Year 12 Subject Selection – MUSIC INVESTIGATION Units 3&4 ‘Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.’ Plato
Course Description VCE Music Investigation offers students opportunities to engage in the practice of performing, creating and researching music that is representative of their chosen focus area. In this unit students select a work from a prescribed list as the basis for their chosen investigation of a Focus Area. They explore the Focus Area through three complementary areas of study: Investigation-On completion of this unit the student should be able to evaluate and present their interpretive approach to a program of music works. Composition/ arrangement/improvisation-perform your original music work and discuss the use of music characteristics, instrumental techniques, performance techniques and conventions in the work based on your Focus Area. Performance-demonstrate artistic intent and understanding of the Focus Area in a cohesive and engaging performance of music works.
60% of your Study Score are your performance and technical skills. Why Study this? 60% of your Study Score are your performance and technical skills. 50% of Marks- end of year external performance 10% of Marks- demonstration and explanation of techniques relative to your Focus Area and Performance Program 20% 0f Marks- SAC: Investigation of your chosen Focus Area 20% of Marks- Composition/Arrangement/Improvisation Unit 3 Work Tasks Unit 4 Work Tasks AOS 1 Investigation Complete a portfolio of tasks that include development of Focus Area Statement, examination of Musical Scores, listening reviews of performances, contextual & historical issues. AOS 2 Composition/Arrangement/Improvisation Create a portfolio of tasks that include melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic ideas relevant to your Focus Area, a journal & recordings of your work in progress, and a report using music terminology and language that discusses use of music characteristics, instrumental techniques, performance techniques and conventions of the work in relation to the Focus Area. AOS 3 Performance Create a map of selected works including expressive techniques, musical intention, tempo, texture and performance presentation. Devise and practise technical work/exercises to address performance techniques relevant to your works. Practise your selected program and prepare a performance AOS 1 Investigation Complete a folio of tasks that include research of relevant influences, glossary of relevant musical terms and characteristics of works. AOS 2 Composition/Arrangement/Improvisation A performance/recording of your finished work and portfolio of notations AOS 3 Performance justify the approach to performing each work in relation to the Focus Statement prepare notes for an introduction or a narration for practice performance experiment with presentation techniques typically associated with the Focus Area to develop and rehearse appropriate stagecraft to communicate artistic intent of the program Devise and practise technical work/exercises to address performance techniques relevant to your works. Practise your selected program and prepare a performance
Unit 3 Assessment Tasks Outcomes Assessment Tasks 20 S/N 5 Marks Outcome 1- Demonstrate understanding of performance practices, contexts and influences on music works Present a report that discuss characteristics, techniques and performance practices of works representative of a Focus Area 20 Outcome 2 Compose, improvise and/or arrange and discuss music characteristics and performance practices A portfolio of compositions/improvisation/arrangement exercises that demonstrate understanding of the Focus Area S/N Performance of selected exercises Discussion of characteristics of the completed exercises in relationship to research findings from Outcome 1 Outcome 3 Present a performance of music works that communicates understanding of the Focus Area Performance of technical work and exercises relevant to the Focus Area and describe how the technical work assist with the development of the performance program 5 Prepare a recital performance between 10 and 15 minutes Unit 3 TOTAL SAC MARKS 25
Unit 4 Assessment Tasks Outcomes Assessment Tasks 20 S/N 5 Marks Outcome 1- Evaluate and present their interpretive approach to a program of music works Prepare a two-minute introduction to each work in the performance program, outlining its connection to the Focus Area 20 Evaluations of performances of works Present a printed performance program Outcome 2 Compose, improvise and/or arrange and perform a music work and discuss the use of music characteristics instrumental techniques and conventions in the work Present a composition, improvisation or arrangement of a music work that uses characteristics, performance techniques and other conventions relevant to the Focus Area. S/N An explanation of how the work is representative of the Focus Area. The explanation may be in one or more of the following formats: written, oral or multimedia Outcome 3 Demonstrate artistic intent and understanding of the Focus Area in a cohesive and engaging performance of music works. Demonstration of performance techniques, technical work and exercises relevant to preparing for performance of a program of works that relate to the Focus Area, and discussion of how this technical work relates to the Focus Area. 5 Performance of a program of selected works that demonstrates application of individual and, as appropriate ensemble, technical, stylistic and expressive techniques and performance conventions to communicate artistic intent in performance of works that are representative of a Focus Area, of a duration between 10 and 15 minutes. Performance of at least four contrasting works that relate to the Focus Area which underpin the study in Units 3 & 4 of a duration of 25 minutes and presented with a printed performance program with a Focus Statement. Unit 4 TOTAL SAC MARKS 25
Past Nagle students have/are studying Subject pathway…. VCE Music Investigation leads to further study in many Arts related and other areas. Past Nagle students have/are studying Events Management Music (Jazz, Contemporary)
Extra activities/costs? It is expected that you will have instrumental music lessons in school or the wider community. There may be opportunity to attend the Top Class Performances in Melbourne of the previous year’s highest scoring students. There will be no charge for this excursion.
More information…. Maureen Plunkett mplunkett@nagle.vic.edu.au