Overview

This snapshot shows senior students at Cherrybrook Technology High School incorporating Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into a composition task for the HSC Music 1 syllabus topic Music of the 20th & 21st centuries.

Recording a composition

The class studied works by a range of contemporary composers but began this topic by visiting the Hands on Hindson web site. This site explores the music of contemporary Australian composer Matthew Hindson and provides scores, analysis, sound files, worksheets and background information on two of his works.

One particular section of this site Comin’ right atcha provides stimulus material for composition activities. Motifs and MIDI files from this work have been posted on the Powerhouse Museum’s Soundhouse web site as part of the Hands on Hindson project.

The students expanded and developed a number of these motifs as preparation for their own compositions. Drafts of their compositions were loaded onto the web site for feedback from the composer. The students then went on to further refine their works before submitting a score and recording for assessment.

Acknowledgements

The Hands on Hindson snapshot was developed by the NSW Department of Education and Training and the following people have special mention:

Jenny Grimley, Music Teacher, Cherrybrook Technology High School
Chris Mortimer, Music Teacher, Cherrybrook Technology High School
Julie Montague, Music consultant, Professional Support and Curriculum Directorate.

The official Hands on Hindson web site, linked to in this snapshot, has been developed by Musica Viva Australia with the support of the Ian Potter Foundation, in association with the Powerhouse Museum and Ricksure. Musica Viva In Schools, Australia's leading music education program, now has exciting on-line resources available for secondary elective music students and teachers.

NSW Department of Education and Training