Rationale
The rationale of the Music Life Skills 11–12 Syllabus aligns with the rationale for Music in the Stage 6 Curriculum for a common entitlement of learning, as described below.
Rationale for Music in the Stage 6 Curriculum
The purpose of Music in Years 11 and 12 is to provide students with the opportunity to acquire, develop, extend and refine the knowledge, understanding and skills gained from the Music 7–10 Syllabus (2024). Music in Years 11 and 12 may also be accessed by students who have not studied Music in Years 9 and 10.
Music is an aural art form enabling personal and cultural expression that occupies a significant place in the oral and recorded histories of global cultures. It can define and express identities, shape and communicate values, and convey meaning through sound in diverse ways. Music employs unique symbol systems, which can be used to shape, organise and communicate musical ideas.
Music fosters an appreciation of continuity and change, connecting cultures, times and regions. As students develop a deeper understanding of music, they draw on histories, practices, technologies and personal experiences to perform, create and appreciate music. Students explore and experience Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music, and the diversity of influences and styles in Australian music.
Students engage with Music context and Music language through performing, listening to and composing musical repertoire from ever-widening styles, genres and musical conventions. Engagement with the expressive, cultural and aesthetic value of music enriches students’ musical knowledge and supports them to appreciate music more deeply. Students use creative thinking and expression, and they explore and communicate musical ideas through a range of traditional and contemporary mediums.
Rationale for Music Life Skills 11–12
The Music Life Skills 11–12 Syllabus provides students with opportunities to explore their personal musical knowledge and to experience the creative process of music-making, individually or in groups. Students engage with and respond to a variety of musical genres, styles and music-making environments, developing skills in the use of current and emerging music technologies.
Music is an integral aspect of society and provides an important means of communication and personal and cultural expression. In Music Life Skills, students explore self-expression and develop skills and capabilities to communicate in and through music. Creating and performing music in group contexts provides students with opportunities to collaborate with others. This allows them to develop the ability to negotiate, problem-solve, contribute as a team member and respect the views of others.
Through these learning opportunities, students may develop their own musical interests in singing, playing, creating, listening and responding to music. By performing, creating and engaging with their own pieces of music and the pieces of others, students develop knowledge and skills that enable them to participate in musical experiences in contexts beyond school. This supports pathways into further study, careers in music and lifelong engagement with music.