Year 9 Music

Welcome to year 9 Music at Kaiapoi High School! In this exciting Year 9 course, students will embark on a journey through the diverse landscape of musical expression, discovering the power of sound to inspire, evoke emotions, and shape cultures. Through engaging activities, hands-on experiences, and interactive learning, students will develop a deep appreciation for music while honing their own creative and technical skills.

Year 9 Music uses the four strands of the curriculum to guide the content covered in class:

1. Performance: In Year 9 we start down the pathway to becoming a performer. We introduce the students to different instruments to expose them to as many different ways of being a performer as possible. Students with no musical experience will spend time learning the basics of guitar and piano playing while being allowed to engage with many other instruments if they desire. Students who already have experience with an instrument will be supported to continue with this instrument and extend their abilities while being allowed to branch out to different instruments if they wish.

2. Composition: In this strand, students will exercise their imagination and creativity while learning to use music creation software such as Bandlab and Soundtrap to create their compositions. They will learn about the elements and features of music, how to implement them into their compositions, and how to input their ideas into music software. The element of music technology implemented here also sets the students up well to look into options around music technology education, such as our Sound Recording class in the senior school. 

3. Art Context: In this strand, students will explore a range of musical genres and styles, and start to make connections between music and culture. Through active listening, critical analysis, and reflective discussions, students will deepen their understanding of musical concepts, techniques, and cultural contexts while developing their ability to articulate their interpretations and reactions to music. Students will engage with traditional Māori music through learning about traditional instruments, their whakapapa, and pūrākau, as well as traditional song forms. This strand is all about creating well-rounded musicians within Aotearoa.

4. Knowledge: In this strand, students will delve into the fundamental elements of music theory. Students will engage with the building blocks of music in a relevant way to gain insights into the inner workings of music and learn how these theoretical concepts relate to the practical elements of engaging with music.

Why Choose Music in Year 9: 

• Engaging and Interactive Learning: From hands-on instrument practice to multimedia presentations, this course is designed to captivate students' interest and foster a lifelong love of music. 

• Creative Expression: Whether composing original pieces or performing popular songs, students have the opportunity to express themselves creatively and develop their own unique musical identity. 

• Collaboration and Teamwork: Through ensemble performances and group projects, students learn the value of cooperation, communication, and collective expression while building strong bonds with their peers. 

• Cultural Appreciation: Explore the rich diversity of musical traditions within Aotearoa, gaining insights into culture, history, and perspectives through the universal language of music. 

• Personal Growth: Develop essential skills such as discipline, perseverance, and self-confidence, as students overcome challenges, set goals, and achieve musical milestones on their journey of musical discovery.

• Kaiapoi High School has a large range of itinerant instrument lessons available free of charge to students. Music students have priority over these lessons, so the best way to secure one of these lessons is to take music!