Catalyst Handbook 2018 | Page 22

Music Concepts and Creation Music has the capacity to engage, entertain, challenge, inspire and empower students. Studying music stimulates imaginative and innovative responses, critical thinking and aesthetic understanding, and encourages students to reach their creative and expressive potential. Music exists distinctively in every culture and is a basic expression of human experience. Students' active participation in music, individually and collaboratively, draws on their own traditions and life experiences. These experiences help them to appreciate and meaningfully engage with music practices and traditions of other times, places, cultures and contexts. Students do not need to have any prior experience in Music to achieve well in, and enjoy, this subject. The focus of Music Concepts and Creation is:     The study of the world of music composition through experimentation with the elements of music (sound, rhythm, melody, harmony and form) The teaching of a variety of music software packages (Mixcraft, Sibelius, DJ Pro) to compose pieces for diverse groupings of instruments across many different genres and contexts The analysis of examples of music across many genres An introduction to basic aural perception and performance skills. Year 8 During the course of a semester, Core Arts in Year 8 focuses on one compulsory performance course and one compulsory production course per term, each delivered by a specialist teacher of that subject. The two Year 8 courses are Media Arts and Drama. Other Arts courses can be selected and studied as part of a student’s Discovery learning program. Media Arts Media Arts enables students to analyse past technologies, and use existing and emerging technologies as they explore imagery, text and sound to create meaning. Students participate in, experiment with, and interpret cultures, media genres and styles, and different communication practices. The course introduces students to the full media production process, from the planning stages all the way through to marketing and distribution platforms. Students will also gain a wide variety of media related analytical skills that they can utilise to further expand and inform their understanding of mainstream media in Australia. The focus of Media Arts is:     To interpret, analyse and develop media practices through the students’ experiences in making media arts. To inspire students to imagine, collaborate and take on responsibilities in planning, designing and producing media artworks. Develop practical skills in filmmaking processes. Analyse and respond to media works. Page | 21