Sample work Music Stage 5: Theme and variations
Work samples aligned to grades assist teachers to develop their understanding of the achievement standards at each grade level.
Description of activity
Students arrange the theme of The Streets of Forbes as well as 2 or 3 variations. The variations should consist of techniques such as a counter melody, exploration of tonality and the exploration of the concept of duration by manipulating aspects such as changing rhythmic values, changing tempo and syncopation. Students then select one of these variations for assessment.
Context
In this unit of work, students have undertaken a broad survey of the characteristics of the classical era. A focus on one section of this unit is Haydn's Emperor Quartet Op. 76, No 3, 2nd movement. Students performed the theme and investigated the techniques Haydn had employed in each of the four variations prior to commencing this composition task.
Outcomes
A student:
- 5.4 demonstrates an understanding of the musical concepts through improvising, arranging and composing in the styles or genres of music selected for study
- 5.7 demonstrates an understanding of musical concepts through the analysis, comparison, and critical discussion of music from different stylistic, social, cultural and historical contexts
- 5.9 demonstrates an understanding of musical literacy through the appropriate application of notation, terminology, and the interpretation and analysis of scores used in the music selected for study.
Criteria for assessing learning
(These criteria would normally be communicated to students with the activity.)
Students will be assessed on their ability to:
- arrange the theme of The Streets of Forbes for chosen instrument/s
- compose a variation that explores techniques such as counter melody, exploration of tonality and the exploration of the concept of duration by manipulating aspects such as changing rhythmic values, changing tempo and syncopation
- demonstrate their understanding of musical literacy through the application of appropriate traditional notation
- include all relevant performance directions on their score.
Graded student work samples
Work sample feedback
Ariel
This composition displays a very high level of understanding of the concepts of music, and the jazz piano idiom. Ariel explores and constructs a coherent and stylistic musical work, demonstrating sophisticated understanding of piano writing eg voicing, pedal, register, articulation and dynamics. He/she manipulates musical concepts and is able to take risks eg tempo and metre changes, duration, interplay of parts and textual variation.
There is extensive use of detailed score and performance marking which displays a high level of understanding of the tone colour possibilities of the piano. While the dissonance is confronting, it is consistent with the character of the work and explores the timbral variety of the piece.
Ariel confidently notates his/her work using notational forms and conventions appropriate to the genre. The harmonic language is sophisticated and demonstrates a detailed understanding of pitch and style. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade A standard.
Jordan
Jordan demonstrates an understanding of notational conventions but omits performance directions and stylistic indications. He/she explores and constructs a musical composition through the use of imitation, sequence, modulation, counter-melody and linear independence.
Jordan shows a working knowledge of the instruments chosen (oboe, bassoon) but the writing for these instruments is conservative and safe eg restricted range and no additional instrumental techniques. Jordan demonstrates an understanding and exploration of some of the concepts of music such as duration (syncopation, time signature change) however, texture and tone colour have not been developed. The use of pitch shows augmentation of the theme and stilted harmonic progressions.
This work sample is simplistic in its use of harmony, rhythmic vocabulary and tonality. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade C standard.