Unit | Content |
---|---|
Unit 1 Blues | 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. |
Unit 2 Indonesian Gamelan | 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. |
Unit 3 Bolívar to Buena Vista | In this project, students encounter the ideas and sounds of the music of Central and South America through listening and performing. They learn to perform a chord sequence using an auto-accompaniment feature and to fit this sequence to given melodies and counter-melodies. The project focuses on Latin music, ensemble playing and use of music technologies. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Students receive formative assessment on their work throughout the unit. Their tango performances, using the auto-accompaniment feature, are assessed formally at the end of the unit and students complete an in-class listening activity that tests their understanding of the unit's key concepts. |
Unit 4 Step and leap | 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. |