Music Performance

Rationale

Music is an integral part of all cultures from the earliest of times, expressing and reflecting human experience. Music exists in a myriad of forms, each able to elicit an array of intellectual and emotional responses from its audience. A study of music enables students to strengthen their own relationship with music and to be personally enriched as they develop greater control of their own musical expression. Music learning requires students’ active engagement in the practices of listening, performing and composing. As they learn in music, students apply critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and critique the work of contemporary and historical practitioners and develop their understanding of the diverse ways in which music ideas can be shaped to communicate artistic and expressive intent. Students also develop insights into the music traditions of contemporary and historical global cultures and form understandings of ways in which music can interact with other arts forms and fields of endeavour. When students perform the works of other musicians, they develop skills in communicating and in working cooperatively and communally to achieve creative outcomes. Through analysing and responding to the work of other musicians, students develop knowledge of music, skills in critical thinking and greater confidence in written and oral expression. Students use communications and music technologies to achieve considered musical outcomes.

VCE Music equips students with personal and musical skills that enable them to follow pathways into tertiary music study or further training in a broad spectrum of music related careers. VCE Music also offers students opportunities for personal development and encourages them to make an ongoing contribution to the culture of their community through participation in life-long music making.

Structure

The study is made up of ten units. Each unit deals with specific content contained in areas of study and is designed to enable students to achieve a set of outcomes for that unit. Each outcome is described in terms of key knowledge and key skills. The study structure is:

Students may enrol in all units or select specific combinations of units that cater for their interests and intended pathways.

Entry

There are no prerequisites for entry to Units 1, 2 and 3 Music Performance, Units 1, 2 and 3 Music Style and Composition and Unit 3 Music Investigation. Students must undertake Unit 3 of the relevant Unit 3–4 sequence prior to undertaking Unit 4. Music Performance Units 1–4, Music Investigation Units 3–4, and Music Style and Composition Units 1–4 are designed to a standard equivalent to the final two years of secondary education. All VCE studies are benchmarked against comparable national and international curriculum. At least four to five years’ experience in learning an instrument/s is recommended before commencing VCE Music Performance and Music Investigation.

Music Performance

Music Performance Units 1 to 4 aims to broaden and enrich students’ musical experience and involves synthesis of knowledge of the music work/s being performed including their structure, style and context and their expressive qualities. Performers use musicianship skills along with instrumental techniques to present musically engaging performances. Through research and analysis of performances by leading practitioners, students become aware of ways that performance conventions, musical nuance and effective communication between performers and audience can facilitate engaging, exciting and meaningful performances. Information about selecting instruments and works for study is provided in the Study Design.

Music Performance Unit 1

Music Performance Unit 1 focuses on building students’ performance and musicianship skills to present performances of selected group and solo music works using one or more instruments. They study the work of other performers and explore strategies to optimise their own approach to performance work to address technical, expressive and stylistic challenges relevant to works they are preparing for performance. Students also develop their listening, aural, theoretical and analytical musicianship skills.

Music Performance Unit 2

Music Performance Unit 2 focuses on building performance and musicianship skills. Students present performances of selected group and solo music works using one or more instruments and take opportunities to perform in familiar and unfamiliar venues and spaces. They study the work of other performers and refine selected strategies to optimise their own approach to performance. They continue to develop their listening, aural, theoretical and analytical musicianship skills and apply this knowledge when preparing and presenting performances.

Music Performance Unit 3

In Music Performance Unit 3 students build and refine their performance and musicianship skills. Students focus on either group or solo performance and begin preparation of a performance program they will present in the end-of-year examination. As part of their preparation, students will take opportunities to perform in familiar and unfamiliar venues and spaces. They study the work of other performers and refine selected strategies to optimise their own approach to performance. Students develop, refine and focus their listening, aural, theoretical and analytical musicianship skills and apply this knowledge when preparing and presenting performances.

Music Performance Unit 4

In Music Performance Unit 4 students focus on further development and refinement of performance and musicianship and continue preparation of a performance program they will present in the end-of-year examination. Through analyses of other performers’ interpretations and feedback on their own performances, students refine their interpretations and optimise their approach to performance. Students continue to address challenges relevant to works they are preparing for performance and to strengthen their listening, aural, theoretical and analytical musicianship skills.

Still have some questions? Fell free to email Mrs Loretta Shannon for further information. lorettashannon@sakyabram.vic.edu.au