Music, Drama and Theatre Studies are offered to students throughout their time at Gippsland Grammar. The Garnsey Campus production is an anticipated event and one for which many students audition. Music in classroom prepares and encourages students to participate in the band, ensemble and orchestra programs.

Year 9

Drama

Get into the Act

This course gives students the opportunity to develop their improvisation and character skills. Using more sophisticated playmaking and role workshops, students are encouraged to perform published and original solo and ensemble performances. Students will analyse their own work through written tasks and analyse and evaluate the work of others.

From Page to Stage

This course introduces students to important developments in Theatre History. Students will experiment with different theatrical styles, such as Greek Theatre, Melodrama, Naturalism and Non-naturalism. They will work to produce a short play for performance which will incorporate their acting skills and different stagecraft elements - such as; staging, lighting, direction and costume design.

Music

Creating and Performing Music Elective in Year 9 will provide students the opportunity to compose using music technology, perform in a group or as a soloist across many different styles, and further their understanding of music styles and literacy. The course is flexible enough to allow students to choose as a first semester only course, a two- semester course or a second semester course. Students choosing this subject should be studying an instrument.

Students who have a G.G Music Scholarship are expected to undertake a music elective for at least one semester.

VCE

Drama

In VCE Drama, students tell stories, explore ideas, make sense of their worlds and communicate meaning through the practice of performance-making. The study of drama enables students’ individual and collective identities to be explored, expressed and validated. Students develop an ability to empathise through understanding and accepting diversity. Students draw from, and respond to, contexts and stories that reflect different cultures, genders, sexualities and abilities.

Unit 1: Introducing performance styles

In this unit students study three or more performance styles from a range of social, historical and cultural contexts. They examine drama traditions of ritual and storytelling to devise performances that go beyond re-creation and/or representation of real life as it is lived.

Areas of Study

1. Creating a devised performance
2. Presenting a devised performance
3. Analysing a devised performance
4. Analysing a professional drama performance

Unit 2: Australian Identity

In this unit students study aspects of Australian identity evident in contemporary drama practice. This may also involve exploring the work of selected drama practitioners and associated performance styles. This unit focuses on the use and documentation of the processes involved in constructing a devised solo or ensemble performance.

Areas of Study

1. Using Australia as inspiration
2. Presenting a devised performance
3. Analysing a devised performance
4. Analysing an Australian drama performance

Unit 3: Devised ensemble performance

In this unit students explore the work of drama practitioners and draw on contemporary practice as they devise ensemble performance work.

Areas of Study

1. Devising and presenting an ensemble performance
2. Analysing a devised ensemble performance
3. Analysing and evaluating a professional drama performance

Unit 4: Devised Solo performance

In this area of study students explore, and develop skills in, play-making techniques in the development of a short solo performance. They demonstrate application of symbol and transformation of character, time and place.

Areas of Study

1. Demonstrating techniques of solo performance
2. Devising a solo performance
3. Analysing and evaluating a devised solo performance

Music Performance

At Gippsland Grammar, we offer the Music Repertoire Performance course within VCE Music.

Music (Units 1 and 2) and Music Performance (Units 3 and 4) is designed for students whose musical interests are grounded in the recreation and interpretation of notated musical works and who wish to gain and share knowledge of musical styles and performance practices. In Units 1 and 2, students explore and develop their understanding of how music is organised by performing, creating, analysing and responding to music. In Units 3 and 4 students work towards preparing a recital program that demonstrates highly developed technical skills as both a soloists and ensemble member. They develop the capacity for critical evaluations of their performances and an ability to articulate their performance decisions with musical evidence and independence of thought.

The current Music Study will allow students to perform either as a soloist OR as a member of a group. The final recital and the aural and written examination are worth 50% and 20% of the VCE Music mark respectively, School based performances and written tasks will also be assessed.

The Performing outcomes are based on the ongoing lessons with your instrumental teacher and rehearsals with an accompanist (as applicable).

The Analysis and Responding outcomes are designed to support solo and ensemble performance by students through developing strong aural, theory and analysis skills, all essential in learning to give the best possible performances.

Unit 1: Organisation of music

This unit focuses on musical organisation, building students’ performing, creating and analysis skills to present performances of selected solo music works using one or more instruments, creating short musical pieces, and developing analytical skills through musical elements and concepts.

Areas of Study

1. Performing
2. Creating
3. Analysing and responding

Unit 2: Effect in music

This unit focuses on the ways music can create effect, building students’ performing, creating and analysis skills to present performances of selected solo music works using one or more instruments, create original works, and analysing a wide range of music.

Areas of Study

1. Performing
2. Creating
3. Analysing responding

Unit 3: Music Performance

This unit focuses on building and refining performance and musicianship skills. Students focus on either group or solo performance and begin preparation of a performance program they will present in the end- of-year examination, and the aural and written examination.

Areas of Study

1. Performing
2. Analysing for performance
3. Responding

Unit 4: Music Performance

This unit focuses on building and refining performance and musicianship skills. Students focus on either group or solo performance and begin preparation of a performance program they will present in the end- of-year examination, and the aural and written examination.

Areas of Study

1. Performing
2. Analysing for performance
3. Responding

Theatre Studies

In VCE Theatre Studies students interpret scripts from the pre-modern era to the present day and produce theatre for audiences. Through practical and theoretical engagement with scripts they gain an insight into the origins and development of theatre and the influences of theatre on cultures and societies. Students apply dramaturgy and work in the production roles of actor, director and designer, developing an understanding and appreciation of the role and place of theatre practitioners.

Unit 1: Pre-modern theatre styles and conventions

This unit focuses on the application of acting, direction and design in relation to theatre styles from the pre-modern era, that is, works prior to the 1920s

Areas of Study

1. Exploring pre-modern theatre styles and conventions
2. Interpreting scripts
3. Analysing a play in performance

Unit 2: Modern Theatre styles and conventions

This unit focuses on the application of acting, direction and design in relation to theatre styles from the modern era, that is, the 1920s to the present.

Areas of Study

1. Exploring modern theatre styles and conventions
2. Interpreting scripts
3. Analysing and evaluating a theatre production

Unit 3: Producing Theatre

In this unit students develop an interpretation of a script through the three stages of the theatre production process: planning, development and presentation. Students specialise in two production roles, working collaboratively, creatively and imaginatively to realise the production of a script.

Areas of Study

1. Staging Theatre
2. Interpreting a script
3. Analysing and evaluating theatre

Unit 4: Presenting an Interpretation

In this unit students study a scene and an associated monologue. They initially develop an interpretation of the prescribed scene. This work includes exploring theatrical possibilities and using dramaturgy across the three stages of the production process.

Areas of Study

1. Researching and presenting theatrical possibilities
2. Interpreting a monologue
3. Analysing and evaluating a performance

Certificate 2 and 3 in Music Technology (Sound Production)

Certificate 2 is a one-year, stand-alone Certificate based on the knowledge and skills required to understand the workings of the Music Industry with a focus on Live Sound Production and the Recording Industry.

At the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Work safely, maintaining work/contractual relationships
• Understand the way the music industry works

Developing on electives taken:

• Build listening skills and aural training skills
• Operate a non-commercial recording studio
• Set up and operate PA systems
• Operate computer generated music

Upon completion of Certificate 2, students can then proceed to a second year Certificate 3, which is a stand-alone Certificate and a scored VCE subject. Students must complete all Certificate 2 Units to a ‘Competent’ result before continuing onto the Certificate 3 course.

The assessment of student performance in the training program is ‘Competency Based’. In order to successfully complete the program, students must demonstrate competency in the units that make up the program. If a student submits work that does not meet the required standards, they are deemed not competent and will be asked to resubmit. Students that continue with the second year Certificate 3, will also be assessed with an end of year VCE Examination.