VCE VET Music Performance study plan

Establish a daily warm-up routine on the primary instrument and log each session in a practice journal

Identify and correct three recurring technical faults (e.g. posture, embouchure or bow contact) using slow, metronome-paced repetitions

Notate the major and minor scales relevant to the current repertoire and play them from memory at a steady tempo

Define twenty core music-literacy terms in your own words and match each to an example in your repertoire

Map the formal structure of two contrasting repertoire pieces by bar number and section label

Isolate the four hardest passages and practise each at 60% tempo with correct articulation before increasing speed

Apply one interpretive decision per phrase (dynamics, rubato or timbre) and justify it in writing

Rehearse the full programme start-to-finish twice without stopping to build continuity

Perform the full solo programme to a listener and capture it on a single unedited recording

Refine stage presentation: walk-on, stance, instrument handling, bow or breath before the first note, and closing acknowledgement

Reduce technical error count in the hardest passage by half compared with week 2

Practise recovery by deliberately restarting from three random points in each piece

Assemble and rehearse a balanced 15-minute programme order that contrasts tempo, key and mood

Run two full dress rehearsals in performance clothing with no stopping and no score if memorisation is required

Coordinate one ensemble or accompanist session, agreeing tempo, cues and balance points

Solicit structured feedback from a peer or teacher using a three-question rubric

Transcribe by ear an eight-bar melodic phrase and a four-chord progression from a recording

Identify intervals, chord qualities and cadences by ear in a ten-item self-made quiz, scoring at least 80%

Draft a stage plot and equipment list covering instruments, amplification, monitoring and power needs

Write a risk-assessment for a performance venue covering manual handling, hearing protection, electrical safety and warm-up breaks

Research the roles of at least four music-industry parties (venue, promoter, technician, licensor) and summarise their responsibilities

Prepare a performance-planning timeline working backwards from a hypothetical gig date, including rehearsal, travel and contingency buffers

Set three SMART goals for the final performance and define how each will be measured

Review your practice journal and identify which rehearsal strategies produced measurable gains

Evaluate the week-4 dress rehearsal against the SMART goals and record specific corrective actions

Run three spaced full run-throughs on separate days to test consistency under varied conditions

Target the two weakest sections with deliberate slow practice and re-test them at tempo

Rehearse the pre-performance routine: warm-up timing, hydration, nerves management and quiet focus

Perform the final programme in a simulated exam setting to at least two listeners

Deliver a spoken reflection covering interpretation choices, technical progress and areas for future development

Complete a final self-assessment against all six domains using a simple rating scale

Compile the finished portfolio: recordings, annotated scores, journal, plan, risk assessment and reflection