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Planned offering · Subject to inspection, authorization, and availability.

Grade 9 Music

Learn it. Play it. Create it.

Build musical skills, express your ideas and develop confidence through playing, listening, creating and performing.

Groundwork’s planned Grade 9 Music course combines practical music instruction with online course work. Students can learn guitar with Groundwork or incorporate lessons they already take on another instrument.

Two pathways. The same course expectations.

Choose Your Pathway

Pathway 1: Learn Guitar with Groundwork

Develop your guitar skills through scheduled group lessons, available in person in Mississauga or live online.

Lessons introduce playing techniques, chords, melodies, rhythm and musical expression. You practise between classes and apply your skills through performance and creative tasks.

Alongside your group lessons, you complete online course work covering music theory, listening, analysis, music in society and responsible musical practices.

This pathway includes:

• Group guitar instruction in Mississauga or live online.
• Regular practice between lessons.
• Online lessons and assignments.
• Performance, composition and listening activities.
• Teacher feedback and assessment.

Pathway 2: Incorporate Your Existing Music Lessons

Already taking music lessons? Continue learning your current instrument with your instructor while completing Groundwork’s online course work.

Your Groundwork teacher reviews your musical experience and lesson program, then identifies how suitable repertoire and activities can connect with the course expectations.

You submit performances and complete theory, listening, creative and reflective assignments. Additional musical tasks are included where your existing lessons do not cover a course expectation.

This pathway includes:

• Continued lessons with your current instructor.
• A teacher-reviewed plan connecting your lessons with the course.
• Online lessons and assignments.
• Performance submissions and additional musical tasks as needed.
• Feedback and assessment from your Groundwork teacher.

What You’ll Learn

Creating and Performing

Develop technique and expression through notated and improvised music. Compose or arrange simple pieces, experiment with ideas, and refine your work through feedback.

Musical Foundations

Understand notation, terminology and musical elements, including rhythm, pitch, dynamics, timbre, texture and form. Develop listening and music-reading skills.

Listening, Analysis and Reflection

Explore varied styles, analyse musical choices, distinguish technique from expression, and use reliable research to inform your responses.

Music, Culture and History

Explore musical traditions, their development and characteristics, and their connections with communities and cultures, including Indigenous music.

Technology and Responsible Practice

Use technology to support practice, recording and creation. Learn about safe musical practices, copyright, ethical behaviour and performance etiquette.

Personal Growth and Future Opportunities

Reflect on your progress, develop collaborative work habits, and explore music-related learning, work and community opportunities.

The Same Expectations for Both Pathways

Both pathways include practical music-making and academic course work.

Taking outside lessons does not automatically earn course credit. Your Groundwork teacher assesses your demonstrated learning against the course expectations.

Tasks are planned with your experience in mind while maintaining the learning requirements of the course.

How You’ll Show Your Learning

Your course work may include:

• Live or recorded performances.
• Original compositions, arrangements and improvisations.
• Music theory and listening tasks.
• Research and analysis assignments.
• Practice reflections and teacher check-ins.

Your teacher provides feedback to help you develop your skills and understand your next steps.

What You’ll Need

• Regular access to a guitar for the Groundwork guitar pathway, or your current instrument for the existing-lessons pathway.
• A computer or tablet with reliable internet access.
• A way to record and submit performances.
• A suitable space for practice.
• A camera and microphone for live online group lessons.

Students choosing in-person guitar lessons must be able to attend scheduled sessions in Mississauga. The lesson location and timetable will be shared before registration.

Students incorporating existing lessons continue to arrange and pay for those lessons separately.

Find Your Pathway

Tell us about your musical experience and whether you would like to learn guitar or continue your existing lessons. We’ll help you identify the appropriate pathway and explain the course requirements.

Planned launch: February 2027

Applications are reviewed before registration and payment. We will contact you if proof of prerequisites is required.