Music 7–10 Syllabus (2003)
Find out more about the Music 7–10 Syllabus (2003) and access teaching and learning support materials.
New syllabus implemented from 2026
The new Music 7–10 Syllabus (2024) is to be implemented from 2026.
• 2024 and 2025 – Plan and prepare to teach the new syllabus
• 2026 – Start teaching the new syllabus
School sectors are responsible for implementing syllabuses and are best placed to provide schools with specific guidance and information on implementation given their understanding of their individual contexts.
Detailed implementation information, including key features and resources, is available on the Creative Arts syllabus development page.
About the course
The study of music’s forms, styles and ideas enables young people to develop an interest in appreciation and enjoyment of music. Through critical reflection and acquiring understanding, knowledge and skills, students respond by creatively developing their own musical ideas, compositions and performances.
All students should have the opportunity to develop their musical abilities and potential. As an artform, music pervades society and occupies a significant place in world cultures and in the oral and recorded history of all civilisations. Music plays important roles in the social, cultural, aesthetic and spiritual lives of people. At an individual level, music is a medium of personal expression. It enables the sharing of ideas, feelings and experiences.
The nature of musical study also allows students to develop their capacity to manage their own learning, engage in problem-solving, work collaboratively and engage in activity that reflects the real world practice of performers, composers and audiences.
The Music Years 7–10 syllabus includes Life Skills outcomes and content for students with special education needs.
In both the Mandatory and Elective courses, students study the concepts of music (duration, pitch, dynamics and expressive techniques, tone, colour, texture and structure) through the learning experiences of performing, composing and listening, within the context of a range of styles, periods and genres.
The Mandatory course requires students to work in a broad range of musical contexts, including an exposure to art music and music that represents the diversity of Australian culture. The Elective course requires the study of the compulsory topic Australian Music, as well as a number of optional topics that represent a broad range of musical styles, periods and genres.
In Music, students learn to perform music in a range of musical contexts, compose music that represents the topics they have studied and listen with discrimination, meaning and appreciation to a broad range of musical styles.
The study of the concepts of music underpin the development of skills in performing, composing and listening.
Board Developed Course
Course number(s):
- 2050 Music 200 hours
- 2051 Music 100 hours
- 2052 Music Life Skills 200 hours
- 2053 Music Life Skills 100 hours
Exclusions: Students may not access both the Music Years 7–10 outcomes and content and the Music Life Skills outcomes and content.
The Music Years 7–10 Syllabus contains both Mandatory and Elective courses.
Mandatory course
The Mandatory course is taught as a coherent study of 100 hours, not spread over several years. The Mandatory course is usually studied in Years 7 and/or 8.
Elective course
The Elective course can be studied for 100 or 200 hours in Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10). Students may not commence study of the Elective course until they have completed the requirements of the Mandatory course.
Information about curriculum requirements for the RoSA are available on Assessment Certification Examination (ACE).
Assessment information and support
Teaching and learning support
Use these support materials to guide and plan your teaching and assessment.
The Life Skills outcomes worksheet can be used to collect information on the outcomes that a student has achieved before recording them in Schools Online.
Stage 5
- Music 7–10: Sample work (Stage 5) – Composing for percussion
- Music 7–10: Sample work (Stage 5) – Composing medieval music
- Music 7–10: Sample work (Stage 5) – Composing variations on a theme
- Music 7–10: Sample work (Stage 5) – The music of Sarah Hopkins
- Music 7–10: Sample work (Stage 5) – Theme and variations