Music is an evocative medium that allows for the expression of the intellect, imagination and emotion, the exploration of values, and fosters an understanding of continuity and change, as well as the connections between different times and cultures . At an individual level, music is a medium of personal expression that enables the sharing of ideas, feelings and experiences and all students should have the opportunity to develop their musical abilities and potential. The Music faculty at Freshwater provides these exact opportunities for students to excel in their final years of study.
We pride ourselves on facilitating musical excellence and work closely with students to achieve their personal best. Ensembles are created around each student's HSC needs, with countless opportunities provided in a range of settings. Students have access to our state of the art performance theatre, fully equipped practice rooms, and an isolated recording studio for professional recordings of HSC compositions and performances. They are guided by highly skilled staff and a unique environment that enriches and heightens musical creativity.
Freshwater has strong links with the Talent Development Project, School Spectacular, and Arts Unit initiatives such as State Music Festival, State Music Camps and performances for dignitaries. All of which serves to provide the opportunity to expand students musical horizons.
The differences between music courses at Freshwater
Music 1
Music 1 caters for students who have diverse musical backgrounds and musical interests, including those with an interest in popular music. It therefore attracts students with a formal musical background as well as those with only informal experience.
Outcome areas:
- Performance
- Composition
- Musicology
- Aural
In the HSC, students must prepare a mandatory core performance piece, and can choose three electives based on their strongest outcome areas in performance, composition or musicology. The course attracts a larger group of students that focus on the concepts of music, aurally identifying them through a wide range of music. Students aren't required to analyse score, though it does promote an awareness of the concepts and holds them well for composition assessments. It is a practical course and attracts contemporary musicians.
Music 2
Music 2 builds on the Years 7–10 mandatory and elective courses and focuses on the study of Western art music. It assumes students have a formal background in music, have developed analytical score reading skills and have some knowledge and understanding of musical styles.
Outcome areas:
- Performance
- Composition
- Musicology
- Aural.
In the HSC, students must prepare a mandatory core performance piece from the topic of "Music of the last 25 years (Australian Focus)", and choose an additional topic focussing on their strongest outcome areas in performance, composition or musicology. The course attracts a much smaller group of students with an expected high standard. It is a much more theoretical than Music 1 and is designed for students who have experience in analysing written scores and developing their understanding of the concepts of music through in depth analysis of a wide range of pieces. As part of the course, students are required to sight sing, compose a piece accompanied with a portfolio and sit a written exam that focusses on score analysis, melodic dictation and a musicology essay.
Music extension
Music extension builds on music 2 and assumes a high level of music literacy, advanced performance skills, composition skills or musicology skills.
Outcome areas:
- Performance
- Composition
- Musicology
A largely independent course, students focus on their strongest outcome area in performance, composition or musicology. Students attempting this course must audition, and should be able to demonstrate superior ability in performance, refined compositional technique or a highly detailed understanding of score and the concepts of music.
