Course performance descriptors for Music
Course performance descriptors for Music 7–10 (2003) provide holistic descriptions of typical achievement at different grade levels. Course performance descriptions are used to identify and report a student’s level of achievement in a Board Developed Course at the end of Stage 5.
Areas for assessment
- Performing
- Composing
- Listening
Grade A
A student at this grade typically:
- clearly and perceptively communicates an understanding of music as an artform in a comprehensive range of styles, periods and genres and is able to make connections across a range of repertoire.
- confidently engages in a range of sophisticated musical experiences demonstrating a perceptive understanding of the concepts of music within a broad range of repertoire.
- confidently performs a range of repertoire as a solo performer, and/or takes prominent roles within group performances.
- explores, improvises, and constructs coherent and stylistic musical works.
- explores the capabilities of a range of instruments and understands how musical concepts can be manipulated for a range of effects.
- confidently notates their own work, choosing notational forms and conventions appropriate to the style, period or genre being explored.
- analyses and critically discusses style and interpretation, demonstrating a clear awareness of the social, cultural and historical contexts of the music studied.
Grade B
A student at this grade typically:
- clearly communicates an understanding of music as an artform in a range of styles, periods and genres and makes connections across a range of repertoire.
- confidently engages in a range of musical experiences, demonstrating understanding of the concepts of music within a range of repertoire.
- performs a range of repertoire as a solo performer, and/or takes prominent roles within group performances.
- explores, improvises, and constructs coherent musical works.
- explores the capabilities of a range of instruments and how musical concepts can be manipulated for a range of effects.
- notates their own work, choosing notational forms and conventions appropriate to the style, period or genre being explored.
- critically discusses style and interpretation, demonstrating an awareness of the social, cultural and historical contexts of the music studied.
Grade C
A student at this grade typically:
- communicates an understanding of music as an artform in a range of styles, periods and genres and makes connections across a range of music.
- engages in a range of musical experiences demonstrating a sound understanding of the concepts of music.
- performs a range of repertoire in solo and group situations.
- explores, improvises, and constructs musical compositions.
- explores the capabilities of some instruments and how musical concepts can be manipulated for various effects.
- notates their own work, demonstrating understanding of notational conventions.
- discusses style and interpretation, demonstrating some awareness of the social, cultural and historical contexts of the music studied.
Grade D
A student at this grade typically:
- demonstrates a basic understanding of music as an artform in a range of styles, periods and genres and with guidance, makes some connections across a range of music.
- engages in a range of musical experiences demonstrating a basic understanding of the concepts of music.
- engages in group music-making and may perform some solo repertoire.
- with support, explores, improvises, and constructs basic musical compositions.
- with guidance, explores the capabilities of some instruments to create effects.
- with support, notates their own work demonstrating some understanding of notational conventions.
- describes aspects of style, demonstrating some awareness of the social, cultural and historical contexts of the music studied.
Grade E
A student at this grade typically:
- demonstrates elementary understanding of music as an artform in a limited range of styles, periods and genres.
- with support, engages in some musical experiences demonstrating an elementary understanding of the concepts of music.
- with assistance, is able to perform a limited range of repertoire and engage in group music-making.
- with support, constructs limited musical compositions.
- with support, explores the capabilities of some instruments.
- with support, uses limited notational forms in their own work.
- describes aspects of style, demonstrating a limited awareness of the social, cultural and historical contexts of the music studied.