Music 1 2016 HSC exam pack

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• Selecting repertoire to display musical strengths, contrasts, exploration of dynamics and expressive techniques and vocal/instrumental tonal capabilities
• demonstrating technical and interpretative skills and personal engagement throughout the performance
• using balance and variety effectively within each solo or ensemble performance
• displaying an awareness of the overall musical structure and maintaining momentum
• demonstrating expressive and dynamic contrasts
• demonstrating familiarity with and understanding of the performance space and equipment, including starting backing tracks and microphones
• considering ensemble positioning to allow for effective interaction and engagement
• including supportive and integrated accompaniment that was secure
• having short and focussed sound checks and well prepared accompanists.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• choosing repertoire that is technically within the candidates’ skill level
• presenting musical content that has detail, variety and depth and provides opportunities to demonstrate technical and interpretative skills, rather than short, safe, limiting and repetitive repertoire
• not using sound checks as a disguise for additional rehearsal
• having appropriate ensemble balance
• preparing and tuning instruments prior to entering the examination centre
• sustaining engagement and momentum for the duration of the piece
• using appropriate backing tracks
• rehearsing in the chosen performance space prior to the day of the exam
• being engaged with the ensemble rather than focussing only on own performance or being occupied with reading lyrics
• placement of equipment in performance space, including amplifiers to assist ensemble communication
• understanding that no additional marks are awarded for presenting on more than one instrument
• understanding that if singing and playing an instrument at the same time, both parts of the performance are assessed
• avoiding splitting programs.

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• understanding the chosen style
• musical ideas.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• editing of compositions, including clefs and enharmonics
• including details of composition that are not provided by sequencing software
• notation of looping samples
• providing information and description of sounds for more unusual sound sources.

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• understanding and demonstrating a musicological emphasis in discussion using aural examples (recorded or practical demonstrations) to assist and augment the discussion
• drawing appropriate conclusions concerning the chosen topic
• demonstrating evidence of wide listening with the broader topic.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• being willing to engage in a two-way discussion rather than a prepared speech
• presenting concise outline summaries that are presented on the M2 form to help support the discussion
• avoiding using generalisations in discussion
• having relevant musical recordings queued at the appropriate point ready to play.

Question 1

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• clearly referring to sections within the structure and sound sources
• linking structure and sound sources well.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• providing detailed and accurate terminology when describing sound sources
• discussing the role of the sound source.

Question 2

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• demonstrating understanding of the concept.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• answering the question in full
• describing texture more fully – not just thick and thin; homophonic, polyphonic, monophonic
• labelling diagrams and graphic notation used.

Question 3

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• demonstrating an organised approach using a range of styles
• showing understanding of the expressive techniques and duration.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• addressing both concepts referred to in the question
• structuring the response to ensure the question is answered
• providing detail within each section.

Question 4

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• using labelled diagrams to describe pitch movement in responses
• identifying the primary sound sources and their roles.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• exploring a range of concepts and their contribution to tension
• using appropriate musical terminology, particularly in regard to strings
• discussing features from the whole excerpt
• using the title and artist’s information as a guide to what may be heard, for example, two cellos.