Understanding music

Musical understanding underpins student learning in this subject. Students:

• understand and apply key musical elements of the repertoire
• think creatively and critically about ensemble music performance
• express musical ideas.

Understand and apply key musical elements of the repertoire

Students develop and extend their musical understanding and musical literacy by:

• applying appropriate terminology to discuss key musical elements in the repertoire
• developing and applying their knowledge and understanding of the style, structure, and conventions appropriate to the repertoire.

In this subject, elements for study include:

• rhythm
• pitch
• dynamics and expression
• form and structure
• timbre
• texture.

Refer to the Music Performance — Ensemble supporting document for articulation of the musical elements.

Students apply their knowledge and understanding of the style, structure, and conventions appropriate to the repertoire, in developing and refining their musical performances, their musical imagination, and their own ideas about and appreciation of music.

Students develop and extend their musical understanding and musical literacy through interpreting creative works, and discussing key musical elements in the repertoire.

Thinking creatively and critically about music performance

Students think creatively and critically about the nature and scope of music, and apply this understanding to make informed and innovative choices in developing their own performances as part of an ensemble.

Students:

• develop and apply a critical understanding of style, structure, and conventions when performing in an ensemble
• refine their aural perception and/or notation skills to consider, discuss, and apply their understanding of key musical elements in their performances
• extend their understanding and appreciation of the aesthetic, stylistic, technical, and expressive demands of performing music in an ensemble
• enrich their appreciation of music and its transformative powers.

Express musical ideas

Students synthesise their learning through music to express their ideas:

• creatively, through their performances in an ensemble
• critically, in critiquing and evaluating their own performances.

They develop and extend their understanding of how learning in music is an iterative process, and how the knowledge and skills developed through interpreting and performing music can refine their musical thinking and inform the choices they make as a member of an ensemble.

Students reflect on and critique the specific skills, techniques, and strategies required to create and present music through ensemble performance, and evaluate their own development, application, and refinement of musical skills in the learning process.