Music

Course Description Stage 4 - Years 7 and 8

Smiling student and teacher, student about to play a flute.

The aim of the Stage 4 Music Course is to provide students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge, understanding and skills for active engagement and enjoyment in performing, composing and listening to music. Students will learn about the orchestra, classical Western notation, and the history of rock music through performing as a soloist or in an ensemble, composing, and listening to a wide range of instruments and genres.

Students learn about various orchestral instruments as well as the development of Western rock and pop music starting from the early 20th century. Each student is also given opportunities to perform on the keyboard and guitar in front of their peers, as well as research their favourite instruments and musicians.

Stage 4 Music topics can include:

The instruments of the orchestra, along with classical Western notation
Aboriginal music and its role today
The history of rock music
The Beatles and Michael Jackson

teacher directing students in band in music class.

Course Description Stage 5 - Years 9 and 10

The aim of the Stage 5 Elective Music Course is to provide students with further opportunities to develop their knowledge, understanding and performance skills, their ability to analyse, evaluate, and create music. Students develop their confidence in performance situations, as well as continuing to develop their creative abilities through the exposure to a variety of listening, performing and composing opportunities.

As an extension of the Stage 4 Music Course, students will be able to transition smoothly into a course that promotes active engagement and enjoyment in performing, composing and listening. There will be numerous opportunities for students to perform in school wide functions, as well as compose their own pieces of music.

Stage 5 Elective Music topics can include:

Theatre music
The influence and development of music technology
Popular music
Australian music

Music 1 Course Description Stage 6 Years 11 and 12

Two students on stage, one playing the guitar the other clapping.

Preliminary Course Music 1

In the Preliminary course, students will study the concepts of music through the learning experiences of performance, composition, musicology and aural within the context of a range of styles, periods and genres.

Students study three topics in the Preliminary course. Topics are chosen from a list of 21 topics which cover a broad range of styles, periods and genres.

While the course builds on the Stages 4 and 5 Music course, Music 1 provides an alternative path of study to Music 2. The curriculum structure is adaptable enough to meet the needs and interests of students with varying degrees of prior formal and informal learning in music and caters for students with less experience in Music.

HSC Course Music 1

In the HSC course, students will continue to study the concepts of music through the learning experiences of performance, composition, musicology and aural within the context of a range of styles, periods and genres.

Students study three topics in the HSC course which are different from those studied in the Preliminary course or two topics which are different from those studied in the Preliminary course and one topic from the Preliminary course in greater depth exploring new repertoire and including a comparative study. Topics are chosen from a list of 21 topics which cover a broad range of styles, periods and genres.

In addition to core studies in performance, composition, musicology and aural, students select three electives from any combination of performance, composition and musicology. These electives must represent each of the three topics studied in the course.

Music 2 Course Description Stage 6 - Years 11 and 12

Preliminary Course Music 2

In the Preliminary course, students will study the concepts of music through the learning experiences of performance, composition, musicology and aural within the context of a range of styles, periods and genres.

Students study one Mandatory Topic covering a range of content and one Additional Topic in each year of the course.

In the Preliminary course, the Mandatory Topic is Music 1600–1900. The Additional Topic is chosen from a list of six topics which cover a broad range of styles, periods and genres.

HSC Course Music 2

In the HSC course, students will continue to study the concepts of music through the learning experiences of performance, composition, musicology and aural within the context of a range of styles, periods and genres.

Students study one Mandatory Topic covering a range of content and one Additional Topic in each year of the course. The Additional Topic is chosen from a list of eight topics which covers a broad range of styles, periods and genres.

In the HSC course, the Mandatory Topic is Music of the Last 25 Years (Australian focus).

HSC Course Music Extension

Music Extension can only be selected if the student is undertaking or has completed the Music 2 subject.

The Music Extension course builds on Music 2 and assumes a high level of music literacy and aural ability as well as advanced performance or composition or musicology skills.

Students will specialise in performance or composition or musicology and will follow an individual program of study which will be negotiated between the teacher and student.