Music Program

Music at Redfield College

Music is a mandatory subject from Years 2 – 8, and an elective subject from years 9 – 12. The Redfield College Music Department aims to give its students well rounded practical experiences in music through performance opportunities and compositional activities as well as listening experiences of music through a broad range of styles.

Primary Music 

Music Lessons, extensively covering the Board of Studies Music Syllabus, are provided by a specialist music teacher. Students in Years 2-4 have one 45 minute lesson per week, whilst students in Years 5 and 6 have two 45 minute lessons. Across all stages of Primary music, students experience musical concepts through a rich variety of performing, composing and listening activities. Students use their voices, recorders, xylophones, metallophones and other various percussion instruments to create and organise sounds into musical structures of increasing complexities.

From Year 3 onwards, Primary Music students study the soprano recorder as a main feature of their Music education. Learning the recorder develops the skills of reading and understanding notation, composition, musicianship, ensemble awareness, technical dexterity and breath control. These skills are then extended upon in Years 5 and 6, where all students learn to play either a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument through their participation in the Band Program.

In addition to these classroom-based learning experiences, each year Redfield College hosts professional live performances from the Musica Viva in Schools program. These concerts allow Primary Music students to experience a wide variety of musical styles and concepts, both through the study of the material beforehand, and through the live and interactive musical experiences on the day of each concert.

Kurt Davis
Primary Music

Secondary Music

In Stage 4, students continue their study of music through topics that reflect a wide variety of musical styles and genres, including a focus on Australian Music. Topics studied include:
- Concepts of Music
- Keyboard Music
- Instruments of the Orchestra
- Program Music
- World Music
- Introduction to the Guitar
- Rock Music
- Music for Television
As part of the Stage 4 course, all students are also required to attend either band or vocal studies classes. Practical and theoretical experiences are obtained from both of these classes.

In Stage 5, students are introduced to a more in-depth study of music. The three learning experiences of performing, composition and listening are covered through a wide variety of musical styles and genres. Technology becomes an integral part of the course through the use of computer programs such as ACID and Finale. A variety of styles will be covered in this course such as Baroque, Classical and Romantic Music, Theatre Music and Jazz, along with the compulsory topic of Australian Music.

In Stage 6, students have the option of electing to study either Music 1 or Music 2. Music 2 students also have the opportunity of studying Music Extension throughout the HSC year.

Music 1 allows for an individual program whereby students can choose to study either Performance, Composition or Musicology tasks from a range of topics. Topics available for study include An Instrument and its Repertoire, Music for Small Ensembles, Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries and Technology and its influence on music.

Music 2 allows students to take an in depth look at historical aspects of music through the theoretical, compositional and practical components of the course. Topics available for study include Music 1600-1900, Music of the last 25 Years, Music 1900-1945 and Music 1945-the Last 25 Years.

Music Extension allows Music 2 students to hone in on their strengths. They can demonstrate their skills in specific areas of Music by electing to complete a Performance, Composition or Musicology based program.

Frank Romeo
Secondary Music