The Arts - Senior

Year 10 - Media Arts

Overview

This subject covers key developments in the past 200-year history of media communication. It focuses on the development of skills in the use of relevant media technologies and processes.
Through the study of media students develop knowledge of the important relationships between media products and audiences, build their skills in media communication and complete the media production to develop skills in self-management and collaboration. Students also develop their ability to analyse media products and an understanding that meaning is created through this process.

Units / Topics	Types of Assessment
Photography Research – History and Artists	Topic Tests
Photography Techniques	Media Production Portfolios
Creative Photography Brief	Collaborative Film Task
Documentary Study – History and Conventions	Personal Reflections
Collaborative Documentary Task	Semester Examination

Future Directions
This Unit can lead to VCE Media, Unit 1 & 2.

Year 10 - Visual Communication Design

Overview

Visual Communication and Design conveys ideas and information to an audience through visual language. In Visual Communication Design, students develop conceptual and aesthetic understandings about design solutions in the world around them. Students learn about design and the role of the visual communication designers and their contribution to society. Instrumental and freehand drawing methods will be explored, as well as digital design applications.

Units / Topics	Types of Assessment
Documentation drawings	A folio of work will be completed for each of the design fields listed above
Environment design
Elements, principles and typography

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to VCE Visual Communication Design Units 1 & 2.

Year 10 - Art 2D

Overview

Students observe research and critically discuss a range of traditional, stylistic, historical, and cultural examples of art works in the disciplines and forms in which they are working. They analyse, interpret, compare, and evaluate the stylistic, technical, expressive and aesthetic features of art works created by a range of artists and made in particular times and cultural contexts. c

Units / Topics	Types of Assessment
Drawing and collage	A series of practical tasks in a variety of materials
Printmaking	Visual Diary displaying studio process development of ideas
Oil Painting	Resolved artworks
Analysis and comparisons of artworks	Essay comparing artworks

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to VCE Art Creative Practice Units 1 & 2.

Year 10 - Art 3D

Overview

In this subject, students will apply a ‘Studio Development Process’ to create their own 3D artworks. Students will investigate the way professional artists work to create finished sculptural artworks. Students mirror this approach in their Visual Diary, researching themes, exploring concepts, studying artists of influence, and developing possible ideas to realise into 3D artworks.

Units / Topics	Types of Assessment
Ceramic Bust	A series of practical tasks in a variety of materials
Comparative Essay	Visual Diary displaying studio process development of ideas
Mixed media sculpture	Realisation of resolved finished artworks
Various styles and materials of 3D	Theory task, written comparative essay

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to VCE Art Creative Practice Units 1 & 2.

Year 10 - Dance (Year-long)

Overview

This subject will expose students to a range of artistic dance styles including Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop. The course addresses technical proficiency and improvisation skills and will develop important choreographic and analysis skills imperative to their success in VCE. Structured improvisation and technical workshops form a large part of the course where students will be artistically and intellectually provoked.

Units / Topics	Types of Assessment
Safe dance practice	Topic Tests
History of artistic dance; Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz, Tap, & Hip Hop	Student devised warm up routine to be delivered to the class
Teacher devised learnt work based around an intention	Multimodal research and analysis presentation on an appointed artistic dance style
Performance of group choreographic item (student devised)	Performance of learnt class work at Dance Showcase Evening
	Performance of group choreography item at Dance Showcase Evening
	Semester Examination

Future Directions
This unit will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to VCE Dance Units 1 to 4.

Year 10 – Drama (Year-long)

Overview

This course prepares students for VCE Drama and Theatre Studies in the development of ensemble works. Students work in groups and individually to devise and perform original theatre works, focusing on the way that contemporary and physical theatre has been influenced by historical theatre styles. Students will view professional works of theatre and develop their literacy skills in the process of analysing, evaluating and describing the themes and concepts in live performances. Students will perform for live audiences of their peers, their teachers and the wider community.

Units / Topics	Types of Assessment
Theatre Styles	Devising and presenting an ensemble performance to a live audience.
Performance skills	Responding and analysing an ensemble performance.
Performance analysis	Design and Folio presentation.
	Responding to devised ensemble performance.

Future Directions
Successful completion of all outcomes will allow students to study VCE Drama or VCE Theatre Studies.

Year 10 – Music Performance (Year-long)

Overview

This subject begins to expand students in their understanding of music and performance. Students develop their skills in solo and group performance, analysing musical elements that a performer has control over. Students develop their musicianship and understanding of notation conventions and are assessed on both theoretical and aural skills, transcribing musical ideas. Students develop analysis skills, first to understand specific elements that performers manipulate but then apply these skills to study creative works in depth. They complete an album study, looking at the musical and lyrical content of a creative work and then putting it in the context of the time it was written, studying social and political influences on the work. In second semester, students begin to look more at compositional devices with the idea of documenting and notating musical ideas.

Semester 1

• Solo Performance
• Group performance
• Analysis
• Album Analysis
• Musicianship and Theory

Semester 2

• Solo Performance
• Group performance
• Composition and melody
• Album Analysis
• Musicianship and Theory

Forms of Assessment

• Solo Performance Folio
• Group Performance
• Analysis Test
• Essay
• Aural and Theory Test
• Melodic Composition

Future Directions

Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to VCE Units 1 & 2 Music.

VCE Units 1 & 2 – Art Creative Practice

Overview

In the study of VCE Art Creative Practice, research and investigation inform art making. Through the study of artworks, the practices of artists and their role in society, students develop their individual art practice, and communicate ideas and meaning using a range of materials, techniques and processes. This study provides students with an informed context to support an awareness of art as a tool for cultural, social and personal communication, and the stimulus and inspiration to develop their art practice.

Unit 1: Interpreting artworks and exploring the Creative Practice

As the artist and audience, students consider their connection to artworks, and how their communication of ideas and presentation of artworks challenge, shape and influence viewer or audience perspectives.

Areas of Study:

1. Artists, artworks and audiences – Students are introduced to the Structural and the Personal Lenses by researching and analysing three artists, their practices and their artworks.
2. The Creative Practice – Students explore at least three art forms. They respond to a range of artworks, ideas and the practices of artists through experimentation and exploration. They build skills using materials, techniques and processes, and explore areas of personal interest to develop and make visual responses.
3. Documenting and reflecting on the Creative Practice – Students develop their art practice by responding to the ways artists conceptualise, develop and make their artworks. They provide annotated documentation of their experiences in Making and Responding in a form appropriate to their art practice.

Unit 2: Interpreting artworks and developing the Creative Practice

Students use Inquiry learning to investigate the artistic and collaborative practices of artists. They use the Cultural Lens, and the other Interpretive Lenses as appropriate, to examine artworks from different periods of time and cultures, and to explore the different ways that artists interpret and communicate social and personal ideas in artworks.

Areas of Study:

1. The artist, society and culture – Students focus on the ways in which art reflects and communicates the values, beliefs and traditions of the societies in which it was created.
2. The collaborative Creative Practice – Students continue to develop their art practice as they explore collaborative practices to make and present artworks.

Forms of Assessment

Exploration proposal, Design Process Folio, Folio of finished art works, Analysis essay of artists

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Students should have successfully completed an appropriate Year 10 Art subject.

Future Directions

Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to VCE Units 3 & 4 Art Creative Practice.

VCE Units 1 & 2 - Media

Overview

VCE Media provides students with the opportunity to develop critical and creative knowledge and skills. Media products, technologies and processes are considered from various perspectives including their structure and features, their industry production and distribution context, audience reception and the impact of media in society. This aspect of the study is integrated with the individual and collaborative design and production of media representations and products.

Unit 1: Media forms, representations, and Australian stories

Students develop an understanding of the relationship between the media, technology and the representations present in media forms.  They develop practical and analytical skills, including an understanding of the contribution of codes and conventions to the creation of meaning in media products, the role and significance of selection processes in their construction and the stories told that represent our Australian culture.

Areas of Study:

1. Media Representations – The concept of audience and what it entails. How audiences engage with the media to construct and negotiate understandings of the world and themselves through their participation in the consumption, reception, production, curation and distribution of media products.
2. Media forms in production – Students produce representations in two or more media forms, analysing how different media technologies affect the meanings that can be created in the representations.
3. Australian stories – Students explore the construction and reception of Australian stories.

 

Unit 2: Narrative across media forms

Students develop their understanding of the specialist production stages and roles within the construction of media narratives across a variety of forms and genres. Students develop practical skills through undertaking assigned roles during their participation in specific stages of a media production and analyse issues concerning the impact new media technologies have on the way we produce and consume media narratives.

Areas of Study:

1. Narrative, style and genre – Students explore and examine how narratives construct realities and meaning for audiences.
2. Narratives in production – Focuses on media production undertake by students within a collaborative context and the student’s explanation of the process.
3. Media and change – Analyse the influence of new media technologies on society, audiences, the individual, media industries and institutions.

Forms of Assessment

Representations Written Response, Technologies of Representation – Film Trailer and Poster, Group Media Productions, Media Industry Research Task, Media Organisations Written Response

Prerequisites and Corequisites

There are no prerequisites, but students are encouraged to complete Year 10 Media.

Link to Study Design

VCE Media 2024-2028 Study Design

VCE Units 1 & 2 - Visual Communication and Design

Overview

This Visual Communication and Design study is intended to assist students in the understanding, production and interpretation of a range of visual communications. It involves a study of the vocabulary and grammar of visual communication, which includes an understanding of, and application of, drawing and drawing conventions, design elements, principles and design process in visual communication.

Unit 1 – Finding, reframing and resolving design problems

In this unit students are introduced to the practices and processes used by designers to identify, reframe and resolve human-centred design problems. They learn how design can improve life and living for people, communities and societies, and how understandings of good design have changed over time.

Areas of Study

1. Reframing design problems – Use human-centred research methods to reframe a design problem and identify a communication need.
2. Solving communication design problems – Create visual language for a business or brand using the Develop and Deliver stages of the VCD design process.
3. Design’s influence and influences on design – Develop a sustainable object, considering design’s influence and factors that influence design.

Unit 2 – Design contexts and connections

Students draw on conceptions of good design, human-centred research methods and influential design factors as they revisit the VCD design process, applying the model in its entirety. Practical tasks across the unit focus on the design of environments and interactive experiences.

Areas of Study

1. Design, place and time – Present an environmental design solution that draws inspiration from its context and a chosen design style.
2. Cultural ownership and design – Apply culturally appropriate design practices and an understanding of the designer’s ethical and legal responsibilities when designing personal iconography.
3. Designing interactive experiences – Apply the VCD design process to design an interface for a digital product, environment or service.

Forms of Assessment

Brief, Folios, End of year exam

Prerequisites and Corequisites

It is an advantage to have completed Year 10 Visual Communication Design.

Future Directions

This Unit can lead to VCE Visual Communication Units 3 & 4.

Link to Study Design

VCE Visual Communication Design 2024-2028 Study Design

VCE Units 1 & 2 - Dance

Overview

VCE Dance provides opportunities for students to explore the potential of movement as a means of creative expression and communication. In Unit 1 and 2 VCE Dance students create and perform their own dance works as well as studying the dance works of others through performance, choreography and analysis.

Unit 1 Dance

Explores the potential of the body as an instrument of expression and communication in conjunction with the regular and systematic development of physical dance skills.

Areas of Study

1. Dance perspectives – Analyse another choreographer’s work and discuss the way movement vocabulary has been manipulated to communicate the intention.
2. Choreography and performance– Choreograph and rehearse a skill based solo, duo /or trio work in any chosen dance style and perform work in front of a live audience.
3. Dance technique and performance– Learn, rehearse and refine a group work devised by another choreographer and perform in front of a live audience.
4. Awareness and maintenance of the dancer’s body – Describe key approaches to wellbeing and health practices for dancers and essential aspects of physiology and demonstrate the safe use and maintenance of the dancer’s body.

Unit 2 Dance

In this unit students extend their personal movement vocabulary and skill in using a choreographic process by exploring elements of movement and choreographic devices to devise a composition work based around a chosen intention.

Areas of Study:

1. Dance perspectives – Analyse the ways movement categories, elements of movement and group structures can be manipulated to communicate an intention in various dance traditions, styles and works.
2. Choreography & Performance – Using the choreographic process, students will choreograph and refine a composition solo, duo / or trio based around a chosen intention and perform in front of a live audience.
3. Dance technique and performance– Safely and securely perform a learnt group work devised by another choreographer in front of a live audience and report on the realisation of the dance work.

Forms of Assessment

Dance analysis of prescribed works, Solo, duo /or trio composition (to be performed to a live audience at Dance Showcase Evening), Learnt work (to be performed to a live audience at Dance Showcase Evening), Body maintenance test

Prerequisites and Corequisites

It is an advantage to have completed Year 10 Dance.

VCE Units 1 & 2 - Drama

Overview

In VCE Drama, students tell stories, explore ideas, make sense of their worlds and communicate meaning through the practice of performance-making. The study of Drama enables students’ individual and collective identities to be explored, expressed and validated. Students develop an ability to empathise through understanding and accepting diversity.

Unit 1 – Introducing Performance Styles

In this unit, student’s study three or more performance styles from a range of social, historical and cultural contexts.  They examine drama traditions of ritual and storytelling to devise performances that go beyond re-creation and/or representation of real life as it is lived.

Areas of Study:

1. Creating a Devised Performance – Ability to devise and document solo and/or ensemble drama works based on experiences and/or stories (Folio Assessment Task).
2. Presenting a Devised Performance – Perform devised drama works to an audience (Performance Assessment Task).
3. Analysing a Devised Performance – Analyse the development, and the performance to an audience, of devised work (Written Assessment Task).
4. Analysing a Professional Drama Performance – Analyse the presentation of ideas, stories and characters in a drama performance by professional or other drama practitioners (Written Assessment Task).

Unit 2 – Australian Identity

Students study aspects of Australian identity evident in contemporary drama practice. This may also involve exploring the work of selected drama practitioners and associated performance styles.  This unit focuses on the use and documentation of the processes involved in constructing a devised solo or ensemble performance.

Areas of Study:

1. Using Australia as Inspiration – Devise and document the processes used to create a solo or ensemble performance that reflects an aspect or aspects of Australian identity and contemporary drama practice (Folio Assessment Task).
2. Presenting a Devised Performance – Present a devised performance that reflects aspects of Australian identity and contemporary drama practice (Performance Assessment Task).
3. Analysing a Devised Performance – Analyse the development, and performance to an audience, of their devised work (Written Assessment Task).
4. Analysing an Australia Drama Performance – Analyse and evaluate a performance of a drama work by Australian practitioners (Written Assessment Task).

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Students would be expected to have satisfied the work requirements of Year 9 or 10 Drama.

Link to Study Design

VCE Drama 2025-2029 Study Design

VCE Units 1 & 2 - Music

Overview

This study is designed to allow students to deepen their understanding of musical language through performance and analysis. Students develop and demonstrate language, skills and knowledge to better understand how music is organised and used to influence audiences.

Unit 1 – Organisation of Music

This unit develops understanding of how music is organised through performing, creating, analysing and responding to music. They prepare solo/group works and develop their technical skill, whilst develop their capacity to understand musical notation conventions.

Areas of Study

1. Performing – Students focus on practical music-making and performance skills by preparing solo and ensemble works. They look at how to develop technical and rehearsal skills.
2. Creating – Students create a folio of brief musical responses. They develop skills to record and preserve musical ideas and identifying and using musical elements and compositional devices.
3. Analysing and Responding – Students develop their understanding of the elements of music, concepts, and compositional devices. They develop aural skills and documenting music language.

Unit 2 – Effect in music

Students study how music is used to have an intended effect on an audience. They do so through performance, analysis and responding to various works. Students prepare solo/group works for performance with the intention to communicate clear musical ideas to an audience.

Areas of Study

1. Performing – Students focus on practical music-making and performance to create an intended effect on audiences.
2. Creating – Students create a folio of brief musical responses. They develop skills to record and preserve musical ideas and identifying and using musical elements and compositional devices.
3. Analysing and Responding – Students develop their understanding of the elements of music, concepts, and compositional devices. They develop aural skills and documenting music language.

Forms of Assessment

• Solo/group performances
• Creative folio
• Analysis test

Prerequisites and Corequisites

It is encouraged that students studying Unit 1 and 2 Music take instrumental lessons.

Future Directions

Employability skills of self-regulation, clear communication and creativity are developed in this study design.

Link to Study Design

VCE Music 2023-2027 Study Design

VCE Units 1 & 2 - Theatre Studies

Overview

The study of Theatre as an ever-evolving cultural expression and critical window to society, prepares students for further study in; theatre production, theatre history, communication, marketing, production management, writing, acting, direction and design at the tertiary level. VCE Theatre Studies also prepares students for further learning in vocational education settings and for professional industry or community-related pathways.

Unit 1 – History of theatre styles and conventions pre-1945

This unit focuses on the application of acting, direction and design in relation to theatre styles and their conventions pre-1945. Students work in production roles with scripts from specific periods that fall between the beginning of Theatre history until the end of 1944, focusing on at least two theatre styles, their conventions and histories.

Areas of Study:

1. Exploring theatre styles and conventions pre-1945 – identify and describe distinguishing features of two or more theatre styles from pre-1945 and scripts associated with the selected styles
2. Interpreting scripts – work effectively in at least two production roles to interpret scripts from two or more pre-1945 theatre styles
3. Analysing a theatre production in performance – analyse a live professional performance

Unit 2 - Contemporary Theatre Styles and Movements

This unit focuses on the application of acting, direction and design in relation to contemporary theatre practice from 1945 to the present day. Students work in production roles to interpret scripts and they study developments and innovations in theatre. Students do this through a focus on either two distinct theatre styles OR a theatre movement between 1945 and the present day. In either option, students will study at least one Australian play.

Areas of Study:

1. Exploring contemporary theatre styles and/or movements – identify and describe the distinguishing features of distinct theatre styles and/or the characteristics of a theatre movement(s) through scripts written from 1945 to the present day
2. Interpreting scripts – work in production roles to interpret scripts from theatre styles or movements from 1945 to the present day
3. Analysing and evaluating a theatre production – analyse and evaluate a play in performance from the period of 1945 to the present day

Forms of Assessment

Written tasks, analysis, practical elements of theatre production.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Students would be expected to have satisfied the work requirements of Year 9 or 10 Drama and/or Visual Communications, Art, Media OR Visual Communications Technology.

Future Directions

Completion of this study would prepare students for Unit 3 & 4 Theatre Studies or Unit 3 & 4 Drama.

Link to Study Design

VCE Theatre Studies 2025-2029 Study Design

VCE Units 3 & 4 – Art Creative Practice

Overview

Art Creative Practice uses a Project based learning approach in the development of a body of work. Students present various stages of their Creative Practice to an audience for critique and reflect on feedback to further refine and resolve their ideas as a body of work. Students research historical and contemporary artists to inform their own personal exploration of materials, techniques and processes using the Creative Practice. They use interpretive lenses to analyse, compare and interpret the meanings and messages of artists that they study.

Unit 3 – Investigation, ideas, artworks and the Creative Practice

This unit focuses on using Project- based learning as a starting point to develop a body of work. Students research a historical or contemporary artwork and use this for inspiration in the development of their own personal response. They explore their own ideas through their use of the Creative Practice and document their research and development work. Students resolve their finished personal response as a final artwork which they will present in a critique.

Areas of Study

1. Investigation and presentation – Develop personal ideas in response to an artwork and the practice of an artist and refine their skills and visual language in the resolution and presentation of a finished artwork
2. Personal investigation using the Creative Practice – Continue to use the Creative Practice to develop a body of work, exploring personal ideas in artforms of their choice.

Unit 4 – Interpreting, resolving and presenting artworks and the Creative Practice

This unit focuses on the continuation of research and exploration to support the development of a Body of Work. Students continue to develop ideas they began in Unit 3 and present a critique of their use of the Creative Practice and then reflect on feedback to further refine and resolve a Body of Work. Students study the practices of historical and contemporary artists and analyse and interpret meanings and message of artworks that they study.

Areas of Study

1. Documentation and critique of the Creative Practice – Document the use of the Creative Practice and present a critique to inform the refinement and resolution of a Body of Work.
2. Resolution and presentation of a Body of Work – Use the Creative Practice to resolve and present a Body of Work
3. Comparison of artists, their practice and their artworks – Compare the practices of historical and contemporary artists to interpret meanings and messages of artworks.

Forms of Assessment

Extended written response, critiques, visual responses to set tasks, documentation of Creative Practice through a visual diary, final artwork(s).

Prerequisites and Corequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course, however successful completion of Unit 1 and 2 of Art Creative Practice would be highly advantageous.

Link to Study Design

VCE Art Creative Practice 2023-2027 Study Design

VCE Units 3 & 4 - Media

Overview

VCE Media provides students with the opportunity to examine the media in both historical and contemporary contexts while developing skills in media design and production in a range of media forms. Students consider narratives, technologies and processes from various perspectives including an analysis of structure and features. They examine debates about the media’s role in contributing to and influencing society. Students integrate these aspects of the study through the individual design and production of their media representations, narratives, and products.

Unit 3: Media narratives, contexts, and pre-production

In this unit students explore stories that circulate in society through a close analysis of media narrative. Through the study of a media narrative, students explore specific codes and narrative conventions and begin the process of research to support their understanding of how they can adopt and employ these techniques in their own works.

Areas of Study:

1. Narratives and their contexts – Analyse the construction of media narratives; discuss audience engagement, consumption and reading of narratives; and analyse the relationship between narratives and contexts in which they are produced.
2. Research, development, and experimentation – research and document aspects of a media form, codes, narrative conventions, style, genre, story and plot to inform the plan for a media production.
3. Pre-production planning – develop and document a media pre-production plan demonstrating the student’s concepts and intentions in a selected media form for a specified audience.

 

Unit 4: Media production; agency and control in and of the media

In this unit students focus on the production and post-production stages of the media production process, bringing the pre-production plans created in Unit 3 to their realisation. Students refine their media production in response to feedback and through personal reflection, documenting the iterations of their production as they work towards completion

Areas of Study:

1. Media Production – Complete the production and postproduction of the media product designed in Unit 3. They will use technologies and processes relevant to their media form, undertake personal reflection and seeking feedback to help refine their media product.
2. Agency and Control in and of the media – use evidence, arguments, and ideas to discuss audience agency, media influence, media regulation and ethical and legal issues in the media

Forms of Assessment

Written analysis for theoretical study, Media Production Design Plan, complete as a folio, Examination – covering theoretical study and personal reflections on SAT.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Students are expected to have satisfied the work requirements of Media Units 1 & 2.

Link to Study Design

VCE Media 2024-2028 Study Design

VCE Units 3 & 4 - Visual Communication and Design

Overview

The Visual Communication Design study examines the ways in which designers work, while also analysing the work that they design. Students explore the Discover, Define and Develop phases of the VCD design process to address a selected design problem.

Unit 3 – Visual communication in design practice

In this unit students explore and experience the ways in which designers work, while also analysing the work that they design. Through a study of contemporary designers practising in one or more fields of design practice, students gain deep insights into the processes used to design messages, objects, environments and/or interactive experiences.

Areas of Study

1. Professional design practice – Students compare the ways in which visual communication practices are used by contemporary designers, using research methods and practical exploration.
2. Design analysis – Students should be able to compare and analyse design examples from selected field(s) of design practice, describing how aesthetic considerations contribute to the effective communication of information or ideas.
3. Design Process: defining problems and developing ideas – Students should be able to identify two communication needs for a client, prepare a brief and develop design ideas.

Unit 4: Delivering design solutions

The focus of this unit is on resolving design concepts, devising a pitch to communicate and justify their design decisions and presenting solutions for two distinct communication needs.

Areas of Study

1. Design process: refining and resolving design concepts – Students refine and resolve distinct design concepts for each communication need, and devise and deliver a pitch to communicate concepts to an audience or users, evaluating the extent to which these meet the requirements of the brief.
2. Presenting design solutions – Students produce a design solution for each communication need defined in the brief, satisfying the specified design criteria.

Forms of Assessment

• Folio
• Case studies
• End of year exam

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Students are expected to have satisfactorily completed Units 1 & 2 VCD.

Link to Study Design

VCE Visual Communication Design 2024-2028 Study Design

VCE Units 3 & 4 - Dance

Overview

VCE Dance is designed to further develop students’ understanding and appreciation of dance that is based on innovation, creativity and dance practice across time and place. Unit 3 & 4 Dance prepares students to be discerning, reflective and critical viewers of dance and provides pathways to training and tertiary study in dance performance and associated careers within the dance industry.

Unit 3 – Dance

Students will choreograph, rehearse and perform a skills based solo dance work that allows them to execute a diverse range of physical skills drawn from all movement categories. Students continue regular dance training and learn and perform a group dance work created by another choreographer. Students analyse the realisation of their solo and the learnt group work, focusing on the processes of choreographing or learning, rehearsing, preparing for performance and performing.

Areas of Study

1. Dance Perspectives – Analyse two selected solos from the Prescribed list of dance works for Unit 3.
2. Choreography, performance and analysis of a skills-based solo dance work – Choreograph, rehearse and perform a skills-based solo dance work and analyse the processes used to realise the solo dance work.
3. Dance technique, performance and analysis of a learnt dance work – Learn, rehearse and perform a group dance work by another choreographer and analyse the processes used.

Unit 4 – Dance

In this unit students choreograph, rehearse, and perform a solo dance work with a cohesive structure. Students document and analyse the realisation of the solo dance work across the processes of choreographing, rehearsing, preparing to perform and performing the dance work. Students continue to develop their understanding of the choreographic process through analysis of a group dance work by a twentieth or twenty-first century choreographer.

Areas of Study

1. Dance Perspectives – Analyse a selected group dance work from the Prescribed list of dance works for Unit 4.
2. Choreography, Performance and Dance-Making Analysis – choreograph, rehearse and perform a composition solo based on a chosen intention, and analyse the choreographic process.

Forms of Assessment

• Dance analysis of prescribed dance works from Prescribed list for Unit 3 & 4 Dance.
• Skills Based Solo performance and analysis
• Composition Solo performance and analysis
• Learnt work performance and analysis
• External Performance Exam – both the Unit 3 & Unit 4 student devised solos will be formally assessed by a panel of VCAA assessors at the end of the year.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Students are expected to have studied and passed Units 1 & 2 Dance.

Link to Study Design

VCE Dance 2019-2025 Study Design

VCE Units 3 & 4 - Drama

Overview

In VCE Drama, students tell stories, explore ideas, make sense of their worlds and communicate meaning through the practice of performance-making. The study of Drama enables students’ individual and collective identities to be explored, expressed and validated. Students develop an ability to empathise through understanding and accepting diversity.

Unit 3 – Devised Ensemble Performance

In this unit, students explore the work of drama practitioners and draw on contemporary practice as they devise ensemble performance work.  Students explore performance styles and associated conventions from a diverse range of contemporary and/or traditional contexts.  They work collaboratively to devise, develop and present an ensemble performance.  Students create work that reflects a specific performance style or one that draws on multiple performance styles and is therefore eclectic in nature.

Areas of Study:

1. Devising and Presenting Ensemble Performance – Develop and present characters within a devised ensemble performance that goes beyond a representation of real life as it is lived (Performance and Written Assessment Task).
2. Analysing and Evaluating a Devised Ensemble Performance – Analyse the use of processes, techniques and skills to create and present a devised ensemble performance (Written Assessment Task).
3. Analysing and Evaluating a Professional Drama Performance – Analyse and evaluate a professional drama performance (Written Assessment Task).

Unit 4 – Devised Solo Performance

This unit focuses on the development and the presentation of devised solo performances. Students explore contemporary practice, drawing on a range of performance styles and associated conventions from a diverse range of contemporary and historical contexts. Students refine their skills in extracting dramatic potential from stimulus material and use play-making techniques to create, develop and refine a solo performance.

Areas of Study:

1. Demonstrating Techniques of Solo Performance – Demonstrate, in response to given stimulus material, application of symbol and transformation of character, time and place, and describe the techniques used (Performance, Oral and/or Written Assessment Task).
2. Devising a Solo Performance – Create, develop and perform a solo performance in response to a prescribed structure (External VCCA Performance Examination).
3. Analysing and Evaluating Devised Solo Performance – Analyse and evaluate the creation, development and presentation of a solo performance devised in response to a prescribed structure (Written Assessment Task).

Forms of Assessment

Performance, Oral and Written assessment tasks

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Students would be expected to have satisfied the work requirements of Unit 1 & 2 Drama.

Link to Study Design

VCE Drama 2025-2029 Study Design

VCE Units 3 & 4 - Music Contemporary Performance

Overview

This study is designed for students with developed instrumental and performance skills. Students choose an instrument to focus on for the duration of the year and develop a program of works to be presented externally as a soloist or as part of an established group.

Unit 3

Students begin the process of preparing their program and develop tools to plan and rehearse as well as interpret and understand their chosen pieces.

Areas of Study

1. Performing – Students begin preparation of a solo/group program, researching musical styles, genres, and conventions.
2. Analysing for performance – Students identify challenges within their program and work with instrumental teachers to develop techniques to prepare and overcome performance challenges.
3. Responding – Students develop their understanding of the elements of music, concepts and compositional devices. This This is done through research of a wide variety of contemporary music. They refine their ability to transcribe musical ideas into notation.

Unit 4

Students now focus on refining their solo programs for performance. They gain a deeper understanding of the musical aspects of their selected pieces to create a refined and controlled performance.

Areas of Study

1. Performing – Students begin refining their programs for performance, looking at performance technique and performance anxiety.
2. Analysing for performance – Students continue to develop their understanding of musical characteristics of their chosen pieces.
3. Responding – Students continue to develop their understanding of the elements of music, concepts and compositional devices.

Forms of Assessment

Program defence presentation, Technical Exercise Presentation, Music Language test and Analysis listening test. This culminates in a final externally assessed performance worth 50% of their study score.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

It is an advantage to have completed Units 1 & 2 Music. Students should be completing instrumental music lessons in addition to the course.

Future Directions

There are many advantages to completing a creative subject, particularly one so strongly based on personal communication. Employability skills of self-regulation, clear communication and creativity are developed in this study design.

Link to Study Design

VCE Music 2023-2027 Study Design

VCE Units 3 & 4 - Theatre Studies

Overview

The study of Theatre, in all its various forms, prepares students for further study in theatre production, theatre history, communication, writing, acting, direction and design at tertiary level. VCE Theatre Studies also prepares students for further learning in vocational educational training settings or for industry or community-related pathways.

Unit 3 - Producing Theatre

Students develop an interpretation of a script through the three stages of the theatre production process: planning, development and presentation.  Students specialise in two production roles, working collaboratively, creatively and imaginatively to realise the production of a script.

Area of Study:

1. Staging Theatre – Interpret a script across the stages of the production process through creative, imaginative and collaborative work undertaken in two production roles (Performance / Design Assessment Task).
2. Interpreting a Script – Outline concepts and ideas for a creative interpretation of excerpts from a script and explain how these could be realised in a theatre production (Written Assessment Task).
3. Analysing and Evaluating Theatre – Analyse and evaluate the creative and imaginative interpretation of a written script in production to an audience (Written Assessment Task).

Unit 4 - Presenting an Interpretation

In this unit, students study a scene and an associated monologue.  They initially develop an interpretation of the prescribed scene.  This work includes exploring theatrical possibilities and using dramaturgy across the three stages of the production process.  Students then develop a creative and imaginative interpretation of the monologue that is embedded in the specified scene. To realise their interpretation, they work in production roles as an actor and director, or as a designer.

Area of Study:

1. Researching and Presenting Theatrical Possibilities – Describe and justify a creative and imaginative interpretation of a monologue and its prescribed scene (Written Assessment Task).
2. Interpreting a Monologue – Interpret and present a monologue and orally justify and explain their interpretive decisions (VCAA External Performance or Design Examination).
3. Analysing and Evaluating a Performance – Analyse and evaluate acting, direction and design in a production (Written Assessment Task).

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Students would be expected to have satisfied the work requirements of Year 9 or 10 Drama and/or Visual Communications, Art, Media OR Visual Communications Technology.

Future Directions

Completion of this study would prepare students for Unit 3 & 4 Theatre Studies or Unit 3 & 4 Drama.

Link to Study Design

VCE Theatre Studies 2025-2029 Study Design