The Contemporary Music Course has direct links to the following strands of the secondary school music curriculum of Australia.

In the following lesson list the strands within which the lessons fit are identified as:

Years 3 and 4 Band Description

• A Extend their understanding of the elements of music as they develop their aural skills.
• B Recognise difference between notes moving by step and by leap.
• C Recognise and discriminate between rhythm and beat.
• D Explore meaning and interpretation, forms, and elements including rhythm, pitch, dynamics and expression, form and structure, timbre and texture as they make and respond to music.

Years 5 and 6 Band Description

• E Further their understanding of rhythm, pitch, dynamics and expression, form and structure, timbre and texture in music.
• F Explore meaning and interpretation, forms and elements of music as they make and respond to music.

Years 7 and 8 Band Description

• G Build on their aural skills by identifying and manipulating rhythm, pitch, dynamics and expression, form and structure, timbre and texture in their listening, composing and performing.
• H Aurally identify layers within a texture.
• I Sing and play independent parts against contrasting parts.

Some lessons have links to sample video so you can get a feel for the presentation style of the courses content.

The Language of Music 1

• Rhythm 1/8th notes A B C D
• The notes on the keyboard A B C D
• From Keyboard to Stave A B C D
• Name the notes A B C D
• Rhythm and Pitch A B C D
• Scales - why we need to learn them A B C D
• What notes to make sharp (part 1) A B C D
• What notes to make sharp (part 2) A B C D
• Keyboard fingering sharp keys
• The Sharp Key Signatures A B C D
• Relative Minors A B C D
• Rests A B C D
• Accidentals A B C D
• Sight Singing A B D
• Sight Singing ex 1 A B D
• Sight Singing ex 2a A B D
• Sight Singing ex 2b A B D
• Sight Singing ex 3a A B D
• Sight Singing ex 3b A B D
• Sight Reading 1 A B C D
• Sight Reading 2 A B C D
• Dotted Notes A B C D
• Stems A B C D
• Sight Reading 3 A B C D
• Sight Reading 4 A B C D
• Sight Reading 5 A B C D
• Sight Reading 6 A B C D
• Swing Time A B C D
• Swing time exercise A B C D
• Straight and Swing exercises A B C D
• Repeat Signs A B C D
• Straight and Swing Sight Reading A B C D

The Language of Music 2

• Rhythm - 1/16th Notes (1) A C D E G
• Rhythm - 1/16th Notes (2) A C D E G
• Rhythm - 1/16th Notes (3) A C D E G
• Shuffle Time A C D E G
• 1/16th exercise 1 A C D E G
• 1/16th exercise 2 A C D E G
• 1/16th exercise 3 A C D E G
• 1/16th exercise 4 A C D E G
• The Flat Keys A C D
• Relative Minors A B D
• Flat Key Fingering
• Intervals A B D
• Sight Reading ex C Major A B C D
• Sight Reading ex Bb Major A B C D
• Sight Reading ex D Minor A B C D
• Pickups A B C D
• Sight Reading ex G Minor A B C D
• F#, C# and Gb Major A B D
• Articulation A C D E
• Dynamics A D E
• Dynamics and Articulation A B C D E
• Transposition A B D E
• Time Signatures A C D E

Chords & Harmony 1

• Triads and key signatures questions A B D
• How to transcribe chords A B D
• Three part chords transcriptions A B D
• Diatonic Triads and 4-5-1 A B D
• Chord transcription 1 A B D F
• Chord transcription 2 A B D F
• Diatonic 4 part chords
• 2/5/1 and chord substitution A B D F
• Chord transcription 3 A B D F
• Chord transcription 4 A B D F
• Chord transcription 5 A B D F
• The Closest Inversion A B D F
• Common Tones 1 A B D F
• Descending Bass Lines A B D F
• Chord transcription 6 - Slash Chords A B D F
• Use of Slash Chords, Descending
• Bass Lines and the Closest Inversion A B D E F G H
• Chord transcription 6a A B D F
• Name these 2s and 5s
• Double flats and double sharps A B D E F
• Diminished and Augmented chords A B D E F
• The Upper Extensions A B D E F
• The 1 Chord A B D E F
• The 5 chord A B D E F
• Triads/Bass notes A B D E F
• 1, 2 and 5 chord extensions and reductions A B D E F
• More 5 chord options A B D E F

Chords & Harmony 2

• Chord transcription 7 A B D
• Chord transcription 8 A B D
• Chord transcription 9 A B D
• Power Chords A B D
• Four-part chord transcriptions A B D
• Common Tones 2 A B D
• The Dominant 9^thin Jazz Harmony A B D
• Diatonic Chords in Minor A B D
• Three minor scales/ 2,5,1 in minor A B D
• Chord Transcription 10/ Lead sheets A B D
• Jazz standards, Lead sheets and Root Movement A B D
• Temporary Key Areas A B D
• Key Areas Assignment A B D
• The Dominant 13#11 A B D
• Chord transcription 11 A B D
• Block Harmony intro A B D
• Block Harmony demonstration A B D
• Block Harmony assignment A B D

The Kit Drummer

• Writing for Drums A C D
• Drum Patterns and Grooves A C D
• Swing Time A C D
• Big Band Accents A C D
• Shuffle Time A C D
• Drums Pattern 1 A C D
• Drums Patterns 2 A C D
• Drums Patterns 3 A C D
• Drums Transcription 1 A C D
• Drums Transcription 2 A C D
• Drums Transcription 3 A C D
• Drums Transcription 4 A C D
• Toms and Fills. A C D
• 'Live' or programmed drummer

Rhythm Section and Horns

• The Electric Guitar D
• Guitar and Keyboard Session parts 1 A D E F G H
• Guitar and Keyboard Session parts 2 A D E F G H
• Jazz/Rock Horns 1 D
• Jazz/Rock Horns analysis 1 D E F G H
• Jazz/Rock Horns analysis 2 D E F G H
• Dance Track 1 D E F G H
• Dance Track 2 D E F G H
• Dance Track 3 D E F G H
• Dance Track 4 D E F G H

Orchestral Harmony

• Chorale Voicings 1 E F G
• Chorale Voicings 2 E F G
• Chorale voicings 3 E F G
• Chorale Voicings 4 E F G
• Orchestral Voicings intro E F G
• The Violin E
• The Viola E
• The Cello E
• Voicing the Strings 1 E F G
• Balancing the Strings E F G
• Voicing the Strings 2 E F G
• Voicing the Strings 3 E F G
• Brass Section example music E
• Voicing the Brass 1 E F G
• Voicing the Brass 2 E F G
• Voicing the Brass 3 E F G
• French Horns example music E
• Voicing the French Horns 1 E F G
• Voicing the French Horns 2 E F G
• The Woodwinds example music E
• Voicing the Woodwinds E F G
• The Saxophone Section E
• Voicing the Saxophones E F G
• The Big Band E

Two Part Harmony and Counterpoint

• Thirds and Things - A B D E F G H I
• Parallel Motion A B D E F G H I
• Two Part Contrary Motion - A B D E F G H I
• Contrary Motion Exercise - A B D E F G H I
• Two Part Counterpoint 1 - A B D E F G H I
• Two Part Counterpoint 2 - A B D E F G H I

Arranging Notes

• Anticipations/Dynamics/Arco/
• Pizzicato/Doubling the 1^stviolins E F G H I
• Harmonics/Listesso/Writing Strings Rhythmically E F G
• Double Stops/Playing Techniques/Articulation E F G
• Background Lines G H
• Concert and Transposed Score E F G H I
• Sketch and Score E F G H I
• Orchestral Score Analysis 1 E F G H I
• Orchestral Score Analysis 2 E F G H I

Rock Musicians - Session Project

• The making of the original recording
• Libretto
• Master Score E F G H I
• Lead sheet E F G H I
• Singer/actress E F G H I
• Keyboards E F G H I
• Guitar E F G H I
• Bass Guitar E F G H I
• Drums E F G H I