| Unit | Content |
|---|---|
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Unit 1 Blues (Music for Change 1)
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In this unit, students explore the blues style. They learn about the origins of this musical genre, and use the twelve-bar blues chord sequence as a framework for building their knowledge of primary triads, developing their performance skills and learning how to improvise. Listening activities in this unit focus on blues music, and songs in other styles that employ the twelve-bar blues format. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Students receive formative assessment on their work throughout the unit. Their blues performances are assessed formally at the end of the unit and they complete an in-class listening activity that tests their understanding of the twelve-bar blues structure. |
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Unit 2 Rhapsody in Blue (Landmarks in Music 1) |
This project is an introduction to George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Students study the musical features and origin of this piece. They use a blues scale to improvise a melody, create a motif inspired by a specific place, and develop a composition for group performance. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Students receive formative assessment on their work throughout the unit. Their motifs and blues melodies are assessed formally at the end of the unit. They complete an end of unit quiz that tests their understanding of key terms and concepts. |
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Unit 3 Indonesian Gamelan (Musical Cycles 1) |
In this project, students explore the sound world and techniques of gamelan music. They perform music from Indonesia and listen to a range of gamelan styles, including music in the western repertoire influenced by gamelan. The project focuses on pulse, cyclic melodies, interlocking patterns, ensemble playing, composing in layers and recognition of gamelan techniques. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Students receive formative assessment on their work throughout the unit. Their group performances of Lancaran Cobowo are assessed formally at the end of the unit and they complete an in-class listening activity that tests their understanding of the context and techniques of Indonesian gamelan music. |
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Unit 4 Song-writing |
In this unit, students study and explore the art of song-writing. Students study the characteristics of successful songs and compose their own songs using a given structure, learning how to draw down notes from a chord sequence. They add their own lyrics and perform their work. The project focuses on chords, melodies, ensemble playing and composing to a given brief. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Students receive formative assessment on their work throughout the unit. Their song-writing is assessed formally at the end of the unit and they complete an in-class listening activity that tests their understanding of the theoretical concepts that underpin successful melodies and chord sequences. |
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Units 5 & 6 Video Game Music (Moving Image 1) |
This project is an introduction to music for video games. Students study the music and characters of a variety of video games. They compose music for a video game using BeepBox. Students create a leitmotif to describe a character and compose music to fit different scenes. The project focuses on mood, character, and composing to a given brief. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Students receive formative assessment on their work throughout the unit. Their video game compositions are assessed formally at the end of the unit. |
