns.
• Melodic and rhythmic dictations.

Assessment

Task	Description
Music History	Musical perception and analysis tasks - two assignments on major eras of music, their composers and stylistic features.
Composition	Folio of at least two original compositions of contrasting genres, such as Classical and Contemporary.
Performance	Audio recording of end of semester solo performance, as well as regular ensemble performances and discussion on practice techniques throughout the subject.
Aural and Theory	Continuous development of aural and theory work with respect to pitch and rhythm, including melodic dictation and interval recognition.
Semester Examination	Written exam including theory and aural work, identification of the stylistic features of music from the eras studied, and short answer questions on musical terminology.