Elements and Performance Criteria

Purposes for which music notation is being read may include:
solo or group performance
accompaniment and/or backup
research for:
academic purposes
written articles, program notes, criticism or marketing
educational purposes and materials
performance commentary

Specific musical elements to be identified from written notation may include:
pitch
melody
harmony/chords
tonality
scales
ornamentation
form/structure
relationship to text
rhythm
beat
tempo
phrasing
timbre/tone colour
instrumentation
sound production
acoustics
texture
style
genre
aesthetic qualities
cultural context
relationship to text
interpretation
expression
nuance
phrasing
articulation
dynamics

Musical symbols to be interpreted may include:
staves and leger lines
time signatures
clefs
notes of different durations including tied and dotted notes
rests of different durations including tied and dotted rests
bar lines, double bar lines and repeat bar lines
slurs
key signatures
accidentals
symbols and terms indicating:
chords
volume/intensity
attack
duration and grouping of notes
pitch
speed
ornamentation
articulation
expression
phrasing
special effects
repeats and other instructions for music sections

Interpreting written music may involve:
musical expression
musical interpretation
music history
scholarship/research
theory of music and musicology
experience in a range of music styles
instrumental knowledge and experience
performance practice
articulation
attack
phrasing
intonation
timbre/tone colour
dynamics/volume

Style may include:
traditional, including European classical, or traditional music of any other cultures
all contemporary musical styles
jazz
world
popular
country
folk
all other musical styles, genres and/or traditions

Application of appropriate stylistic knowledge and skills may involve analysis of:
instrumentation and instrumental range
instrumental/vocal performance techniques that are characteristic of particular styles such as:
scat singing
belting
bel canto techniques
pitch bending
improvisation
rhythmic alteration
types of ornamentation relevant to a particular style of music
all other techniques characteristic of a range of musical styles in area of specialisation
musical forms such as:
blues
sonata
rock song
chant
all other musical forms or genres of any given musical style
tonal or other music systems such as:
tonal and atonal harmonic systems
raga
pentatonic
gagaku
all other music systems of any given musical styles in the selected area of music specialisation

Listening may include :

instrument tuning to interpret the written music

responding aurally to written cues to correctly analyse or perform music from written notation

applying aural imagination to interpret the musical intention of a written score

aurally recognising music systems and practices from a written score

Musicianship may include:

repertoire and music history knowledge

instrument knowledge

harmony and scale systems

music analyses and interpretation

musical forms, systems, practices and customs

reading and writing music using written music, sheet music and chord charts

interpretation of directions for instrumentation, voicing, expression, timbre, attack, pitch, tempi, dynamics

analysing written cues from a score

chordal and melodic formulae

Technical knowledge may include :

understanding of music notation custom and practice

musical elements and performance techniques

technical requirements of relevant instruments to fulfil the requirements of a score

Underpinning knowledge and skills
Assessment must include evidence of the following knowledge and skills:
Musicianship
understanding and knowledge of repertoire relevant to chosen musical specialisation
understanding musical protocols and customs of written music relevant to the selected music specialisation
awareness of genres and styles, and their musical forms and conventions in written notation
accurately interpreting chords, scales, melodies, forms, textures, cadences or other elements of musical organisation from written notation
Technical
understanding musical form and content relevant to specialisation and applying knowledge to the written music
analysing musical elements to provide interpretation of pieces appropriate to the purpose of music reading
accurately analysing a variety of scales, chord sequences and music systems, rhythms, time signatures, beat patterns of musical organisation from written music in selected area of specialisation
understanding of music in a range of instrumental/vocal combinations from written notation in selected area of specialisation
understanding of music in a variety of styles in selected area of specialisation
Creative
understanding and interpreting creative work from notated sources
demonstrating originality and generating new perspectives and interpretations from notated music
Expression
awareness and interpretation of the expressive dimensions of notated music such as:
phrasing
dynamics, articulation and attack
melody and harmony
rhythmic interpretation
applying knowledge of expressive style appropriately in interpretation and performance from written music
interpreting music accurately, appropriately and innovatively from written sources

Linkages to other units
This unit has strong linkages to and may be assessed with the following units:
CUSMGE04A Analyse music
CUSMGE07A Analyse harmony
CUSMPF17A Develop technical skills and expand repertoire
CUSMPF18A Refine performance technique and expand repertoire
CUSMGE05A Write music copy, criticism and/or program notes
CUSBGE17A Maintain and apply music industry knowledge

Critical aspects of evidence
The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:
demonstrated understanding of musical elements and their notation
research and analytical skills
interpreting and responding accurately to written music

Method and context of assessment
Evidence of competence may be obtained through a variety of methods including:
oral questioning on music reading strategies
authenticated details of relevant courses or training sessions
authenticated details of relevant commercial or other achievements involving music reading
relevant portfolio of candidate's analytical or critical work
simulation of a music reading assignment on an unseen score
case studies and scenarios as a basis for discussion of a variety of music reading issues, methods, strategies and approaches
performance and/or written examination appropriate to the style of music reading in the area of specialisation nominated by the candidate
Competency in this unit may need to be assessed over a period of time, in a range of contexts and on multiple occasions involving a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary forms of evidence. It is a requirement of this unit that the assessee must nominate the area of music specialisation to be assessed.
Assessment of this unit must include direct examination of interpretation of at least one piece selected by the assessee in the nominated area of specialisation.
The assessee may specify whether the score interpretation will be examined by oral questioning, in writing or through performance, depending on the style of music being interpreted. The analysis should be presented orally, by performance or in writing depending on the style nominated by the assessee.

Resource requirements
Competency in this unit should be assessed using all of the relevant resources commonly used in music analysis/performance relevant to the candidate's nominated style and mode of expression. Specific assessment tools should include:
printed scores or recorded performance as required by the specialisation to be assessed
live performance if relevant to the assessment and/or the work being assessed
recordings or work portfolios

Communicating ideas and information
(3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(3)

Planning and organising activities
(3)

Working with others and in teams
(2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(2)

Solving problems
(3)

Using technology
(2)