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New VCE Music Composition Units 3 & 4
A subject catering for students with an interest to learn about composing music in a broad range of styles and for a variety of instruments and contexts. Is offered as an accelerated Year 11 VCE Music Study &/or a Year 12 subject. This subject should be undertaken following completion of Units 1 & 2 Music. It can be taken as a stand-alone subject or could be taken alongside one of the Unit 3/4 performance subjects (Repertoire or Contemporary Performance) or VET Music Sound. There is no end-of-year performance exam. Music Composition Units 3 & 4 may lead to another Unit 3/4 music study, provide opportunity for students to develop their musical skills and knowledge alongside their other pathways and/or assist with preparation for tertiary music study.
Creating
In Unit 3 students analyse two short works, one Australian post 1990, and formulate a Folio Design Brief. The analysis particularly looks at how they are representative of particular styles and how the works may affect their own creative process. Reflecting on this study of the selected works, they also develop a Folio Design Brief for their Unit 4 work as part of their creative explorations. During Unit 4 students document the creative processes they use in composing their original work for Outcome 1. The work progresses from original intention, through development and refinement, to the final realisation.
Responding
Unit 3 - 20 Marks Unit 4 - 20 Marks & Exam 20%
Unit 3 - 40 marks Unit 4 - EAT
Unit 3 - 20 marks Unit 4 – Externally Assess. Task - 50%
During Unit 3 students create exercises in response to pieces being studied. Their creative work draws on the features of the works studied and so they are able to show connections between the two. In unit 4 students compose short work/s, using a design plan/brief from Unit 3, Outcome 2. They create and evaluate their work/s manipulating musical elements and including such things as repetition, variation, contrast, transition, unity and diversity. Students create their exercises and pieces in audio & notation format. For the Externally-assessed Task students will submit a folio that contains an original work, or group of short works, audio recordings and documentation. The original composition, or group of short works, is to be of maximum 4–5 minutes in length and presented in and appropriate digital notation and audio form. It is to be supported by documentation, including the Unit 3 design brief, description of creative process, analysis of the final work, and how unity and diversity have been achieved in a coherent work.
Analysing for Composition
Unit 3 SAC work contributing to final score 20% Unit 4 SAC work contributing to final score 10 %, End of Year Written Exam 20% & EAT 50%
During Units 3 & 4 students listen to music extensively and compile a listening journal examining a broad range of styles. They identify and annotate the use of compositional devices in short excerpts. Students formulate critical responses/subjective opinions backed by objective information.