Music Extension
Resources to help you plan, program and assess the Music Extension 11 –12 Syllabus (2025).
Music Extension is to be studied alongside Music 2. This course provides an opportunity for musically and academically talented students to continue to refine and develop their advanced musical knowledge and skills in performance, composition or musicology.
Music Extension 11–12 Syllabus (2025)
The new Music Extension 11–12 Syllabus (2025) is to be implemented from 2027, with planning beginning in 2026.
Music Extension 11–12 Syllabus (2025) © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2025.
The department is supporting teachers to engage with and enact the new Music Extension 11–12 Syllabus (2025) developed by NESA as part of the NSW Curriculum Reform. This page includes support resources for teachers and leaders:
- enacting the Music Extension 2 Stage 6 Syllabus (2009)
- planning for engagement and enactment of the new Music Extension 11–12 Syllabus (2025)
- this syllabus will be taught to Year 12 from Term 4, 2027
- the first HSC examination for Music Extension 11–12 Syllabus (2025) is in 2028
- further resources are currently in development and will be released progressively throughout 2026 and 2027.
The Music Extension course provides students who undertake Music 2, the opportunity to deepen their musical knowledge, understanding and skills in interpretation and specialisations in performance, composition, or musicology.
Interpretative practices and the Major work extend students’ understanding of Music context and Music language to support musical interpretation and creative decision-making in their chosen specialisation.
Scope and sequence
A sample scope and sequence provides an overview of how to structure teaching and learning programs.
Knowledge, understanding and skills are built through engagement with the 2 focus areas – Interpretative Practice and Major Work.
This sample scope and sequence has been provided to assist in planning for and assessing Music Extension.
Year 12 Music Extension – sample scope and sequence (DOCX 3.7 MB)
All NSW public schools need to plan curriculum and develop teaching programs consistent with the Education Act 1990 (NSW) and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) syllabuses and credentialing requirements.
Scope and sequences form part of the ongoing documentation or evidence schools maintain to comply with the department’s policy, policy standards and registration requirements.
Developing a robust scope and sequence has many benefits and may help teachers and schools to:
- promote high expectations for student learning
- identify opportunities for explicit teaching
- create opportunities for students to receive feedback on their learning
- systematically plan for and undertake assessment
- collect and use data to monitor achievements and identify gaps in learning
- differentiate curriculum delivery to meet the needs of students at different levels of achievement
- collaborate with other teachers to plan for quality teaching and learning.
Assessment schedules
All NSW public schools need to plan school-based assessments to be consistent with the department's Curriculum policy standards, ACE rules and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) syllabuses and credentialing requirements.
This sample assessment schedule has been provided to assist in planning for and assessing Music Extension.
Year 12 Music Extension – sample assessment schedule (DOCX 3.5 MB)
Music Extension Stage 6 Syllabus (2009)
The Music Extension Stage 6 Syllabus (2009) is to be taught until the implementation of the new Music Extension 11–12 Syllabus (2025). The new 2025 syllabus is to be implemented from 2027.
This 2026 Music Extension Stage 6 Quick Reference Guide (PDF 268 KB) provides an overview of support available to implement the Music Extension Stage 6 Syllabus (2009).
Sample assessment tasks
The samples below have been provided to assist in planning for and assessing Stage 6 music extension.
Performance
Students will develop knowledge of skills and understanding when performing:
- high level technical and interpretive skill
- solo/group performances and presentations
- ensemble direction
- refinement of the skill of critical appraisal of own performances
- refinement of the skill of critical appraisal of the performance of others
- program development
- an increasing understanding of musical style
- concert practice and management.
Composition
Students will develop knowledge of skills and understanding in composition when:
- establishing a convincing personal musical style
- writing sophisticated and constructive critical appraisals of own compositions and the compositions of others
- refining the skill of analysing the works of other composers through the use of musical concepts
- participating in ensemble direction in the performance of own compositions
- discussing ideas that have led to the development of a composition
- compiling a composition portfolio.
Musicology
Students will develop knowledge of skills and understanding in musicology when:
- refining research skills
- refining transcription and notation skills
- refining the skill of analysing works through the use of musical concepts
- refining the skill of critical appraisal of own writing and the writing of others
- an increasing understanding of style
- an increasing understanding of cultural context
- refining essay writing skills (i.e. stating an hypothesis, development of hypothesis supported by musical evidence, reaching a conclusion)
- refining evaluation skills
- compiling a musicology portfolio.
HSC Composition resource
The Composition resource booklet (DOCX 1,019 KB) will assist teachers in the delivery of the composition elective for the Music Extension course. This resource includes student materials and teaching information unpacking course requirements, the composition process and portfolios.
Assessment in the HSC
The Assessment in the HSC resource is designed to provide Stage 6 teachers with opportunities to develop their understanding of the assessment requirements for the practical and performance works in the HSC music 1, music 2 and music extension courses. It has been written to support and compliment the NESA Creative Arts Assessment and Reporting in Stage 6 music extension advice and requirements.
HSC music extension teachers can use this resource to:
- familiarise themselves with the requirements of each practical and performance component
- develop their understanding of the language of the NESA assessment criteria for each of the practical and performance works
- develop confidence in applying assessment criteria through identification and analysis of work sample characteristics
- assist Year 12 students in making informed choices when selecting course options
- build student confidence and knowledge of success in each practical and performance work.
Contact
Connect with the Creative Arts curriculum team:
- subscribe to the Creative Arts curriculum network
- join the Creative Arts statewide staffroom
- email creativearts7-12@det.nsw.edu.au.
Last modified date
01/07/2026
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Teaching Learning&Student Wellbeing