Music
Head of Department – Mr R Flowers
KS3
Year 7
Term 1
Rhythm & Pulse
Focus: The importance of pulse, rhythm, accents, rests. Basic musical notation, note values and time signatures (duple, triple and quadruple time).
The unit will also focus on knowledge and understanding of the basic elements of music such as: Structure, Tempo, Texture, Pitch, Dynamics
Britain since 1930
Focus: This unit explores musical styles in Britain during the 1930’s and 1940’s and focuses on music popular during the Second World War. Pupils will explore melodic shape (steps/leaps) and the Chromatic Scale. Pupils then move onto explore the instrumental genre of Swing Music.
Term 2
African Drumming
Focus: To develop understanding of African tradition. To develop students’ ability to rehearse and perform rhythms accurately as part of an ensemble and to use different musical elements in the creation of their own compositions. To understand traditional music notation and graphic scores.
Gamelan
Focus: To develop understanding of Indonesian tradition. To develop students’ ability to rehearse and perform melodies accurately as part of an ensemble and to use different musical elements in the creation of their own compositions. To understand traditional music notation in terms of both rhythm and pitch.
Term 3
Journey into space
Focus: This unit takes, as its starting point, Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” as a basis for creative composition tasks. Central to the unit are the concepts of mood, tempo, dynamics and instrumentation (or timbre) explored through Richard Strauss’s “Also Sprach Zarathustra” which pupils explore in terms of a piece of descriptive music used to describe a “Rocket Launch”. Pupils create musical soundscapes for the planets.
Focus: Know about syncopation and how to read and write notes on the treble clef. To know of the context and background to Calypso and Soca music. Know how to perform a Soca song with control of instrument-specific techniques including the use of two hands independently in the case of higher achievers.
Year 8
Term 1
Stand By Me
Focus: Pupils will develop their understanding of chords, basslines and riffs through exploring how they are used in Stand By Me by Ben E. King.
Know that chord sequences, basslines, riffs, and syncopation are key features of popular songs and to be able to describe their meanings.
Blues
Focus: Knowledge of the Blues origins and conventions that identify the genre.
Know how to play and record the key elements of the blues genre to create a composition in a recognizable structure.
Term 2
Reggae
Focus: Be able to recognise characteristics of Reggae music. To understand the term ‘syncopation’ and be able to perform a syncopated rhythm accurately.
Be able to organise their rehearsal time and resources effectively in preparation for a performance.
Pop Song Writing
Focus: Developing performance, learning to sing, to create and compose music independently and with others and to understand and explore how music is created. To use features of ‘learned’ music in order to achieve stylistic effect in original composition.
Term 3
Tubular Bells
More advanced practical musicianship skills. Working with irregular time signatures and exploring developmental techniques in minimalist music.
Live Band Project
Focus: To develop an understanding of song structure reflecting verse, chorus, bridge and round.
To develop basic performance and evaluation skills.
Be able to organise their rehearsal time effectively.
Be able to perform as an ensemble “I’m A Believer”.
Evaluate their performance, make improvements and set targets to improve.
Year 9
Term 1
Pop Songs
Focus: Know about the key features of popular music and how they are constructed. To know how create musical material in the context of popular music and structure musical ideas in an appropriate way. Know how develop musical material in the context of popular music using techniques relevant to the style.
Film Music
Focus: Know about the variety of techniques used to create moods in films. Be able to describe musical elements used to create moods in films.
Know how to perform a famous theme from a well-known film on keyboards including independent hands.
Interpret more advanced traditional notations including dynamics, repeats, 1st / 2nd time bars. More advanced students to tackle modulation and key signatures (showing a basic understanding of transposition where appropriate).
Term 2
Musicals
Focus: This unit explores songs and music from the stage, beginning with an exploration into “What makes up a musical?” Pupils explore the history and developments of elements of a musical, from their origins in opera, before exploring the impact of an “opening number” (‘All That Jazz’) in terms of chords and vamps, putting together a group performance. Particular focus is given to Timbre & Dynamics, Melody & Harmony, Structure & Form.
Advanced African Drumming
Focus: Exploring complex rhythm settings including the use of syncopation, cross-rhythms, and polyrhythms. Collaborative composition work using key features of African music culminating in a performance workshop.
Term 3
Variations
Focus: Know about the basic ingredients of classical music.
Be able to play and compose in a classical style including Triadic patterns, note addition, note substitution, note subtraction. Know how to manipulate simple melodic ideas in order to extend them.
Music Notation Software
Focus: Know about the effect of software on the music industry. Be able to create a basic score on Sibelius accurately and independently. Know how to manipulate scores in order to develop, edit and correct errors with soft copy scores. Recognise and understand the relationship between notation and sound through use of ICT.
KS4
Additional information of use to students/parents during study
This qualification supports students in forming personal and meaningful relationships with music through the development of musical knowledge, understanding and skills including performing, composing and appraising. The qualification encourages students to engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music and musical contexts, develop an understanding of the place of music in different cultures and contexts, and reflect on how music is used in the expression of personal and collective identities.
This qualification also supports the development of musical fluency and provides access to further study of music at AS and A Level, as well as giving students a wide range of transferable skills that are highly sought after in every industry.
Qualification aims and objectives
The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to:
- Engage actively in the process of music study
- Develop performing skills individually and in groups to communicate musically with fluency and control of the resources used.
- Develop composing skills to organise musical ideas and make use of appropriate resources
- Recognise links between the integrated activities of performing, composing and appraising and how this informs the development of music.
- Broaden musical experience and interests, develop imagination and foster creativity
- Develop knowledge, understanding and skills needed to communicate effectively as musicians
- Develop awareness of a variety of instruments, styles and approaches to performing and composing
- Develop awareness of music technologies and their use in the creation and presentation of music
- Recognise contrasting genres, styles and traditions of music, and develop some awareness of musical chronology
- Develop as effective and independent learners with enquiring minds
- Reflect on and evaluate their own and others’ music
- Engage with and appreciate the diverse heritage of music, in order to promote personal, social, intellectual and cultural development.
Other useful websites:
- https://www.musictheory.net/lessons
- http://www.musictheoryvideos.com/
- https://www.bbc.com/education/subjects/zpf3cdm
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3q984EWyJe5fvJzadbO3lE0SoLPy-jZL (This has a playlist of recordings for the Set Works you will study!)
KS5
Level 3 Advanced GCE in Music (9MU0)
- Exam board: Pearson Edexcel
- Exam board subject website
- Link to past papers
Additional information of use to students/parents during study
This qualification will support students in forming personal and meaningful relationships with music through the development of musical knowledge, understanding and skills, including performing, composing and appraising. Students will be encouraged to engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music and musical contexts, develop an understanding of the place of music in different cultures and contexts, and reflect on how music is used in the expression of personal and collective identities.
This qualification will also allow students to develop particular strengths and interests, encourage lifelong learning and provide access to higher education and university degree courses in music and music-related subjects, as well as music-related and other careers.
Qualification aims and objectives
The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to:
- Actively engage in the process of music study
- Develop performing skills to demonstrate an understanding of musical elements, style, sense of continuity, interpretation and expression
- Develop composing skills to demonstrate the manipulation of musical ideas and the use of musical devices and conventions
- Recognise the interdependence of musical knowledge, understanding and skills, and make links between the integrated activities of performing, composing and appraising underpinned by attentive listening
- Broaden musical experience and interests, develop imagination and foster creativity
- Develop and extend the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to communicate effectively as musicians
- Develop knowledge and understanding of a variety of instruments and styles, and of relevant approaches to both performing and composing
- Develop awareness of music technologies and their use in the creation and presentation of music
- Appraise contrasting genres, styles and traditions of music, and develop understanding of musical contexts and a coherent awareness of musical chronology
- Develop as effective, independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds
- Reflect critically and make personal judgements on their own and others’ music
- Engage with, and extend appreciation of, the diverse heritage of music in order to promote personal, social, intellectual and cultural development.