Music Extension

The aim of the course is to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the concepts of music and their relationship to each other with reference to works composed, research undertaken and essay writing or works performed. Each student will choose either Performance, Composition or Musicology.

Class Activities Can  Include

A  focus on learning experiences common to all specialisations such as: 

• developing audiation and music ideas 

• discussing and experimenting with music ideas 

• seeking feedback from mentors, including peers, to develop music ideas and refine skills and techniques 

• researching contexts, genres and styles 

• exploring and analysing contextual, generic and stylistic features of musical scores and performances 

• considering the implications of non-musical contextual influences on music, such as artistic, political, sociological, economical, ideological and philosophical viewpoints 

• critically deconstructing and evaluating other people’s compositions, musicological presentations and performances 

• experiencing live performances as audience member

• critiquing performances • examining programming of concerts 

• developing aspects of an individual style 

• developing research skills

Performance Majors

• rehearsing the developing work 

• singing and playing solo and in a variety of ensembles 

• participating in a variety of performances 

• adapting to the performance environment 

• singing, playing or conducting a variety of music 

• performing for peers 

• participating in performance at school outside of usual classroom situation 

• realising a score 

• exploring musical memory technique rehearsing and performing 

• rehearsing with accompanist backing or ensemble 

• practising individual parts 

• developing effective rehearsal skills 

• developing aspects of an individual performing style 

• experimenting with methods of expression, technique, articulation and sound possibilities directing rehearsals and conducting performances. 

Composition Majors

studying scores, audio and visual recordings and performances 

• exploring techniques of capturing sound creations 

• representing musical compositions in score format 

• evaluating and editing compositions

 • exploring tonalities through harmony, modulation, modality and scale forms 

• writing idiomatically for specific instruments, voices (including word setting) and other sound sources 

• discussing the characteristics of individual and groups of composers, musicians and performers to discern creative and stylistic similarities and differences 

• undertaking interviews, research and field studies to explore musical hypotheses regarding composition 

• searching for composition analyses, critiques, reviews, seminars, lectures and histories identifying compositions that may inform a developing personal style of composition viewing performances in order to compare the composition of music to the performance of it.

Musicology Majors

determining, by analysis, how musicians integrate the musical elements within various contexts, genres and styles in written, recorded and live music 

• listening to recordings and reading the scores from a wide range of music contexts, genres and styles 

• investigating musical works in their historical, social, cultural and philosophical contexts 

• investigating the relationship between musical works and other art forms 

• exploring the music conventions of different cultures 

• determining the style of compositions and evaluating stylistic consistency 

• critiquing music research findings and theories 

• discussing music ideas 

• editing as the result of feedback