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Music

Subject: Music
Contact: Mrs R Landen

Overview

All students study Music throughout Key Stage 3 for 2 hours per fortnight. At Key Stages 4 and 5, Music is an optional subject which leads to a GCSE or BTEC (Level 3 national Extended Certificate in Music Performance) qualification.  Throughout each Key Stage students are immersed in practical music making through performance and composition as well as learning to listen to, appraise and write about music.  Students can choose to learn an instrument in private lessons provided by Music for Life in school, but all students will learn keyboard and singing skills in music lessons.

KEy stage 3 

Overview

Students are taught in mixed ability classes in Years 7, 8 & 9.  The curriculum is based on developing three skill areas which are examined at GCSE and BTEC (Level 3 national Extended Certificate in Music Performance); performing, composing, and listening and appraising.  Practical music making is core to the Key Stage 3 curriculum and students are taught to develop skills on the keyboard as a vehicle by which to present and engage with their learning.  Students will perform as soloists and in groups and write their own music, from song writing to film music.  The development of key vocabulary is essential and students will write about music they hear and/or perform.  The skills developed during Key Stage 3 are designed to ensure that students are set up to be successful at GCSE and beyond regardless of their previous musical experience.

Curriculum Content

Year

Autumn Term

Spring Term

Summer Term

7

Voice & Keyboard

Developing Performing Skills

The elements of music introduction

Listening and Appraising: Developing listening skills/theory alongside in short lesson activities

Assessment:

Baseline

solo performance – popular music keyboard pieces

Fanfare

Developing Solo Performing Skills

Developing Compositional Skills

Listening and Appraising: Developing listening skills/theory alongside in short lesson activities

Assessment:

Solo performance skills ‘Theme for Rocky’

composing a fanfare melody

Musical Theatre

Developing Solo Performing Skills

Developing Ensemble Performing Skills

Listening and Appraising: Developing listening/theory skills alongside in short lesson activities

Assessment:

Performance of a Musical Theatre piece

listening and theory questions

 

8

Music for Film

Developing Solo Performance Skills

Developing Composing Skills

Listening and Appraising: Developing listening skills alongside in short lesson activities

Assessment:

solo instrumental performance of music written for Film

Use musical devices, to compose a  soundscape ‘House on the Hill’

Samba & Fusion

Developing Ensemble Skills (whole class)

Developing Ensemble Skills (small group)

Listening and Appraising:

Developing listening skills alongside in short lesson activities

Assessment:

percussion skills, ensemble  Samba performance

group performance – fusion cover of a pop song

Music in the Media

Developing Solo Performance Skills

Developing Compositional Skills

Listening and Appraising: Developing listening skills alongside in short lesson activities

Assessment:

solo performance of a classical piece or pop song used in the media

Listening and theory questions

9

12 Bar Blues

Developing Solo & Ensemble Performance Skills

Developing composing skills

Listening and Appraising: Developing listening/theory skills alongside in short lesson activities

Assessment:

Solo performance of 12 bar blues chords/walking bass etc

Composing a short Blues Song (AAB form)

4 Chords of Pop

Developing Ensemble Performance Skills

Developing composing skills

Listening and Appraising: Developing listening skills alongside in short lesson activities

Assessment:

4 Chords of Pop ‘class band’ performance

 4 Chords of Pop group song composing

History of Pop Music

Developing Performance Skills

Developing an understanding about the development of popular music

Listening and Appraising: Developing listening/theory skills alongside in short lesson activities

Researching different decades of pop and presenting back to class, to also include a brief performance in this style.

Assessment

Decades of pop presentation and ensemble performance

The History of pop listening and theory questions

Assessment Criteria

Please find below the assessment benchmarks for Music. A child progresses across the grid (from A-I) when they demonstrate a deeper knowledge and wider range of skills in each assessment carried out.

KEy stage 4 

Overview

Students who opt to take Music at Key Stage 4 will be taught in mixed ability option groups.  Students are taught in 5 hours per fortnight and would be expected to spend time outside of lessons developing their performing and composing skills.  Students can either sing or play an instrument for the performing element of the course and this is a choice that they make based on their own skills and areas of interest.  Students should be able to access the course through skills developed at Key Stage 3 and needn’t have had private music lessons.

Exam board and course

Eduqas GCSE Music (9-1)

Curriculum Content

Year

Autumn Term

Spring Term

Summer Term 

10

The Elements of Music /DR P SMITH
Solo Performance
Initial free composition ideas
IA – Exam Style Questions & Solo performance

AOS1 – Musical Forms and Devices– Badinerie, Bach

Ensemble Performance

Free Composition

IA – Exam Style Questions- using terminology correctly

AOS3- Film music

Solo Performance

Free Composition

IA – Exam Style Questions

AO4-Popular Music- Africa, Toto

Solo Performance

Free Composition

IA – Exam Style Questions

Solo performance

AOS2– Music for Ensembles

Solo Performance

Free Composition

IA – exam style question

AOS2- Music for Ensemble

Solo Performance

Free Composition

IA – Full Paper, Solo performance and progress on free composition so far.

11

Solo Performance Skills

Mini assessments and building of marked work portfolio from which final piece(s) to send off to exam board can be chosen

Composing to a Brief
Complete composition for final coursework piece
AOS 1 - Musical Forms and Devices Badinerie

AOS – 4 Popular Music

Africa

 

Ensemble Performance
Rehearsal, mini assessments and recording of a final coursework performance

Free Composition

Completion of free composition final coursework piece.

AOS 3- Music for Ensemble

AOS 2 Film Music

Revision across all AOS and Set Works
 

Developing vocabulary and academic language – mini vocab tests on a weekly basis initially and review as needed

Exam style questions and developing examination technique

Developing writing for extended answer questions

Enrichment opportunities:

  • Show Choir - Tuesday lunchtime - all years
  • Big band - Friday lunchtime (grade 1+)
  • Accapella singing group - Wednesday lunchtime
  • Composition Club for KS4 &5 - Monday after school
  • Music theory class - KS4 &5 - Thursday after school
  • Annual musical production (September - February)
  • V Factor – March
  • Performances at termly concerts
  • Student led bands – rehearsal spaces available to book at lunchtime/after school

Useful websites to support learning

eduqas website