Westlake Boys High School
Level 2 Music
Course Description
Teacher in Charge: Mr W. Robinson.
Level 2 Music
Year 12 Music Option involves Performance, Composition, Musical Knowledge, Instrumentation and Theory. Students will deliver performances in front of a small audience and will write two ensemble compositions including a piece of film music. Students will learn to transform a simple piece of piano music into a more elaborate piece for a group of musicians (Instrumentation). The class will also build on their knowledge of musical scores and sit an external standard which will test this knowledge. (Students must be having instrumental/voice lessons outside of class.) Students will also build upon and expand the aural skills they gained in Level 1 music and will sit an external standard which requires them to transcribe aspects of music aurally.
Course Overview
Term 1
Students will learn about the process of Instrumentation - the act of taking a piece of piano music and deploying the ideas to a larger group of instruments. During this internal students gain a much wider knowledge about the limits and capabilities of a wide range of instruments.
Students will spend time developing Aural and Score reading skills for use in external exams and to support their wider musical understanding.
Term 2
Students will have the chance to compose a fairly large scale work for a group of instruments - which should show off their growing understanding of the process of developing ideas. Generally completed using either Sibelius software of MuseScore.
Students will give the first of two performance of music. An accompanist is available for non pianists.
Term 3
Students will create their second of two compositions - a film score for a short clip of their choice which will demonstrate their ability to incorporate Underscore, Leitmotif and musical gesture.
Students will give the second of two assessed performance as part of their solo performance standard
Term 4
Students will focus on Aural and Score reading in preparation for their external NCEA exams.
Entry Criteria
This course is open entry for all students.
Level 2 Music requires the successful completion of a Year 11 course in Music. Students must also meet the requirements to study a Level 2 NCEA Award. Students who have not studied Year 11 Music may opt into this pathway, but only at the discretion of the Head of Music.
Students selecting Level 2 Option Music should be fluent readers of music. They should also be having lessons on an instrument (or voice) on which are able to perform at a minimum of Grade 4 standard. In practice this means that they should be in at least their fourth year of lessons on this music instrument.
Equipment/Stationery and Course Costs
This course makes significant use of digital learning material at various times during the year. It is advantageous for a student to have a laptop during these times. Some learning activities, including assessments, will not be able to be completed without a laptop.
Pathway
An education in music can lead to many career pathways because musical discipline is a highly transferable skill. Careers may include (but are not limited to) audio technician, music studio production, live-sound production, film-score composer, music editor, music/entertainment journalism, media liaison, communications, music education, tutor, etc. Students with a background in high level performance music are also renowned in many university faculties for their discipline and ability to work in teams, studies in music are highly favoured in the admissions process for many non-music courses at university.
Music provides a different means of student expression, and there are fewer barriers to what students can do and explore. Students who are involved in music education generally have an overall increase in engagement and enjoyment in school.
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
This course is eligible for NCEA Course Endorsement.
External
NZQA Info
Making Music 2.1 - Perform two substantial pieces of music as a featured soloist
NZQA Info
Making Music 2.4 - Compose two substantial pieces of music
NZQA Info
Music Studies 2.8 - Devise an instrumentation for an ensemble
NZQA Info
Making Music 2.5 - Demonstrate aural understanding through written representation
NZQA Info
Music Studies 2.6 - Demonstrate knowledge of conventions in a range of music scores
Disclaimer
Course selection does not guarantee a course will be available or that you have approval to take a course. Final course confirmation is in January and depends on your final results and in rare cases, staff availability.
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