Music is studied as a mandatory subject in Year 7 and 8. Students undertake a variety of learning experiences in performing, composing and listening activities. Students are encouraged to be actively involved in seeking out performance opportunities at school assemblies, the CAPA Showcase Evening in Term 4 and through the school musical. Students are also encouraged to enter external competitions run through the school to increase their musical experience and to develop their skills in a fun and creative environment.
Performing
Students learn a variety of short songs using guitars, keyboards, glockenspiels and the drum kit. Performing activities involve both individual and small ensemble tasks. Students practise their notation reading and writing skills and improvise short pieces of music. Students perform both set class songs as well as their own choice of repertoire.
Composing
Students compose their own rhythms and create original arrangements of short songs. They improvise rhythms and melodies in class performing tasks and start to explore the process of songwriting through simple composition exercises. If confident, students are encouraged to start to write their own full songs and to perform them in front of their peers in a supportive and structured environment.
Listening
Students learn about musical analysis through studying the use of the concepts of music in both popular and classical music styles. Students learn to express their own observations of the concepts of music and to extend their oral and written responses to develop their higher order thinking skills. Students complete research tasks of musical styles studied in class. Students are encouraged to explore musical styles of their choice when completing research tasks.