Unit 1: Music Performance

Prerequisites

 

A very good history of learning and performance in practical music (instrumental or voice) having achieved at around AMEB Grade 5 or equivalent standard and achieved rudimentary music theory/musicianship/music craft knowledge and skills at least at AMEB Grade 4 standard or equivalent.

This subject is for students who are already committed to regular private practice and love performing solo and group music. This course covers a wide range of styles and characters in group and solo performance, analysis, listening and composing. Student will need to be prepared for the work to develop and change their skills as a part of their VCE program. With the minimum of extra work, students often also do an AMEB music practical grade or diploma exam.

 

Scope of the unit

This unit focuses on building performance and musicianship skills. Students 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. They identify technical, expressive and stylistic challenges relevant to works they are preparing for performance and practise technical work to address these challenges. They also develop skills in performing previously unseen music. Students study aural, theory and analysis concepts to develop their musicianship skills and apply this knowledge when preparing and presenting performances.

In this unit students will explore the following essential questions:

• What is music to me, to those who perform and to those who listen to it?
• When I perform, does what happen to me happen to others too?
• How do I improve my ability to play or sing? What options do I have and how much work is needed to achieve it?
• When I perform in a group, what skills do I need to blend and balance with others?
• How does a composer convey feelings in what is printed on the page?
• What tools do I need to play my instrument and sing clearly and expressively?
• What do the printed symbols in sheet music notation mean?
• What do typical patterns I hear in music look like in notation?

Selection of Instrument or Voice
In this study design, the term ‘instrument’ includes voice. The choice of instrument may vary within a unit or between units. Students who work with more than one instrument should select a main instrument for solo performance.

Works Selected for Study
In Unit 1 students select a program of group and solo works by a range of composers and/or performers that are representative of a range of styles and diversity of character. Students are able to select these works from a range of sources. The program should allow the student to meet a range of technical, stylistic and interpretative demands and should be appropriate to their level of technical expertise. Works chosen for group performance may, but are not required to, be selected from the Units 3 and 4 Prescribed List of Group Works. Works chosen for solo performance may, but are not required to, be selected from the Units 3 and 4 Prescribed List of Notated Solo Works. The prescribed lists are published annually on the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority website.

Throughout the study the term ‘program’ refers to one or more programs, and the term ‘style’ refers to one or more styles.
 

Areas of study

 

Performance
This area of study focuses on knowledge and skills that students use to present musically engaging performances. Students prepare and present performances in a variety of contexts. They use regular performances to explore ways of expressively shaping their chosen works and communicating their artistic intentions to an audience. They develop their instrumental skills through regular individual practice and develop ensemble skills through rehearsal with other musicians.

Performance technique
This area of study focuses on the development of techniques for group and/or solo performance. Students systematically identify instrumental techniques required to perform selected group and/or solo works and practise relevant technical work and other exercises to support their performance. Students investigate influences relevant to the interpretation and performance of the selected group and/or solo works. They research and trial a range of performance and interpretation strategies used by other performers to identify approaches to developing their own skills as a solo performer and as a member of a group. They investigate and practise approaches to unprepared performance.

Musicianship
This area of study focuses on aural perception, music theory and analysis. Students study concepts in isolation and in the contexts of performing and listening. This approach develops students’ general musicianship ability and enables them to apply their learning to rehearsal and performance. Students develop their ability to sing intervals, scales, triads and short melodic phrases from sight and memory. They are introduced to strategies for identifying, recognising, notating and transcribing short music excerpts. They also practise and refine their ability to notate music by hand. Students use knowledge developed across this area of study to explore characteristics of works being prepared for performance and make decisions about approaches to interpretation.

 

Assessment 

	Outcomes Assessment Tasks Students will have satisfactorily completed this unit when they have demonstrated the specific set of outcomes listed below: Outcome 1 Prepare and perform a practised program of group and solo works. Unit 1 Performance The performance program made up of three works including at least one group work and one solo work with accompaniment as appropriate Unit 1 Group Performance of duration between 5 and 25 minutes depending on student emphasis on study of group performance and the number of performers being assessed AND Unit 1 Solo Recital of duration between 4 and 15 minutes depending one emphasis on study of solo performance. Outcome 2 Demonstrate instrumental techniques used in performance of selected works, demonstrate unprepared performance skills and describe influences on their approach to performance. Unit 1 Performance Techniques A demonstration of instrumental techniques, technical work and exercises. AND A performance of unprepared material – sight reading or improvisation. AND A explanation of how selected instrumental techniques, technical work and exercises support the student’s development as an instrumentalist and their preparation of works for Outcome 1. The description may be presented in one or more of the following formats: oral multimedia written. Outcome 3 Identify, re-create, notate and transcribe elements of music, and describe ways in which expressive elements of music may be interpreted. Unit 1 Musicianship A folio of exercises AND A workbook of class activities AND A test.

Note: In addition to the Assessment Tasks, students will be required to sit an end-of-semester examination.

Reproduced by permission of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Victoria, Australia. Web Address www.vcaa.vic.edu.au

Unit 2 Music Performance follows Unit 1 Music Performance and leads to Units 3 & 4 Music Performance (new from 2011). Advanced students may be interested to move on to Units 3 & 4 Music Investigation (new from 2011).