Course aims / learning outcomes
This course is designed for students wanting to achieve standards in NCEA music at levels 2 and 3. Students should typically have been studying music for several years before attempting this course. It is also designed to give students a broad understanding of the music industry and equip them with the tools for success in future pathways.
Students completing this course at Level 2 will be able to:
Understand music – Sound arts in context
- Research and analyse music from a range of sound environments, styles, and genres, in relation to historical, social, and cultural contexts, considering the impact on music making and production.
- Apply their understandings of the expressive qualities of music from a range of contexts to a consideration of their influence on their own music practices.
Develop practical knowledge
- Apply knowledge of expressive features, stylistic conventions, and technologies through an integration of aural perception and practical and theoretical skills and analyse how they are used in a range of music.
Develop ideas
- Create, structure, refine, and represent compositions and musical arrangements, using technical and musical skills and technologies to express imaginative thinking and personal understandings.
- Reflect on and evaluate composition processes and presentation conventions.
Communicate and interpret
- Prepare, rehearse, present, record, and evaluate sustained performances of music, individually and collaboratively, that demonstrate interpretive understandings.
- Analyse and evaluate the expressive qualities of music and production processes to inform interpretations of music.
Students completing this course at Level 3 will be able to:
Understand music – Sound arts in context
- Research, analyse, and evaluate the production and presentation of music works from historical, social, and cultural contexts.
- Apply their understandings of the expressive qualities of music from a range of contexts to analyse its impact on their own music practices.
Develop practical knowledge
- Analyse, apply, and evaluate significant expressive features and stylistic conventions and technologies in a range of music, using aural perception and practical and theoretical skills.
Develop ideas
- Create, structure, refine, and represent compositions and musical arrangements, using secure technical and musical skills and technologies to express imaginative thinking and personal understandings.
- Reflect on and evaluate composition processes and presentation conventions.
Communicate and interpret
- Plan, rehearse, present, record, evaluate, and refine performances of music, individually and collaboratively, demonstrating interpretive understandings.
- Critically analyse and evaluate the expressive qualities of music and production processes in order to refine interpretations of music.
Course content
- This course will be fairly challenging, and will involve both LA-directed and self-directed approaches.
- Students will be required to take part in performance evenings, inter-school performances, 'band camps', and recording sessions outside of scheduled class times.
- Students will be expected to practice their instruments regularly outside of school hours.
Assessment statement
NCEA Music at level 2
is divided into two different domains: Making Music and Music Studies. The ‘Making Music’ domain focuses primarily on performance, composition and ear training, whilst ‘Music Studies’ deals with theory, score analysis, research skills and orchestration. You can choose to sit standards from either domain.
Internally assessed standards for level two music are:
MAKING MUSIC:
AS 91270 (2.1) Perform two substantial pieces of music as a featured soloist (6 credits)
AS 91274 (2.2) Perform a substantial piece of music as a featured soloist on a second instrument (3 credits)
AS 91272 (2.3) Demonstrate ensemble skills by performing a substantial piece of music as a member of a group (4 credits)
AS 91271 (2.4) Compose two substantial pieces of music (6 credits)
MUSIC STUDIES:
AS 91273 (2.8) Devise an instrumentation for an ensemble (4 credits)
AS 91278 (2.9) Investigate an aspect of New Zealand Music (4 credits)
There are also three externally assessed standards available at level two, which will require you to sit a formal exam at the end of the year. We will be preparing for these throughout the year, depending on student interest. External standards in level 2 music are:
MAKING MUSIC:
AS 91275 (2.5) Demonstrate aural understanding through written representation (4 Credits)
MUSIC STUDIES:
AS 91276 (2.6) Demonstrate knowledge of conventions in a range of music scores (4 Credits)
AS 21277 (2.7) Demonstrate understanding of two substantial contrasting music works
NCEA Music at level 3
is also divided into the two different domains: Making Music and Music Studies. Again, the ‘Making Music’ domain focuses primarily on performance, composition and ear training, whilst ‘Music Studies’ deals with theory, score analysis, research skills and orchestration. You can choose to sit standards from either domain. There are also a number of credits available through the 'Performing Arts Technology' domain.
MAKING MUSIC:
AS 91416 (3.7) Prepare and present performances of music as a featured soloist (8 Credits)
AS 91417 (3.2) Perform a programme of music as a featured soloist on a second instrument.
AS 91418 (3.1) Present a performance of a program of music as a member of a group (4 credits)
AS 91419 (3.6) Present a portfolio of musical composition (8 credits). OR
AS 91849 (3.11) Compose three original songs that express imaginative thinking
MUSIC STUDIES:
AS91424 (3.9) Create two arrangements for an ensemble. (4 Credits)
AS91425 (3.10) Research a music topic (6 Credits)
There are also three externally assessed achievement standards available at level three, which will require you to sit a formal exam at the end of the year. We will be preparing for these throughout the year, depending on student interest. External standards in level 3 music are:
MAKING MUSIC:
AS 91418 (3.8) Demonstrate aural skills across a range of styles and genres.
MUSIC STUDIES:
AS 90498 (3.3) Compare and Contrast Music Works (8 Credits)
AS 90530 (3.5) Demonstrate an understanding of the harmonic and tonal procedures in a range of music (7 credits)
At Ao Tawhiti students can negotiate their own learning and qualifications pathways. In music we cater for this by allowing students to choose which assessments they wish to sit. This must be done in consultation with your music LA (Matt) at the start of the year. It is recommended that for a full-year music program you aim to complete approximately 18 – 20 credits. You may also choose to be assessed at other levels for some standards if this is appropriate. For example, if you are a highly capable player, but you struggle with reading music, you may wish to sit level 2 performance standards at the same time as completing level 1 composition and theory work.
Authenticity
- Assignments that take place over time will be produced in an online system such as Google Docs. Learning Advisors will monitor student work by accessing document history. A portion of work will need to be completed during class time under Learning Advisor supervision.
- Class tests will take place under supervised test conditions within class.
- Students may be required to sign an authenticity statement, perform certain parts of assessment tasks under close supervision, or show through interview and the existence of notes and supporting material that the work submitted by the student is genuinely his/her own work.
Appeal Procedures
- Students have the right to appeal the mark they have been awarded. If a student wishes to appeal a grade, they should initially talk to the subject learning advisor about the marking process immediately after the marked assessment task is shown to them. If still dissatisfied the student should make an appointment and discuss grades with the Principal’s Nominee who will check that the correct procedures have been followed as outlined in the school and subject policies taking into account any special circumstances.