Music Extension
Music Extension (Performance) 2020 v1.1 General Senior Syllabus
The Music Extension syllabus should be read in conjunction with the Music syllabus. In Music Extension, students follow an individual program of study designed to continue the development of refined musicianship skills. Music Extension encourages students to investigate music concepts and ideas relevant to their specialisation.
In the Composition specialisation (making), students create and resolve new music works. They demonstrate use of music concepts and manipulate music concepts to express meaning and/or emotion to an audience through resolved compositions. In the Musicology specialisation (responding), students investigate and analyse music works and ideas. They synthesise analytical information about music, and document sources and references about music to support research. In the Performance specialisation (making), students realise music works, demonstrating technical skills and understanding. They make decisions about music, interpret music elements and concepts, and express music ideas to realise their performances.
Music Extension prepares students for a future of unimagined possibilities, helping them to become self-motivated and emotionally aware. As a unique means of expression, music makes a profound contribution to personal, social and cultural identities. As they develop highly transferable and flexible skills, students become adaptable and innovative problem-solvers and collaborative team members who make informed decisions. As enquirers, students develop their ability to analyse and critically evaluate. Literacy in
Music Extension is an essential skill for composers, musicologists and performers, and learning in Music Extension prepares students to engage in a multimodal world.
Senior Music
The study of music combines the development of cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains through making and responding to music. The development of musicianship through making (composition and performance) and responding (musicology) is at the centre of the study of music.
Through composition, students use music elements and concepts, applying their knowledge and understanding of compositional devices to create new music works. Students resolve music ideas to convey meaning and/or emotion to an audience.
Through performance, students sing and play music, demonstrating their practical music skills through refining solo and/or ensemble performances. Students realise music ideas through the demonstration and interpretation of music elements and concepts to convey meaning and/or emotion to an audience.
In musicology, students explain the use of music elements and concepts, analysing music in a variety of contexts, styles and genres. They evaluate music through the synthesis of analytical information to justify a viewpoint.
Course Structure
Music is a course of study consisting of four units. Subject matter, learning experiences and assessment increase in complexity from Units 1 and 2 to Units 3 and 4 as students develop greater independence as learners.
Units 1 and 2 provide foundational learning, which allows students to experience all syllabus objectives and begin engaging with the course subject matter. Students should complete Units 1 and 2 before beginning Unit 3. It is recommended that Unit 3 be completed before Unit 4.
Units 3 and 4 consolidate student learning. Only the results from Units 3 and 4 will contribute to ATAR calculations.
Figure 2 outlines the structure of this course of study.
Each unit has been developed with a notional time of 55 hours of teaching and learning, including assessment.