H2 Music

Overview

H2 Music is a two-year pre-university course offered in Singapore Junior Colleges (JC). It provides students with an in-depth exploration of music through the interconnected processes of listening, creating, and performing. The curriculum aims to develop students' musical understanding, advanced communication skills, critical and creative thinking, and an appreciation for diverse musical cultures. The H2 Music syllabus is designed to prepare students for further music studies at the tertiary level and to foster a lifelong engagement with music.

Curriculum

The H2 Music curriculum is structured around four papers:

• Music Studies (Papers 11 and 12): These papers cover a range of musical styles and traditions through active listening experiences and encourage analytical and critical thinking. Paper 11 focuses on Asian Music and Western Art Music, while Paper 12 covers Jazz Music and an essay question that can draw upon all areas of study.
• Creating (Paper 2): This paper assesses students' ability to compose and arrange music, demonstrating their understanding of musical elements and their creative application. One Free Composition and one Arrangement are required, along with explanatory notes and supporting technique exercises or compositional drafts. Either the Free Composition or the Arrangement must incorporate music technology.
• Performing (Paper 3): This paper evaluates students' performance skills through a recital and viva voce. The recital can be a solo performance or a combination of solo and ensemble, accompaniment, or a second instrument. The viva voce assesses students' knowledge of their chosen repertoire, rationale of interpretation, and rehearsal and preparation.

Areas of Study

The H2 Music syllabus covers four main areas of study:

• Western Art Music (ca. 1740-1825): This area focuses on genres such as symphonies and operas from the Classical Period, exploring their historical and cultural contexts, compositional strategies, and musical elements.
• Asian Music: This area explores various Asian music traditions, including Chinese solo instrumental music, music of traditional Malay dances, and Indian string music (Carnatic and Hindustani). Students learn about the aesthetic, social, and cultural contexts of each tradition, as well as their specific musical features, processes, and practices.
• Jazz Music in the Late 1950s-70s: This area examines the development of jazz music during this period, focusing on the music of jazz legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Herbie Hancock. Students analyze the musical characteristics and innovations of various jazz styles, including modal jazz and jazz fusion.
• Compositional Techniques of Modern and Contemporary Composers (ca. 1900-Present): This area explores a diverse range of compositional techniques used by modern and contemporary composers. This area is primarily for teaching and learning purposes and is not directly assessed in the examinations, except for its application in one of the essay questions.

Music Elective Programme (MEP)

The Music Elective Programme (MEP) is a specialized program offered in selected JCs that provides students with enhanced opportunities in music. Students in the MEP are required to offer H2 Music as one of their A-Level subjects. The program offers an extended music curriculum, focusing on developing skills in listening, creating, performing, and research.