Learners must undertake ALL four common units and the study of EITHER Option 1 – Performance OR Option 2 – Composition (Composition (folio) or Composition (improvised performance).
COMMON UNITS
This course has four (4) common units. Common units are compulsory for all learners.
UNIT 1 MUSIC PERFORMANCE SKILLS
UNIT 2 CREATE AND PRESENT ORIGINAL MUSIC STATEMENTS
UNIT 3 CRITICAL LISTENING ANALYSIS
UNIT 4 MUSIC LITERACY: THEORY KNOWLEDGE AND AURAL SKILLS
UNIT 1 MUSIC PERFORMANCE SKILLS
The following will be studied by ALL learners:
- range of styles
- use of accompaniment
- building on previous experience
- care and maintenance of instrument/voice
- techniques of sound production relevant to the instrument/voice.
In addition, for the development of solo performance skills, the following will be studied:
- intonation
- rhythm
- dynamics
- phrasing
- posture
- tonal quality
- articulation
- interpretation
- fluency
- confidence (for example, in posture, in interpretation)
- accuracy.
In the development of ensemble performance skills, the following will be studied:
- awareness of the role within the ensemble
- response to direction
- co-operation
- fluency
- intonation
- reading skills
- timing
- balance
- accuracy
- awareness of style and genre
- preparation
- practice procedures
- sensitivity and control in dynamics and music expression.
UNIT 2 CREATE AND PRESENT ORIGINAL MUSIC STATEMENTS
The following will be studied. Skills in the creation of music will be developed through composing, improvising and/or arranging:
- horizontal and vertical arrangement of pitch
- different tonal systems
- elementary structural devices
- dynamic contrast
- accurately notating original ideas using conventional and non-conventional symbols as appropriate.
In addition, when composing and/or arranging, the following may be studied (as appropriate to task):
- purpose
- artistic quality and sense of style
- originality
- suitability for instrumental/vocal combination
- coherence
- structure (melodic and harmonic)
- accurate use of appropriate notation
- use of interpretative markings
- transposition
- use of appropriate technology.
In addition, when improvising, the following may be studied (as appropriate to task):
- fluency
- confidence
- phrase structure
- attention to harmonic structure
- melodic and rhythmic coherency
- expression and dynamics
- stylistic integrity
- development of theme or idea
- originality
- responsiveness to other performers.
UNIT 3 CRITICAL LISTENING ANALYSIS
Listening experiences will be provided that:
- place music within historical and cultural settings
- enhance the learner’s understanding of the role of performers, arrangers, composers and critics
- represent a range of styles and genres
- provide insight into particular styles and genres
- provide insight into performance and improvisation techniques
- increase the learner’s sensitivity to music
- encourages learners to reflect on performances and/or creative work of self and others.
Learners will use these listening experiences to develop their understanding of:
- the concept of focused listening
- pitch and melody
- tonal systems
- harmony
- time and rhythm
- structure
- sound sources
- dynamic contrast
- texture
- performance skills
- creative process
- technical and musicianship skills
- music terminology.
UNIT 4 MUSIC LITERACY: THEORY KNOWLEDGE AND AURAL SKILLS
The following will be studied.
Pitch:
- aural identification and notation
- identifying and writing chords
- transposition
- harmonising a simple melody with appropriate chord symbols
- clefs
- recognition of and meaning of signs, symbols, terminology and abbreviations.
Time:
- aural identification and notation
- understanding time signatures
- use of appropriate note and rest groupings
- adding bar lines to an unbarred segment/phrase
- composing an appropriate rhythm to given poetry/lyrics
- use of appropriate rhythmic devices
- recognition of and meanings of signs, symbols, terminology and abbreviations.
Design:
- identification of compositional techniques
- voice leading and cadence identification
- aural and/or written identification of form/structure
- recognition of and meanings of signs, symbols, terminology and abbreviations
- score analysis.
OPTIONS
EITHER:
OPTION 1 – PERFORMANCE
Learners will prepare and perform a program of music.
See current TASC External Assessment Guidelines for further details.
In negotiating a performance program the following will be addressed:
- range of styles
- degree of difficulty
- material appropriate to the instrument/voice
- rhythmic complexity
- range of keys
- number and length of pieces
- use of accompaniment
- building on the learner’s previous experience
- care and maintenance of instrument/voice
- techniques of sound production relevant to the instrument/voice.
In development of solo performance skills, the following will be addressed:
- intonation
- rhythm
- dynamics
- phrasing
- posture
- tonal quality
- articulation
- interpretation
- fluency
- accuracy
- performance anxiety.
In development of ensemble performance skills, the following will be addressed:
- awareness of the role within the ensemble
- response to direction
- co-operation
- fluency
- intonation
- reading skills
- timing
- balance
- accuracy
- awareness of idiom and style
- preparation
- practice procedures
- sensitivity and control in dynamics and music expression.
OR:
OPTION 2 – COMPOSITION: Composition (folio) or Composition (improvised performance)
Learners will prepare a selection of music.
- For Composition (folio) this will be presented through a folio of work with an accompanying audio CD.
- For Composition (improvised performance) this will be presented through live performance.
See current TASC External Assessment Guidelines for further details.
Learners will create music through composing and/or improvising and/or arranging:
- horizontal and vertical arrangement of pitch
- different tonal systems
- elementary structural devices
- mixes of tuned and non-tuned sound sources
- sources dynamic expressive, timbral contrast
- stylistic variety.
In addition, when composing and/or arranging, the following may be studied (as appropriate to task):
- purpose
- artistic quality and sense of style
- originality
- suitability for instrumental/vocal combination
- coherence
- structure (melodic and harmonic)
- use of interpretative markings
- effectiveness in performance
- transposition
- principles of orchestration/arrangement
- use of appropriate technology
- accurately notating original ideas using conventional and non-conventional symbols as appropriate.
In addition, when improvising, the following may be studied (as appropriate to task):
- fluency
- confidence
- phrase structure
- attention to harmonic structure
- melodic and rhythmic coherency
- expression and dynamics
- stylistic integrity
- development of theme or idea
- originality
- technical competence
- responsiveness to other performers and accompaniment.