HSC

MUSIC 2

COMPOSITION

PORTFOLIO

SUGGESTION

GUIDE

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 1

This document is not an instruction manual but rather a suggestion guide to give you
ideas for the HSC Music 2 composition portfolio to try and reduce stress levels.

Please do not think that these are your requirements. There are in fact no actual rules
or requirements.

Please do not use this format without first discussing it with your school Music
teacher, as each school may interpret the HSC syllabus in their own way.

However, please note that the portfolio is all about documenting your composition
process.

The first suggestion is that you should use the December/January break to research
your composition and start putting your portfolio together. If you have no idea what
you are going to do, the best way to get ideas is to look at sheet music and listen to as
many recordings as possible.

Visit libraries that have music and look at as many compositions as possible.

The Australian Music Centre (AMCOZ) at 10 Hickson Road, The Rocks, Sydney is
worth a visit if you are composing a piece with an Australian theme. The library is
open during the week, but call before you go – (02) 9247-4677. They have a large
collection of both sheet music and recordings. CDs can be borrowed but remember to
take your student card when you go.

Most universities have large sections of sheet music and even if you are not a student
at the university they will allow you to access the music. Most libraries are open 7
days a week but again you should call before you go. Not all the music can be
borrowed, but you will be able to do research.

Good luck.

Information in this document can be found at:

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/
www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 2

If you have any further ideas for this guide, please send me an email to lizh4@hotmail.com

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 3

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. The definition of a portfolio and why you are required to do one

2. Suggestions for a format of the portfolio

3. The assessment criteria for your composition

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 4

1. The definition of a portfolio and why you are required to do
one

As previously mentioned, the portfolio is a process of documenting your

composition process.

The definition of a portfolio as detailed in the Board of Studies (BOS)

syllabus:

A portfolio is a collection of examples of student’s learning experiences and outcomes

collected over a period of time.

It may contain examples of the process towards a finished product or a series of tasks
aimed at developing specific knowledge and skills, and a number of finished products.

How is the portfolio different from a process diary?

A process diary is a chronological record, whereas a portfolio has a broader focus. A

portfolio highlights influences and significant musical turning points. It might include class
activities, previously composed works and a process diary for a specific work.

The same portfolio could be used for more than one composition, as a similar starting point
can result in a number of quite different compositions.

In addition to referring to the portfolio, a significant draft of the composition needs to be

part of the assessment process in order to see the resolution of some of the musical
influences and decisions represented in the portfolio.

It is important to remember that portfolio-based assessment will now form the internal
assessment mark.

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 5

CURRENT HSC BOARD OF STUDIES SYLLABUS REQUIREMENTS

Core Composition Portfolio

School assessment must be based on the composition portfolio. This portfolio is

developed and compiled by the student as part of the process that leads to the submission of
a composition for external examination.

The Composition portfolio will form the entire internal assessment.

The final composition will be marked in the HSC examination.

Assessment of Composition Portfolios

Composition portfolios will not be examined externally.

A Composition portfolio may, however be requested by the BOS as evidence to validate
authorship of a candidate’s examination submission.

The Composition portfolio must show evidence of the compositional process by containing
details of:

 draft compositions with annotations of teachers’ comments

 background listening, musicological observations and performance within the style
 the decision-making process
 the development of compositional skills
 performance considerations
 notational systems utilised, adapted and/or invented
 reflections on the composition
 evidence of technological processes used, e.g. audio tapes, video tapes, computer
print-outs, if relevant
 appraisals of stages of own composition
 teacher appraisals

www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/pdf_doc/music2ext_syl.pdf (page 39)

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 6

A portfolio can take many forms:

 Written notes, notation, annotation, sketches and reflections

 Audio recordings of ideas
 MIDI files
 CDs, scores, concert reviews
 A collection of motifs, exercises or compositions
 Background research, analysis and observations
 Recordings of discussions and interviews on compositions and compositional
considerations

What does a composition portfolio document?

A developmental record of compositional skills, knowledge and abilities.

· Class-based exercises to develop skills and knowledge in composition

· Specific exercises undertaken that show knowledge of, or skills in, particular
compositional techniques
· Exercises that explore the concepts of music and the relationship between them, in
various styles, periods and genres
A record of the planning involved with developing a composition
· Gathering of background information on compositional style, processes and
compositional techniques relevant to the submitted work

A journal of the development of a work in progress

A record of ideas, used and unused

· Draft versions of compositions at various stages
· Annotated fragments of compositional ideas that have been used
· Annotated fragments of compositional ideas that have been rejected
· Experimentations and improvisations within selected styles, periods and genres

A record of resolutions to musical problems.

· Journal entries detailing the use of material
· Annotated work showing the development of thematic, harmonic materials etc and
the alterations made to ideas

Reflections of their own work and the work of others

· Annotated evaluations of own work detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the work
· Annotated reflections of the compositions of other composers.
· Analysis of other composers' use of the concepts of music and compositional techniques.
· Aural analysis of musical works through listening, concert attendance, etc.

Influences on compositional style

· Detailed descriptions of the intent of the compositions
· Details of compositional influences, eg listening works, compositions,
performance repertoire
· Annotations of background reading in compositional techniques and practice in
various styles, periods and genres

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 7

2. Suggestions for the format of the portfolio

Index:

1. HSC REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPOSITION

2. BACKGROUND LISTENING

3. MUSICOLOGY OBSERVATIONS AND PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE

STYLE

4. DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

5. DEVELOPMENT OF COMPOSITION SKILLS

6. NOTATIONAL SYSTEMS UTILISED, ADAPTED AND/OR INVENTED

7. REFLECTIONS ON THE COMPOSITION

8. EVIDENCE OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES USED – COMPUTER

PRINTOUTS

9. APPRAISALS OF STAGES OF OWN COMPOSITION

10. TEACHER APPRAISALS

Details:

1. HSC REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPOSITION

This section should contain:

 a copy of your requirements from your school and class music teacher
 a copy of the requirements detailed in the Board of Studies syllabus –
specific for your year. If you print these and read them carefully, you should
have no misunderstanding of your requirements
 any other notes or instructions such as assessment notifications

2. BACKGROUND LISTENING

You should listen to as many recordings of pieces of music that have been written
for your chosen genre/period and style of the piece that you are composing
Create a spreadsheet/table with the details of the pieces that you have listened to.

Suggestions of details:
 Date listened to
 Name of piece of music
 Composer
 Media that piece was recorded onto
 Comments/your thoughts

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 8

 3. MUSICOLOGY OBSERVATIONS AND PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE
STYLE

Research the genre of your composition. e.g. Jazz, Ragtime, Australian Music in the
last 25 years, Baroque etc.
You should look for good descriptions, elements, music components, style,
instruments, composers and any other useful notes that you may find
You need quality notes – not every article that has ever been written – maximum 15
pages

Analyse the 10 best pieces that you find and detail your findings in a spreadsheet:
 Date
 Title of piece
 Composer
 Source
 Specific listening focus e.g. for composition ideas and structure
 Critical comments e.g. components (analysis of piece)

This section can also include sheet music of pieces that you find. However, please
remember that the portfolio is kept by your school and you will not get this music
back.

4. DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

This section is your process diary and the decisions that you make while writing
your composition. It should be in date sequence (like a diary) and should include
sections (where possible) of your composition to explain your decisions.

Discuss:
 How you arrived at the style/genre that you chose
 Your choice of performing media  what affect it creates
 Development of skills (e.g. transformation, inversions, layering,
retrogressions, fragmentation, etc.)
 Why you have made the decisions while composing and what effect/impact
they create in the music.

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 9

You should include examples like this.

Include where possible details like these:

Try and include notes as detailed below:

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 10

 5. DEVELOPMENT OF COMPOSITION SKILLS

This section should include a discussion of the composition skills that you used in
your composition. You should try and talk about the techniques that suit your
particular performing media, creating variety to add interest through the use of
expressive techniques, elaborating on the motif used, harmony, dynamics, texture
and duration in your composition.

Some examples are:

 Transformation
 Inversions
 Layering
 Retrogressions
 Fragmentation
 Ranges
 Colours

You should also include performance considerations such as the use of different
instruments e.g. the harp

6. NOTATIONAL SYSTEMS UTILISED, ADAPTED AND/OR INVENTED

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 11

 Notation systems used:
 Computer (e.g. Sibelius, Finale, Cakewalk, MIDIS)
 Hand written
 Three types of notation:
o Graphic
o Electronic
o Acoustic
 Time - seconds and bars should both be shown

7. REFLECTIONS ON THE COMPOSITION

In this section you should reflect on your composition. This should include your
feelings, thoughts and reflections on your complete or almost complete composition
- both the positive and negative thoughts and feelings of your compositional
process.
This section is normally written once the composition is complete, but remember to
do it before you hand in your portfolio for the final appraisal.

8. EVIDENCE OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES USED – COMPUTER

PRINTOUTS

This section should include printouts of your actual composition if you use one of
the computer systems.

9. APPRAISALS OF STAGES OF OWN COMPOSITION

This section should include any appraisals that you receive. This can include
appraisals from peers. Be careful how you view appraisals from friends and family.
Remember not everyone has the same taste of music as you and some excellent
compositions have been abandoned in the past because a friend has not liked the
style.

10. TEACHER APPRAISALS

This section should include all the appraisals that you receive from your class music
teacher.

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 12

3. The assessment criteria for your composition

Material selected from the Portfolio that demonstrates:

 the intent of the composition (e.g. original ideas and motifs used, the influences
of others’ works, the melodic, harmonic, structure, tone colour, rhythmic and
textural decisions made and reasons for these decisions)

 evidence of experimentation (e.g. experiments with the various concepts and the
combinations of concepts)

 the development of ideas (e.g. annotated drafts of compositions detailing the

decisions made and the development of musical material, the ideas accepted and
rejected)

 the resolution of ideas (e.g. evidence of the solving of musical problems,

resolution of musical ideas in the composition, how the concepts of music were
used in isolation and combination)

Assessment criteria
Compositions will be assessed on how well they demonstrate:

• Understanding of musical concepts and the relationships between them

• Stylistic understanding
• Knowledge of score conventions and performance directions
• Ability to establish and sustain musical ideas
• A sense of personal compositional style

Further Assessment criteria:

• Melodic ideas – notated and/or recorded examples of melodies, melodic fragments,

exercise in melodic development (e.g. experimenting with devices such as
repetition, sequence, augmentation, diminution, phrasing, etc.)
• Harmony and harmonic devices – notated or recorded examples of experiments
with various chord progressions, exercises in varying chord progressions, exercises
in harmonic development (e.g. modulation, change of tonality, etc.)
• Notational systems and devices included with the performing media –
experimentation with notational systems appropriate to the composition (e.g.
traditional, graphic, tablature, etc), reasons for choosing this system, experiments
with using notational devices (e.g. performance directions, structural directions,
etc.)

From the Marking Guide:

A Composition portfolio is to be developed as part of the process that leads to the

submission of the composition. This portfolio forms the entire internal assessment
for this elective and should be assessed at two different stages during the course.
The portfolio may be requested by the Board of Studies to validate authorship of the
composition

Suggestions for the HSC Music 2 Composition portfolio ©Liz H Page 13