Music Curriculum

Throughout both mandatory and elective programs, performance, listening and composition are at the heart of teaching and learning, with a strong emphasis on music as a performing art.

Prep and Junior School

Students in Pre-K, Kindergarten and Year 1 begin their journey in music with two 30 minute music lessons per week. Individual instrumental lessons are also available on selected instruments.

In Years 2 - 6 lessons are structured as follows: In addition to the classroom music program, many students elect to undertake private instrumental tuition. All students involved in private tuition must also perform in the School’s co-curricular ensemble program. The Prep and Junior School classroom teaching program is based on the Kodály methodology. Kodály believed that musical instruction should reflect the way that children learn naturally. Musical concepts are prepared and presented sequentially, through a variety of experiences including singing songs in unison, rounds, canons and in parts; singing themes from great instrumental music; games, improvisation and memory activities based on beat, rhythm, pitch and timbre; and listening and moving to music. Reading and writing skills stem from these activities. Tuned and untuned percussion instruments are also used as accompanying instruments for playing and improvising.

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4 Lesson 1 Classroom-based Instruction Lesson 2 Year 2 String Program

Lesson 1 Classroom-based Instruction & Choir Lesson 2 Group Tuition Strings/ Winds/Percussion Lesson 3 Year 3 String Orchestra or Band

Lesson 1 Classroom-based instruction Lesson 2 Year 4 Choir

Lesson 3 Year 4 String Orchestra or Band

Year 5 Lesson 1 Classroom-based instruction Lesson 2 Composition/Ukulele/Stomp percussion Lesson 3 Year 5 Choir

Year 6 Lesson 1 Classroom-based instruction Lesson 2 Composition/Guitar/Stomp percussion Lesson 3 Year 6 Choir Darkinjung Barker Music Program

Music plays an important part in the learning experiences at the Darkinjung Barker school. It is an important educational tool as well as a subject in its own right. The students follow a developmental sequential music program that is relevant to the context of the School and taught with a respect for culture and tradition. Singing is a rewarding and simple way the students participate in fun music making whilst engaging in English and first language learning activities. Beat, rhythm and movement activities also feature strongly in the program.

Middle and Senior School

Year 7 and 8 Music

We have developed an exciting and engaging program that allows students in Years 7 and 8 to explore a range of musical activities and experiences through: • Guided Inquiry into musical soundscapes, pentatonic music, keyboard performance, and Australian music (Year 7) • Rock music, guitar performance, and film music (Year 8). Our program is supported by an integrated suite of ICT-based resources. Students primarily use their own electronic devices to develop their musical skills, and to discover innovative and creative approaches to learning. The Year 7 and 8 units of work are accessed through the school learning management system ‘Canvas’. All student work is uploaded creating a digital portfolio providing formative evaluation and allows each student to keep track of their progress. Our goal is to develop students’ skills in the areas of performance, composition and listening. Performing in Year 7 involves learning and refining keyboard skills in our fully-equipped keyboard laboratory, as well as on a range of tuned and untuned percussion instruments to develop rhythmic and melodic understanding. Students in Year 8 explore a unit on rock music and have the opportunity to learn the guitar, electric bass and drum kit.

Composition activities involve developing traditional hand - written notation skills, graphic notation, and sequencing using GarageBand or Soundtrap on the students’ devices.

Year 9 and 10 Elective Music

At Barker College, we recognise that musicians are a diverse group of people, with different musical backgrounds, skills and experiences. For this reason, we allow students in Years 9 and 10 to choose a music course that best caters to their skills from the following two options: • Contemporary Music Studies (CMS) is a customised course designed for students who are experienced or interested in developing skills on the guitar, bass, drum kit, or for contemporary pianists or vocalists.

Students in this course typically read tabs and chord charts rather than traditional notation. Topics include the study of African music, tracing the origins of blues and rock music, as well as the study of musical theatre and music for small ensembles. This course leads into the Preliminary and HSC

Music Course 1 subjects in Years 11 and 12. • The Elective Music Course is designed for students with an orchestral, band, or classical piano or vocal background. These students usually read traditional notation and have some understanding of musical theory. Topics include an in-depth study of the canon of Western Art Music (baroque, classical, romantic and 20th century styles), and the study of jazz and vocal music. This course becomes a natural progression into the Preliminary and HSC Music Course 2 and Music Extension subjects in Years 11 and 12. • Assessment for both courses is based on an innovative electronic journal kept on

‘Canvas’. Students upload samples of their performance, composition and listening activities throughout the year, providing an all-round snapshot of their progress. The emphasis in this assessment methodology is to provide students with ongoing feedback, placing the emphasis on the learning process, not just the final product. Students who choose to study Music in Years 9 and 10 are required to have weekly private lessons on an instrument or voice, and to take part in one of Barker’s many large ensembles.

Year 11 and 12 Preliminary and HSC Music Courses

Barker College has had consistently high numbers of students taking music as an HSC subject, showing a high level of engagement and involvement by students. There are two HSC Music courses in Years 11 and 12, both with an emphasis on musicology, performance and composition. Students in Year 12 can specialise to some extent in the areas of their choice.

In Year 11, students in Music 1 take part in a number of activities representing topics that include Music for Small Ensembles and Music for Film, Radio, TV and Multimedia. These activities include performing as a soloist and as part of a group, composing a number of short pieces and presenting a musicological viva voce, or discussion on a musical topic that interests the student.

The Music 2 students follow similar activities in listening, performance and composition that relate to the topics Music 1600-1900 and Australian music.

In Year 12, students can choose some of their own topics from the list of those approved by NESA. In addition, Year 12 Music 2 students also study the mandatory topic Music of the Last 25 Years (Australian focus) and sightsinging. In both courses, students undertake a course of study in aural training and musical concepts. Students are supported in their own, very individual program by a team which includes their class teacher, the Composerin-Residence, the Piano Accompanist and other visiting musicians who may assist with ensemble performances. Extension Music is an additional unit of study in the HSC available to selected Music 2 students. In this course, students undertake an additional program of either three performances, two compositions or a musicological research essay. The Music Extension unit involves at least 4 extra hours of study per fortnight. Students who choose to study Music in Years 11 and 12 are required to have weekly private instrument or voice lessons and to take part in one of School’s many large ensembles.