In the pursuit of excellence in music, Cleveland District State High School offers two Music Extension programs: a Junior Music Extension program for Year 7 and 8 Creative Arts students and a Year 12 Music Extension program. These programs providing outstanding students with the opportunity to further extend their musical abilities by studying at a more challenging and exacting level. These programs are available through application.
In the Year 7 and 8 Music Extension classes, students are provided with a year-long program of study in the Creative Arts, as opposed to a semester. This program extends Junior Instrumental Music students by developing music composition and ensemble performance skills.
In Year 12 Music Extension, students extend their learning through one of the three specialisations: Composition, Musicology and Performance.
Composition
The Composition specialisation allows students to create their own pieces, either in a notated score or as a sound recording. They are encouraged to compose in a style or genre that allows them to best display their emerging skills as a composer. Songs may be composed for films, advertising or multimedia works, and can incorporate both Western and non-Western instruments, ensembles, solo instruments and vocals.
Musicology
Musicology is the research-based study of music that allows students to explore the complex relationships between music and its contexts, genres, styles, influences, impacts and sociocultural perspectives. While it focuses primarily on music, a study in Musicology may draw upon other fields such as history, anthropology, archaeology, philosophy, psychology, sociology and acoustics. Students present evidence-based findings that may contribute original thinking to the field, challenge accepted thinking, or develop fresh perspectives.
Performance
The Performance specialisation is more than just singing, playing or conducting music — it evolves from the performer's cognitive, physical and emotional engagement with music. Integral to performance is the intention to connect and communicate with an audience. Performance students put on two concerts per year for an audience of friends, family, teachers and special guests. They can perform as a soloist, as a member of an ensemble, as an accompanist or as a conductor.