Music
Our Vision
Our Aim for the Music curriculum is to be able to give all students the opportunity to experience and explore a wide variety of musical genres and instruments from around the world and throughout history, developing their historical and cultural capital and creating a generation of learners that are resilient, curious, creative and independent thinkers.
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3, we introduce students to a wide variety of musical genres which we explore via a particular instrument each half term, including: popular music, world music, film music and western classical music including music composed in the 20th Century. In each new genre, students build upon previous skills alongside learning new skills and techniques.
Solo, pair and group work will allow students to express themselves through composition and develop the confidence to perform in front of an audience. Compositions and performances are recorded regularly and used for self- and peer-assessment and evaluation.
Home learning is carefully planned within the curriculum to provide students with an opportunity to practice, embed and apply the knowledge that they have been taught in lessons.
Key Stage 4
We currently offer AQA GCSE Music from year 9 which is delivered over one double and one single lesson per week.
The AQA GCSE music course is designed to develop four core skills: composing, performing, listening and appraising through the study a wide variety of genres. Students learn to compose music and produce recordings through a range of music technology, including a multi-tracker, Sibelius and Audacity and explore the following strands through the four core skills:
- Strand 1: Rhythm, meter, texture, melody, structure and form
- Strand 2: Harmony, tonality, timbre (sonority), dynamics, phrasing and articulation
In Year 9, students will complete a foundation year where they will revisit skills learnt in Years 7 and 8 and build upon these. New, more challenging compositional and performing opportunities will be introduced so by Christmas the students will start to have a bank of resources and skills they are comfortable with. From the Spring term in Year 9, students are immersed in the main areas of study for GCSE; The Western Classical Tradition 1650-1910, Popular Music, Traditional Music and the Western Classical Tradition since 1910 where they explore these genres through composition and performance mini tasks.
In Years 10 and 11, students work on building their performance and composition portfolio, completing at least one solo performance and one ensemble performance (worth 30% of the GCSE) and one free composition and, in Year 11, the final composition to a brief (30% of the GCSE).
At Key Stage 4, home learning is important as it forms a continuation of their classwork developing a strong knowledge base surrounding the four main areas of study in the course.
Enrichment Opportunities
Students are offered several extra-curricular opportunities in order to further their arts experience, this includes: Key Stages 3 and 4 choirs, Band workshops, Band, Music Theory Club, Steel Pans, Woodwind Ensemble as well as live music for school productions and concerts.
Students in Years 7 and 8 can apply to receive instrumental or vocal tuition by submitting an application form, signed by parents/guardians, to Miss Earwood. There are many benefits to taking up a musical instrument or learning to sing. A range of extra-curricular activities are run on a weekly basis and all students have the opportunity to attend. Belonging to a band, ensemble or club encourages students to mix across age groups, giving a strong sense of musical community to the school.
GCSE students are expected to join a school ensemble or form a band in order to enrich their learning and improve their GCSE ensemble performance coursework. Year 11 students are invited to attend regular ‘Zone’ sessions where they can spend more time on GCSE music projects or revise for the listening and appraising exam. GCSE music students will also have the opportunity to showcase their exam work through performance and production evenings such as the Carol Concert or the Spring Chamber Concert
Assessment
Key stage 3
Assessments will take place every half term, and will focus on composing, performing, listening and appraising music.
Key stage 4
Assessments will take place every half term, linked to the unit’s area of focus and will take the form or a performance, composition or listening and appraising practice papers.
- Performing Music [controlled assessment] 30%
- Composing Music [controlled assessment] 30%
- Listening and Appraising [examination] 40%
Students are given planned time to make improvements to their work following assessments. We pride ourselves on verbal timely feedback given in lessons to address misconceptions and stretch students alongside more formal feedback sessions.