# Australian Vocational Education and Training/CUSMPF101A Develop skills to play or sing music
## CUSMPF101A - Develop skills to play or sing music

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop elementary skills in tuning, playing and caring for an instrument. This is the first in a series of units dealing with developing technical skills. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement. People with little or no musical experience apply the skills and knowledge outlined in this unit. Typically they are embarking on a career in singing or playing a specific musical instrument and need close guidance and supervision.

## Objectives
### Elements and Performance Criteria

After studying this unit you will be able to:
* Become familiar with chosen instrument
** Develop an understanding of how the physical characteristics of instruments and the voice affect the sound they produce in performance
** Explore the range, capability and sound characteristics of chosen instrument or voice
** Discuss with colleagues or teachers how the physical relationship between instrument and performer produces the required sound
** Listen to live or recorded music featuring the chosen instrument or voice and discuss with colleagues and/or teacher how sounds and effects are achieved
** Use appropriate methods and cleaning products to care for, move and store instrument and accessories
** Develop listening skills to enable recognition of simple musical elements
** Set goals for own skill development in consultation with relevant people
* Prepare to play instrument
** Set up instrument or warm up voice as required
** As required, seek assistance from relevant people to tune instrument to the required pitch
** Apply listening skills in the process of producing a range of notes, rhythms and/or chords
** Use correct posture to extend technique and to develop healthy performance habits in line with OHS principles
* Play simple pieces in selected style
** In consultation with relevant people, select simple pieces and exercises suitable for practice in playing selected repertoire
** Apply the elements of pitch, rhythm, sound colour and/or volume during practice sessions
** Experiment with different techniques to develop proficiency in producing the required sound
** Seek feedback on own skill development from relevant people and evaluate progress against personal goals

## Readings

Find links to add to this section on the ntisthis.com links page

## Activities

Before you start make sure you've registered and know , then try these activities:
* Click on the 'Discuss' tab at the top of the page and introduce yourself
* Rewrite one of the Elements or Performance Criteria in the Objectives section in plain language. Imagine that it starts with the words: "After studying this subject I will be able to..." For example a performance criteria that reads: "Work area is prepared to support efficient installation of sewage discharge pipes" is full of puff. It could be changed to read: "Set up a work area for installing sewage discharge pipes"
* Find relevant links and add them to the Readings section. When adding a link use the Edit Summary field to comment on why you chose that link and which objectives it addresses.
* Create and/or link Key Terms to relevant articles in WikiCommons, Wikibooks, Wikipedia or Wiktionary
* Add a quiz question to the Review section. This could be based on any of the objectives, required skills and knowledge or key terms. Or you could base it on information found via the links in the readings section. Here are some tips for writing better quiz questions.
* For bonus marks, write a challenge and add it to the Challenges section.
Assignments for this subject would address the following areas:

### Required Skills and Knowledge

* Required skills
* communication, teamwork and organisational skills sufficient to:
* interpret music at a basic level for performance practice
* respond appropriately to constructive feedback on own performance
* plan own practice time and setskill-development goals
* listening skills sufficient to:
* monitor and adjust intonation as required
* use appropriate sound and tone production for instrument or voice
* reproduce basic musical patterns
* learning skills in the context of:
* using printed or audio tutoring resources
* improving skills through practice
* technical and problem-solving skills sufficient to:
* use a basic range of techniques on chosen instrument
* tune instrument to achieve intonation
* discriminate pitch and/or rhythm
* Required knowledge
* basic understanding of:
* industry, repertoire and musical terminology
* acoustic principles relevant to selected instrument
* instrument parts, applications, range, capabilities, care and maintenance
* OHS practices, procedures and standards as they apply to performance practice

## Key Terms
### Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. :
| Instruments may include: | acoustic or electronic brass stringed keyboards wind percussion plucked voice. |
| Range of an instrument may include: | tone colour dynamics and volume sound production pitch, register and tessitura specific effects available using a range of attacks other acoustic or electronic effects. |
| Capability of an instrument may include: | application to a range of music-making activities and outcomes scope and potential for solo or group performance adaptability size of instrument. |
| Accessories may include: | reeds strings bows plectrums mouth pieces mutes sticks, mallets, brushes and beaters stands pedals microphones amplifiers samplers mixers enhancers, such as pitch and tone modulators. |
| Musical elements include: | simple melodies simple rhythms simple musical forms. |
| Relevant people may include: | mentor teacher coach tutor family member. |
| Tuning an instrument may involve: | adjusting: pitch tone colour oral tract, including lip pressure and intensity of breath position of the diaphragm and larynx sound production diameter or other instrumental dimensions, such as: >length of strings >tautness of skins >length of tubing or pipes embouchure settings of the instrument and relevant accessories using: appropriate tuning options tuning keys or other tuning implements, such as tuning forks and electronic tuners pitch pipes electronic pitch or frequency controls other musicians. |
| OHS principles may include: | industry practice and legislation posture appropriate hearing and volume levels for self and others electrical hazards length of performance and practice sessions preventative practice against overuse injury. |
| Sound colour may involve: | physical elements of an instrument instrumental attack and articulation range of accessories interaction between player and instrument performer's physique voice production sound production different instrumental combinations. |
| Techniques may include: | physical coordination in one or more of: bowing tonguing embouchure plucking beating fingering strumming pedalling attack dynamics tempi intonation vocal and instrumental sound production rhythms and rhythm patterns chords and chord patterns melodic patterns playing or singing notes, short tunes and basic scales playing, tapping or clapping rhythms and rhythm patterns playing chords and simple chord patterns. |

## Assessment

Assessments should address the following areas:

### Evidence Guide

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. :
| Overview of assessment | |
| Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the ability to: demonstrate basic physical capacity and coordination required to play or sing simple melodies, chords and rhythm patterns respond appropriately to constructive feedback on own performance. |
| Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: access to relevant instruments and equipment suitable physical and acoustic environment use of culturally appropriate processes, and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed. |
| Method of assessment | The following assessment methods are appropriate for this unit: direct observation of candidate in practice sessions or performances testimonial from individual tutors video or audio recordings of candidate's performance or practice sessions written or oral questioning to assess knowledge of chosen instrument. |
| Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: CUSMPF102A Develop ensemble skills to perform simple musical parts. |