3MUS
This course requires 2 options.

Level 3 Music

Subject Description

Teacher in Charge: Ms A. Plummer.

Level 3 Musicians are likely to include students from Level 2 who excelled in at least ONE area - either Performance, Composition, Music Theory, Music History or Music Technology. The course caters for expertise to develop in any of these areas, allowing for a personalised learning programme to suit specific interests and skills.  Solo and Group Performance recitals, alongside a Composition/SongWriting or Arrangement portfolio are the main areas of study for L3 musicians. The Music Works External exam focuses on the musical West Side Story.  Aural and Score Reading externals are optional.

Students may choose to do a Composition (8 credits) AND a Song Writing (8 credits) portfolio. This will take up the entire course and is worth 16 credits - (6 pieces of music in total).

Like Level 2, you can get credits for a 2nd instrument performance. Essentially the Solo (8 credits) , Group (4 credits) and 2nd Instrument (4 credits) will provide 16 credits in total.
Students are advised to have regular tuition on their instrument/voice to help them achieve the required level for the performance elements.
Students are expected to perform at musical events in or out of school.

Watch the L3 band of 2019 perform at the Musical Extravaganza


Subject Overview

Term 1
We collaborate on Group Performance of which you must perform 2 pieces in the same event.
Solo recital number 1 is selected and regular practise begins. You must play at least 2 pieces in the same recital - (a minimum of 4 in total)
Composition/Song Writing ideas are explored (You must do 3) These will be shared through open discussion, listening and work shopping. Composition 1 must be complete by the end of Term 1.
Theory skills are taught to all students and extended theory will be introduced for those doing the Score Reading External and Analysis.
This year we have the option of doing an Analysis Internal based on a substantial music work. We study the second movement of Beethoven's Symphony no 7. This internal is mostly geared towards students who gained an Achieved or higher for the Score reading External at L2 or who read music fluently.
Some students may decide to do the Research a Music Topic standard, which offers UE credits for reading.

Term 2
Recital 1 is completed in June.
Some students will perform their Group pieces in a school event such as the Musical Extravaganza

Arrangement 1 is completed (You have to do 2) and they need to be transcribed.
Score analysis internal practice takes place and the assessment for those interested happens at the end of the term.
Composition 2 is completed

Term 3
Recital 2 is completed late September
Some students will perform their Group pieces in a school event such as the Musical Extravaganza or Soiree.

Arrangement 2 is completed
Score analysis internal practice takes place
Composition 3 is completed

The Music External West Side Story is Introduced, analysed and written about. This external has 4 UE literacy credits reading and writing.

Term 4
There are opportunities for students to complete recitals and compositions should it be required.
Practice Essays for the West Side Story External and Score reading will take place.
Final Compositions need to be recorded alongside a detailed commentary ready for the portfolio deadline

Recommended Prior Learning

Music reading definitely helps at L3. If you are rusty in this area, it is worth your while brushing up on this highly useful skill. You can take L3 if you achieved 14 credits or more at NCEA Level 2 Music and have shown success (Merit or higher) with at least one of the following -  Performance, Composition, Written work or Theory . 

Group Performance can be a big component of L3. Most students will have already performed at this level. There is an expectation that you will be part of a band or group already when starting this course. 

To get an idea of the standard, watch the senior combo rehearse one of the pieces they performed for the senior prizegiving 2019  Senior Combo - Toby, Carmen, Jordan, Jay and Daniel 


Approximate Costs and Equipment/Stationery

A quality pair of headphones, your own instrument to practise on at home. Composers will need their own laptop that can run advanced recording software such as Ableton Live, Pro Tools or Logic, MuseScore 4

Pathway

L3 MUSIC is an approved subject for University Entrance.
You might decide to go to Jazz School at Ara and do a music-based course. Or you may audition for NAZDA. Alternatively, you might decide to do a music degree at either UC or The School of Music in Wellington.

Credit Information

You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.

This course is eligible for subject endorsement.

This course is approved for University Entrance.

Total Credits Available: 54 credits.
Externally Assessed Credits: 12 credits.
Internally Assessed Credits: 42 credits.

Assessment
Description
Level
Internal or
External
Credits
L1 Literacy Credits
UE Literacy Credits
Numeracy Credits
A.S. 91416 v2
NZQA Info
Making Music 3.1 - Perform two programmes of music as a featured soloist
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 8
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91417 v2
NZQA Info
Making Music 3.2 - Perform a programme of music as a featured soloist on a second instrument
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91418 v2
NZQA Info
Making Music 3.3 - Demonstrate ensemble skills by performing two substantial pieces of music as a member of a group
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91419 v2
NZQA Info
Making Music 3.4 - Communicate musical intention by composing three original pieces of music
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 8
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91420 v2
NZQA Info
Making Music 3.5 - Integrate aural skills into written representation
Level: 3
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91421 v3
NZQA Info
Music Studies 3.6 - Demonstrate understanding of harmonic and tonal conventions in a range of music scores
Level: 3
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91423 v2
NZQA Info
Music Studies 3.8 - Examine the influence of context on a substantial music work
Level: 3
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4r,4w *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91424 v2
NZQA Info
Music Studies 3.9 - Create two arrangements for an ensemble
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91425 v2
NZQA Info
Music Studies 3.10 - Research a music topic
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 6
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 6r *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91849 v1
NZQA Info
Making Music 3.11 - Compose three original songs that express imaginative thinking
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 8
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
Credit Summary
Total Credits: 54
Total Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
Total University Entrance Literacy Credits: 10
Total Numeracy Credits: 0

Approved subject for University Entrance

Number of credits that can be used for overall endorsement: 54

Only students engaged in learning and achievement derived from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa are eligible to be awarded these subjects as part of the requirement for 14 credits in each of three subjects.