International Baccalaureate · IB Diploma
Music · SL
Papers, samples and curriculum documents for this course.
Course units and learning goals
These lessons teach selected course objectives. Check the remaining coverage gaps; the material is not a complete preparation programme.
Exploring music in context · Musical analysis and context
- Analyse rhythm, melody, harmony, texture and timbre in selected music
- Connect research to practical creating and performing
- texture
- How musical parts are combined and related.
- timbre
- The distinctive quality of a musical sound.
Experimenting with music · Controlled creative experimentation
- Develop experiments as creator and performer
- Compare trials through musical evidence and reflective commentary
- accent
- Emphasis given to a musical event.
- experimentation
- Purposeful trials used to develop musical understanding and choices.
Presenting music · Resolved work and programme notes
- Prepare finished creating and performing work
- Communicate intentions and context through programme notes and practical evidence
- programme notes
- Written context and explanation accompanying presented music.
- improvisation
- Music created during performance within chosen constraints.
Preparing for this qualification
- No written examinations. SL exploring portfolio 30%, experimentation 30%, presenting 40%. HL exploring 20%, experimentation 20%, presenting 30%, contemporary music-maker project 30%.
- Work as researcher, creator and performer across personal/local/global contexts and four areas of inquiry: sociocultural/political expression; listening/performance; dramatic/movement/entertainment; electronic/digital age. School provides actual scores/audio and performance opportunities.
Teaching coverage still needed
- Actual scores/audio and researched diverse music across all areas/contexts, practical recordings and HL realized project remain school-supervised.
- Reviewed runtime bank remains unavailable; no practice registry promotion.
Specifications and sample documents
- Music — Subject brief · 2022 ↗
First assessment: 2022
Course materials
Course preparation
Documents are available. Board-specific notes, assessments and interactive past-paper practice are not yet available for every course.
Lessons →