Music
Introduction
Through the Music curriculum we believe that students deserve a broad and ambitious music curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge, which ignites curiosity and prepares them well for future learning or employment. Our music curriculum will give students the opportunity to:
- Develop a thorough understanding of music, through performing, composing listening and analysing.
- Develop self-confidence through performance, both through lessons and extra-curricular participation
- Encourage creativity through composition skills
Years 7, 8 & 9
What will I study?
In Year 7, you will study the following topics;
- The Elements of Music
- Keyboard Skills
- Rhythm and Pulse
- Form and Structure
- The Instruments of The Orchestra
- Folk Music
In Year 8, you will study the following topics;
- Hooks and Riffs
- Variations
- Jazz and Blues
- All About the Bass
- Rhythms of Africa
In Year 9, you will study the following topics;
- Dance Music
- Soundtracks
- Computer and Videogame Music
- New Directions
- Samba
- Popular Song
What skills will I develop?
Year 7:
- Understanding of the elements of music
- Development keyboard skills
- Understand how music is structured
- Development of listening skills
Year 8:
- Understand how Hooks and riffs are composed and used
- Explore music from cultures including; the Americas, the Caribbean and Africa
- Development of rhythmic performance skills
Year 9:
- Understand how dance music has developed throughout different centuries, cultures and traditions.
- Understand how music is used in film and media
- Understand how computer and video game music has developed throughout the past 50 years
- Develop listening skills and identify the different parts of songs and how they are written.
How will I be assessed?
Year 7:
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Each unit will be assessed with a twenty-point knowledge test and a short performance piece.
Year 8:
-
Each unit will be assessed with a twenty-point knowledge test and a short performance piece.
Year 9:
- Each unit will be assessed with a twenty-point knowledge test and a short performance piece.
Curriculum Maps
Year 7
1 Year 7 Music - Building Bricks
2 Year 7 Music - Keyboard Skills
3 Year 7 Music - Form and Structure
4 Year 7 Music - Rhythm and Pulse
5 Year 7 Music - Sonority City
6 Year 7 Music - Folk Music
Years 10 & 11
What will I study?
Year 10:
- AoS 1 Western Classical Music 1650 – 1910
- AoS 2 Popular Music
- AoS 3 Traditional Music
- AoS 4 Western Classical Music From 1910
Year 11:
- Composition and Performance
- AoS 1 Western Classical Tradition Re-cap
- AoS 2 Popular Music Recap
- Listening Exam Prep
- Performance Recordings
- AoS 3 Traditional Music Re-Cap
- AoS 4 Western Classical Music since 1910 Re-cap
- Listening Exam Prep
What skills will I develop?
- Students will study how music is composed. This is through the use of diatonic chord scales, major minor, pentatonic and harmonic minor scales, structures, instrumentation, time-signatures, rhythms and genres.
- Students will study how to perform in solo and ensembles for formal assessment.
- Students will be able to identify different musical aspects and features of Baroque, Classical and Romantic Music from 1650 – 1900.
- Students will be able to identify different musical aspects and features of Popular music from 1950s to the present day.
- Students will be able to identify different musical aspects and features of Traditional music from all across the world.
- Students will be able to identify different musical aspects and features of western classical music from 1910 to present day.
How will I be assessed?
Year 10:
- Three assessment points in a year. Two forty-point assessments on the knowledge of each Area of Study, two solo performance assessments and two listening assessments based on the Areas of Study.
- One formal listening test at the end of each year.
Year 11:
- Listening assessments each week based on Areas of Study
- Two formal composition assessments
- Two formal performance assessments
- Terminal Listening assessment at end of year.
Curriculum Maps
Year 10
Key Stage 5
What will I study?
Year 12:
- Development of recording technologies
- Popular music Genres from 1920 – present day
- Recording Techniques
- Consumer Recording Formats
- Composition for Video
- Live instrument capture
Year 13:
- Development of recording technologies
- Popular music Genres from 1920 – present day
- Recording Techniques
- Consumer Recording Formats
- Composition for Video
- Live instrument capture
What skills will I develop?
Year 12:
- How to identify popular music genres from the 1910s to present day.
- How to record a wide variety of acoustic, electric and digital sound producing instruments.
- How to use samples and incorporate them in compositions.
- How to create an arrangement from a wide range of artists to produce a noise free stereo sound recording.
Year 13:
- How to identify popular music genres from the 1910s to present day.
- How to record a wide variety of acoustic, electric and digital sound producing instruments.
- How to use samples and incorporate them in compositions.
- How to create an arrangement from a wide range of artists to produce a noise free stereo sound recording.
- How to write a composition that includes synthesis, sound design, sampling and audio capture and manipulation for film.
How will I be assessed?
Year 12:
- Three assessment points – Written knowledge tests on recording technologies, recording techniques, genres, consumer audio formats and equipment. Practical assessments on the application of recording techniques and composition.
Year 13:
- Two formal pieces of course work; one composition for film using audio capture and manipulation, midi programming, sampling and sound design. One production of a three and a half minute recording of an artist prescribed by the exam board.
Curriculum Maps