In the Music 7–10 Syllabus, knowledge, understanding and skills are developed through the 3 interrelated focus areas: Performing, Listening and Composing.
For some students, engagement with the focus areas of Performing, Listening and Composing may include the use of assistive technologies. Music may be expressed, accessed and created through a range of senses.
Performing: practical music-making in solo or ensemble situations. It includes learning and interpreting songs, instrumental pieces, accompaniments and pieces of music composed individually and with others. Performing involves experimenting with a variety of media such as voice, instruments and digital technologies across a wide range of repertoire, and evaluating and reflecting on performances to develop technical, expressive and communication skills.
Listening: the processes through which students experience music. It includes the ability to hear, understand and respond to musical stimulus, and discriminate between sounds and make judgements about the use of musical elements in a variety of repertoire. Listening also involves score reading and musical analysis. Listening is developed through interaction with a wide range of musical genres and styles.
Composing: organising sound in both individual and group settings. Activities include engaging and experimenting with a wide variety of media and technologies to organise, record and manipulate sound, together with opportunities to analyse and reflect on compositions. Students may use voice, instruments, sound sources, recording equipment and/or digital audio workstations to improvise, arrange and create original works, as well as devise accompaniments. Through composing, students become familiar with different methods of notating and documenting music.