International Baccalaureate Music
Mission
The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
Music
Through the music course students develop their knowledge and potential as musicians, both personally and collaboratively.
Involving aspects of the composition, performance and critical analysis of music, the course exposes students to forms, styles and functions of music from a wide range of historical and socio-cultural contexts. Students create, participate in, and reflect upon music from their own background and those of others. They develop practical and communicative skills which provide them with the opportunity to engage in music for further study, as well as for lifetime enjoyment.
Both standard level (SL) and higher level (HL) music students are required to study musical perception.
SL students in music are then required to choose one of three options:
HL students are required to present both creating and solo performing.
In the teaching of the music course it should be possible to have groups of students that include both SL and HL students. Through a variety of teaching approaches, all students—whether SL or HL—will be encouraged to develop their creative and critical abilities and to enhance their appreciation and enjoyment of music.
Involving aspects of the composition, performance and critical analysis of music, the course exposes students to forms, styles and functions of music from a wide range of historical and socio-cultural contexts. Students create, participate in, and reflect upon music from their own background and those of others. They develop practical and communicative skills which provide them with the opportunity to engage in music for further study, as well as for lifetime enjoyment.
Both standard level (SL) and higher level (HL) music students are required to study musical perception.
SL students in music are then required to choose one of three options:
- creating (SLC)
- solo performing (SLS)
- group performing (SLG).
HL students are required to present both creating and solo performing.
In the teaching of the music course it should be possible to have groups of students that include both SL and HL students. Through a variety of teaching approaches, all students—whether SL or HL—will be encouraged to develop their creative and critical abilities and to enhance their appreciation and enjoyment of music.
Syllabus
Music syllabus outline
Music perception
Study, analysis and examination, comparing and contrasting of musical cultures
(compulsory for SL and HL students)
Creating
The development of creative skills through exploration, control and development of musical elements
The following options are available:
Solo performing
The development of performance skills through solo music making
(compulsory for HL and SLS* students only)
Group performing
The development of performance skills through group music making
(compulsory for SLG* students only)
Key features of the curriculum and assessment models
Music perception
Study, analysis and examination, comparing and contrasting of musical cultures
(compulsory for SL and HL students)
Creating
The development of creative skills through exploration, control and development of musical elements
The following options are available:
- composing
- music technology composing
- arranging
- improvising
- stylistic techniques
Solo performing
The development of performance skills through solo music making
(compulsory for HL and SLS* students only)
Group performing
The development of performance skills through group music making
(compulsory for SLG* students only)
Key features of the curriculum and assessment models
- Available at standard (SL) and higher levels (HL)
- The minimum prescribed number of hours is 150 for SL and 240 for HL
- Students are assessed both externally and internally
- External assessment consists of a) the Listening paper (musical perception questions), and b) the Musical links investigation (a written media script investigating the significant musical links between two or more pieces from distinct musical cultures)
- Internal assessment consists, at HL, of a) Creating, and b) Solo performing. At SL students choose one option from among the following: a) Creating, b) Solo performing, c) Group performing.