VCE Solo Performance Units 3 & 4

This is a brief collection of information on selecting works for VCE Solo Performance Units 3 & 4 (mind the creation date above - the VCE requirements change with time!). I've included links to the VCAA site and relevant guidelines, and a brief summary of the requirements for each assessment and exam.

Because I am not a local, I never undertook VCE myself. Reading, re-reading, and reviewing the study design is a must. Perhaps these few notes will help you in your own study & teaching.

VCAA Resources

The VCE Study Design is available online. Read it at the VCAA site:

• VCE Solo Performance Details (index page)
• Study Design (PDF)

Program Structure

Check the study design to be sure I'm right, but the year basically includes five solo performances:

• Unit 3 Outcome 1 - Solo Program, internal assessment
• Unit 3 Outcome 2 - Technical Program, internal assessment
• Unit 4 Outcome 1 - Solo Program, internal assessment
• Unit 4 Outcome 2 - Technical Program, internal assessment
• End of Year Examination - Solo Program, external assessment

Working backward:

• End of Year Program = Unit 3 Outcome 1 + Unit 4 Outcome 1
• Unit 3 Outcome 1 = Practice + Unit 3 Outcome 2
• Unit 4 Outcome 1 = Practice + Unit 4 Outcome 2

The technical work is a tool to achieve each unit solo program. The unit solo programs sum up to the end of year program.

Program Requirements

Unit 3, Outcome 1 - Solo Program Assessment

• about 10 min duration total
• works from the PML
• one work younger than 1900
• one work accompanied
• one work unaccompanied

Unit 3, Outcome 2 - Technical Program Assessment

• sight reading
• completely unaccompanied
• technical studies which help solve problems in Unit 3 Outcome 1 works
• one technical study/etude
• no works from the PML

Unit 4, Outcome 1 - Solo Program Assessment
identical to Unit 3 Outcome 1, except:

• 15 min total

Unit 4, Outcome 2 - Technical Program Assessment
identical to Unit 3, Outcome 2, except:

• octave requirements may change for scales; consult your VCE instructor

End of Year Exam

• 25 min total
• must include two accompanied works
• must include one unaccompanied work
• must include two works from 1900 or later
• it makes good sense to create the program by combining the Unit 3 & 4 Solo Programs
• externally examined

CYA

Again ... check that all this matches the VCAA design guidelines. Unless you're my [current] student, I'll take no responsibility for your programming & planning errors.

If you're not my student, and you're reading this, I would:

1. Go read the design
2. try to summarize what's required
3. compare it to what I found, and see if we agree
4. check your differences, check my differences
5. ask me or somebody else about our differences

Oh, and good luck. Now go practice!