Overview
Music 1 provides students with opportunities to perform, listen, analyse, respond to, create and compose music across a diverse range of styles and traditions. Students develop creative practice, musicianship, and aural skills while exploring contemporary music, global musical cultures, and emerging technologies. The course encourages personal expression and provides pathways into further study, performance, and the creative industries.
HSC Assessment Structure
The Year 11 course consists of three assessment tasks that develop students’ skills in performance, composition, listening, and analysis across a range of musical styles and contexts. The Year 12 course typically includes four school-based assessment tasks that reflect students’ achievement as performers, composers, and critical listeners. In the HSC, students complete a Written Aural Skills Examination worth 40%, a Core Performance worth 20%, and a Core Composition worth 20%. Students then choose an additional elective worth 20%, selecting either Performance, Composition or Musicology Viva Voce. This flexible assessment structure allows students to tailor part of their HSC program to their individual strengths and musical interests while developing practical, creative and analytical musicianship skills.
Career Paths
Music 1 provides pathways into a wide range of creative and professional industries, including music performance, composition, audio engineering, music production, sound design, music education, arts administration and event management. Students develop highly transferable skills in creativity, collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and self-management that are valued across many careers. For many students, music also becomes a lifelong passion that complements and enriches their personal and professional lives.
Skills Required
Students should have developed skills on an instrument or voice and a willingness to practice regularly. While advanced theory knowledge is not required, students benefit from developing their aural, listening and theoretical skills throughout the course.
Why Choose It
Music 1 develops creativity, discipline, and critical thinking through performance, composition, and listening. Students build confidence, problem-solving, and communication skills while developing musicianship and a deeper understanding of how music reflects cultures, ideas, and experiences. The course supports both academic success and personal wellbeing, providing a creative balance to senior study while developing skills that are valued in further education and a wide range of careers.