This unit focuses on building performance and musicianship skills. Students present performances of selected group and solo music works using one or more instruments and take opportunities to perform in familiar and unfamiliar venues and spaces. They study the work of other performers and refine selected strategies to optimise their own approach to performance. They identify technical, expressive and stylistic challenges relevant to works they are preparing for performance and endeavour to address these challenges. Students develop their listening, aural, theoretical and analytical musicianship skills and apply this knowledge when preparing and presenting performances.

This unit focuses on building and refining performance and musicianship skills. Students focus on either group or solo performance and begin preparation of a performance program they will present in the end-of-year examination. As part of their preparation, students will also present performances of both group and solo music works using one or more instruments and take opportunities to perform in familiar and unfamiliar venues and spaces. They study the work of other performers and refine selected strategies to optimise their own approach to performance. They identify technical, expressive and stylistic challenges relevant to works they are preparing for performance and endeavour to address these challenges. Students develop their listening, aural, theoretical and analytical musicianship skills and apply this knowledge when preparing and presenting performances.

This unit focuses on further development and refinement of performance and musicianship skills. Students focus on either group or solo performance and continue preparation of a performance program they will present in the end-of-year examination. All students present performances of both group and solo music works using one or more instruments and take opportunities to perform in familiar and unfamiliar venues and spaces. Through analyses of other performers’ interpretations and feedback on their own performances, students refine their interpretations and optimise their approach to performance. They continue to address challenges relevant to works they are preparing for performance and to strengthen their listening, aural, theoretical and analytical musicianship skills.

In this unit students design and conduct an investigation into performance practices that are characteristic of a music style, tradition or genre. They describe and explore their selected Investigation Topic and its practices through critical listening, analysis and consideration of technical, expressive and contextual issues, and through composition, improvisation or arrangement and performance. Students begin by researching a representative sample of music and related contextual issues. They develop their knowledge and understanding of techniques and ways of achieving expressive outcomes and other aspects relevant to performance practice in the style, tradition or genre they are investigating. In this study research involves critical listening, analysis of live and recorded performances and study of scores/charts and other texts as appropriate to the Investigation Topic.

Students develop and maintain a portfolio to document evidence of their research and findings. The portfolio also includes exercises, sketches or recorded improvisations that demonstrate their developing understanding of the Investigation Topic.

Concurrently, students select, rehearse and prepare to perform a program of works that are representative and characteristic of their Investigation Topic. Through performance, students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of expressive and instrumental techniques and conventions and other relevant aspects of performance practice. As they learn and practise each work in the program, students use findings from their research to trial and make decisions about interpretative options and develop their ability to master technical and expressive features of the music.

In this unit students refine the direction and scope of their end-of-year performance program. They also compose, improvise or arrange and perform a work that is characteristic of the music style, tradition or genre they are investigating and continue developing their understanding of relevant performance practices. Students continue to listen to the work of other performers and develop their ability to execute technical and expressive demands and apply performance conventions to realise their intended interpretations of each work