Years 1-10 syllabuses

Years 1–9 The Arts: Music assessments

This page contains past curriculum documents. For current curriculum resources, visit the P–10 Australian Curriculum section.

Year 1: Music detectives
Description:
Students sing and play a known game song using their listening skills to identify different voices and instruments.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 1214 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Observation record
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- Music detectives: Year 1 The Arts — Music assessment (ZIP, 6907 kB)
Year 2: Rhythmic ostinatos
Description:
Students create and perform a rhythmic ostinato using simple hand-held percussion instruments to accompany a known class song.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 595 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Observation record
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- Rhythmic ostinatos: Year 2 The Arts — Music assessment (ZIP, 0 kB)
Year 4: Writing music like a master
Description:
Students create and perform their own theme and variation using the second movement of Haydn’s “Surprise” Symphony No. 94 as inspiration.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 518 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Continua
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- Writing music like a master: Year 4 The Arts — Music assessment (ZIP, 5515 kB)
Year 5: Harmony in the house
Description:
Students create a harmony part for the known song “Dinah” and perform it for their peers.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 502 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Continua
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- Harmony in the house: Year 5 The Arts — Music assessment (ZIP, 5614 kB)
Year 5: Soundscapes
Description:
Students create and perform a soundscape to tell a sound story about a particular event or environment.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 593 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Continua
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- Soundscapes: Year 5 The Arts — Music assessment (ZIP, 8248 kB)
Year 6: Beats from the box
Description:
Students convert a beat boxing style vocal percussion score into a tuned percussion composition and perform their composition for their peers.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 639 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Continua
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- Beats from the box: Year 6 The Arts — Music assessment (ZIP, 6791 kB)
Year 6: I'm the critic!
Description:
Students analyse and evaluate a live or recorded show, then respond in the role of a theatre critic for a local radio station.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 1341 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Matrix
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- I am the critic: Year 6 The Arts — Dance, Drama and Music assessment (ZIP, 6826 kB)
Year 8: Jammin' with junk

Image source: Used with permission from Queensland Arts Courses
Description:
Students explore everyday objects as sound sources to create rhythmic compositions for performance.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 604 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Continua
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- Jammin with junk: Year 8 The Arts — Music assessment (ZIP, 7387 kB)
Year 9: Digital composing

Image source: Mixing and making music by Tarnie / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Description:
Students use electronic audio loops to compose a piece of digital dance music.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 594 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Continua
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- Digital composing: Year 9 The Arts — Music assessment (ZIP, 6303 kB)
Year 9: Feelin' blue — Analysing
Description:
Students analyse a blues song to make informed opinions about a blues performance.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 746 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Continua
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- Feelin blue: Analysing — Year 9 The Arts — Music assessment (ZIP, 6638 kB)
Year 9: Feelin' blue — Composing
Description:
Students compose and publish a blues song for voice and accompaniment.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 839 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Continua
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- Feelin blue: Composing — Year 9 The Arts — Music assessment (ZIP, 8384 kB)
Year 9: Feelin' blue — Performing
Description:
Students rehearse and perform a blues song, then critically reflect on and evaluate their performance.

Contents:
- Teacher guidelines (DOCX, 801 kB)
- Task-specific standards: Continua
- Related resource: Audio of school day blues
- Related resource: Music files for school day blues
- Sample response
- Student booklet
Download the full assessment (zip file):
- Feelin blue: Performing — Year 9 The Arts — Music assessment (ZIP, 7493 kB)