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Assessment Resource Centre (ARC)

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  1. Years 9-10
  2. Stage 5 Grading
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Music

Areas for Assessment

Performing
Composing
Listening

Grade A

A student at this grade typically:

  • clearly and perceptively communicates an understanding of music as an artform in a comprehensive range of styles, periods and genres and is able to make connections across a range of repertoire.
  • confidently engages in a range of sophisticated musical experiences demonstrating a perceptive understanding of the concepts of music within a broad range of repertoire.
  • confidently performs a range of repertoire as a solo performer, and/or takes prominent roles within group performances.
  • explores, improvises, and constructs coherent and stylistic musical works.
  • explores the capabilities of a range of instruments and understands how musical concepts can be manipulated for a range of effects.
  • confidently notates their own work, choosing notational forms and conventions appropriate to the style, period or genre being explored.
  • analyses and critically discusses style and interpretation, demonstrating a clear awareness of the social, cultural and historical contexts of the music studied.

Grade B

A student at this grade typically:

  • clearly communicates an understanding of music as an artform in a range of styles, periods and genres and makes connections across a range of repertoire.
  • confidently engages in a range of musical experiences, demonstrating understanding of the concepts of music within a range of repertoire.
  • performs a range of repertoire as a solo performer, and/or takes prominent roles within group performances.
  • explores, improvises, and constructs coherent musical works.
  • explores the capabilities of a range of instruments and how musical concepts can be manipulated for a range of effects.
  • notates their own work, choosing notational forms and conventions appropriate to the style, period or genre being explored.
  • critically discusses style and interpretation, demonstrating an awareness of the social, cultural and historical contexts of the music studied.

Grade C

A student at this grade typically:

  • communicates an understanding of music as an artform in a range of styles, periods and genres and makes connections across a range of music.
  • engages in a range of musical experiences demonstrating a sound understanding of the concepts of music.
  • performs a range of repertoire in solo and group situations.
  • explores, improvises, and constructs musical compositions.
  • explores the capabilities of some instruments and how musical concepts can be manipulated for various effects.
  • notates their own work, demonstrating understanding of notational conventions.
  • discusses style and interpretation, demonstrating some awareness of the social, cultural and historical contexts of the music studied.

Grade D

A student at this grade typically:

  • demonstrates a basic understanding of music as an artform in a range of styles, periods and genres and with guidance, makes some connections across a range of music.
  • engages in a range of musical experiences demonstrating a basic understanding of the concepts of music.
  • engages in group music-making and may perform some solo repertoire.
  • with support, explores, improvises, and constructs basic musical compositions.
  • with guidance, explores the capabilities of some instruments to create effects.
  • with support, notates their own work demonstrating some understanding of notational conventions.
  • describes aspects of style, demonstrating some awareness of the social, cultural and historical contexts of the music studied.

Grade E

A student at this grade typically:

  • demonstrates elementary understanding of music as an artform in a limited range of styles, periods and genres.
  • with support, engages in some musical experiences demonstrating an elementary understanding of the concepts of music.
  • with assistance, is able to perform a limited range of repertoire and engage in group music-making.
  • with support, constructs limited musical compositions.
  • with support, explores the capabilities of some instruments.
  • with support, uses limited notational forms in their own work.
  • describes aspects of style, demonstrating a limited awareness of the social, cultural and historical contexts of the music studied.

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