Year 09/10 5MUS3 – Creating Music 1: Counting the Beat

This course is designed for students who are either starting or wanting to develop their current music composition skills. Year 9 students are advised to start with this course although entry to the Y10 pre-NCEA 5MUS4 course is possible for more advanced students in consultation with Mrs Price.

Main areas of study:

This course looks at the creative process in music. It involves experimenting with sound to create your own music such as songs, solo instrumental and band pieces. It involves learning the language of music and applying it via programmes such as:

• GarageBand
• Guitar Pro
• Soundtrap
• Musecore
• Live instruments
• Ableton

This course will involve learning basic music theory to assist with notation and understanding of musical elements. It also involves learning basic instrumental skills to enhance understanding of how to use instruments in composition. 

In this course you will develop an understanding of:

• how to create and structure ideas for short composition in a variety of contexts.
• the basics of the music language and how to apply elements and features to your compositions.
• how to read and notate basic music.
• how different genres of music evolved and their musical characteristics.
• how to use music technology to assist with recording your ideas.
• the basics of instrumental playing in guitar and keyboard to help develop understanding of how to create music.

It is also recommended that you learn an instrument through the school Itinerant programme or through private lessons.

This course also incorporates the Ākonga Profile in the following ways:

• Developing creativity, knowledge and skills.
• Developing self-management, collaboration and creativity, communication, critical thinking, metacognition.            
• Building self-awareness, empathy, wellbeing and confidence.

Methods of assessment:

We assess using the four strands that are outlined in the NZ Curriculum; Practical Knowledge, Communicating and Interpreting, Developing Ideas and Understanding in Context. 

This course leads to:

5MUS4 which further develops your understanding of the creative process in music and, in conjunction with 5MUS2 prepares students for the L1 Music (6MUS) course. Students will be expected to have completed at least two semesters of Music over Years 9/10 to enter the NCEA Level 1 course.