YEAR 8 SEMESTER 1

ROCK MUSIC ASSESSMENT

Listening Core (10%)

Task: Select an Australian Rock Performer or Rock Group and discuss the following in
approximately 300 words:
1. Give a brief account of the history of the performer or group, focussing on the musical
component:
(a) Who were their influences what other artists inspired them when they first
started out?
(b) How did they get together or first start performing as a musician?
(c) What was their first big break?
(d) Describe their musical style and its evolution (if relevant)
2. Analysis one of their songs:
(a) Name the song
(b) List two characteristics of rock music heard in the song
(c) Identify the structure of the piece and the role of each instrument within that
structure (e.g. within the introduction of the song the lead guitar plays a riff. During
the middle eight section the guitar plays an improvised solo).
3. Include a bibliography.
4. Include a Youtube or other appropriate link to an audio of the song you analysed

Assessment Criteria:
1. The information regarding history should be relevant and concise.
It should relate to relevant musical facts. /8 marks
2. Song analysis should outline the three areas described above. As this section of the
assignment has the most weighting, more time should be spent on this section of the
assignment. /10 marks
3. Bibliography: It is important to acknowledge your source of information, eg, library, internet,
magazines, CD covers. Plagiarising of information will incur a reduction of marks.
/2 marks

Assessment Outcomes:
Demonstrates an understanding of musical concepts through listening, observing and
analysing musical ideas (4.7)
Demonstrate an understanding of musical concepts through aural identification and
discussion of the features of Australian Rock Music (4.8)
Identifies the use of technology in Australian Rock Music (4.10)

Steps to take:
Description of activity In-class or How long you should
at home? spend on this activity
1 Choose your artist or band At home 15 minutes
2 Collect relevant historical information At home hour

3 Choose a song that you have access to the At home 15 minutes

recording
4 Listen to the piece several times to answer the At home 1 hours
relevant questions. This may require some research
also.
5 Create a final, neat copy of your assignment with At home hour
bibliography

Marking Criteria:

1. Give a brief account of the history of the performer or group focusing mainly on the music
component.

Excellent account of the history of the performer or 7-8 marks

group with a comprehensive focus on the music
component
Detailed account of the history of the performer or 4-6 marks
group with a detailed focus on the music component
Basic account of the history of the performer or group 1-3 mark
with some focus on the music component
Nil Attempt 0 - marks

2. Song Analysis:
(a) Name the song

(b) List two characteristics of rock music heard in the song

Identifies two characteristics correctly 2 marks

Identifies 1 characteristic correctly 1 mark
Unable to identify a rock characteristic 0 mark

(c) Identify the instruments heard and the role of each instrument within the structure of
the song

Excellent: Identifies all instruments correctly with an 7 8 marks

excellent account of their role. Identifies the structure
correctly.
Detailed: Identifies all instruments correctly and some 5 6 marks
detail to their role OR identifies most instruments
correctly with a higher level of detail as to their role.
Identifies most of the structure correctly with some
minor flaws.
Basic: Identifies some instruments correctly with some 3 4 marks
mention of their role. Identifies some aspects of the
structure.
Limited: Identifies one or two instruments correctly 1 2 marks
with little or no mention of their role within the structure.
Nil Attempt: 0 mark

3. Bibliography:

A good quality bibliography with evidence of sound 2 marks

research
A bibliography with evidence of basic research 1 mark
Nil Attempt: 0 mark

Total /20