Annotated worksamples
Task description
The task has two components. Teachers might decide to limit the task to the first component only or to make this a combined task incorporating both the first and second components.
Listening component: Students explore examples of the ways in which music is used in a range of films. They analyse the use of musical concepts* and compositional devices** in selected examples and present their findings in an oral presentation using a clip from a film to illustrate their findings.
Composition component: Students compose a short piece of music to accompany an excerpt from a film (selected by teacher) and present it to the class, with a composer's statement, in performed or recorded form.
*The term 'musical concepts' refers to the fundamental concepts such as pitch, duration, tone, colour, texture, structure and dynamics, which are variously called 'concepts', 'elements', 'aspects' or 'musical terminology and conventions' in each State syllabus. It also relates to the use of these in compositional processes and techniques.
**Compositional devices are inextricably linked to the treatment of concepts of music, and represent the means by which a music work is developed. For example, imitation, use of sequences, modulation, repetition etc inform qualities of unity, variety, contrast and balance.
Commercial 'video clips' (eg top 40 rock videos) intended to sell and accompany songs are not suitable for this task.
The success criteria for the completed assessment task are:
Listening component
the ability to select appropriate musical excerpts to illustrate the roles of music in film, and to identify and discuss those roles
an understanding of musical concepts and their use in the film music excerpts.
Composition component
the ability to describe their use of musical concepts and compositional devices to achieve aims, in relation to the film excerpt. This aspect of the task might be modified, according to the previous experience of the students
the ability to manipulate musical concepts to compose music for film, recognising the relationship between visual and compositional elements, as evidenced in the performed and/or recorded work.
Task conditions
This task was produced under the following conditions:
in class
individually
opportunity to practise
with teacher feedback.
