Subject: Music Curriculum
All Music is taught through listening, performing and appraising and composing. Music is a creative subject and therefore tasks are integrated to develop the key
skills of music. Through these tasks the pupils are encouraged to develop a rich music vocabulary and apply the key words to the tasks they are tackling. The ability
to work as a team, group, individually is valued and encouraged.
The music curriculum embraces all cultures and traditions to ensure a broad and rich music diet. In lessons the pupils are encouraged to value and compare the
various traditions. Pupils will learn to understand the social, cultural and political contexts of the music where applicable and be aware of the contribution music
has to all societies.
Singing is incorporated where applicable in the lessons and there are extra-curricular opportunities weekly to sing as part of a group.
Written work is usually given as extended writing tasks for homework at Key Stage 3 and at Key Stage 4 to help students internalise the topics and for GCSE
students to practice their examination paper writing skills. Research tasks are set to develop independent learning and the use of ICT enhances composition
through the use of Audacity, Cubase and Musicscore.com.
All lessons are planned to ensure there is progression in musical understanding and the work links to prior and future learning, as well as having several crosscurricular links.
Homework is set on Share my homework and where there is no internet access paper booklets of the work is accessible from the department.
Instrumental lessons are provided for students and are available by completing a form and returning to L.Smart. These lessons are 20-30 minutes long and run as
part of the school day so some time is required out of normal timetabled lessons.
Unity Music holds its sessions in the music department every Thursday night 4-5pm and the department is looking for more Year 7 pupils to be involved in the free
music making opportunities.
Regular concerts happen throughout the academic year in association with the performing arts department to encourage both KS3 and KS4 student’s confidence
and performing skills. GCSE pupils are expected to take part in a ‘GCSE showcase’ concert at Easter in preparation for their performance examination.
7
8
The elements of Music – Pupils learn musical dimensions through
exploration of World music genres such as Gamelan, Indian and Chinese.
STOMP – Pupils learn about and partake in this exciting drumming
scheme of work that encompasses elements of improvisation and
creative thinking
Programme Music – Pupils continue to strengthen knowledge of musical
dimensions through the exploration of programme music and the
important composers that pioneered this expressive musical genre
Dance music – Pupils explore music technology though learning about
dance music, creating their own compositions on ‘Audacity’ and ‘Cubase’.
Music from the far East – Pupils delve into the depths of world music
further by exploring the pentatonic scale and other key features of East
Asian music
Soul music – Pupils will learn about and explore music from America,
encompassing Motown, Gospel, and blues.
Samba – Pupils will learn about the origins of samba music and carnaval.
Pupils will explore how to use the various different samba drums and
learn different samba grooves In their bateria.
Film Music - Pupils will explore different genres of film music and learn
how different timbres and ideas can influence the onscreen action. Pupils
will create and perform their own film scores in groups
Music from America - pupils will learn about and explore music from
America – leading on from ‘Soul music’ explored in year 7.
African drumming – Pupils will learn about The Djembe drum and
perform and create their own African drumming rhythms.
Cover versions – Pupils will create and perform their own version of
songs, styled on ‘Musical Futures’ learning – pick up and play!
BBC 10 pieces – Pupils will become familiar with a range of western
classical pieces , picked out by the BBC as essential listening for KS3.
Pupils will recreate and perform the pieces during this topic.
Assessment overview
Assessment is weekly via self/peer and teacher assessment.
Mid-term and final assessment at the end of each unit.
Recordings of pupils’ work where applicable.
Assessment is weekly via self/peer and teacher assessment.
Mid-term and final assessment at the end of each unit.
Recordings of pupils’ work where applicable.
9
Students choose whether they would like to continue with music into
year 9. – 1 hourly lesson per week
Assessment is weekly via self/peer and teacher assessment.
Mid-term and final assessment at the end of each unit.
10
Reggae music – Pupils will learn about the origins of reggae and learn
about its key features through exploration of reggae songs. Pupils will
strengthen their keyboard skills and work with their peers to perform and
create reggae.
Music and the Media - Pupils will learn about music for media and create
their own versions of it, such as ‘Advert music’ in small groups, using a
variety of instruments. This topic links from their year 8 topic of ‘Film
music’.
Musical Theatre – Pupils will learn about musical theatre’s beginnings
and explore how music and drama fit together through this exciting
topic.
Steel pans – Year 9 have this unique opportunity to learn how to play
steel plans in an ensemble setting on the schools very own set.
Cover versions 2 – Pupils will step their learning of cover versions from
year 8 up a notch through creating and performing their own version of
more complex songs, styled on ‘Musical Futures’ learning – pick up and
play!
Musical lingo – In preparation for pupils taking music as a GCSE, pupils
will learn and explore musical key words and meanings through a variety
of tasks and practical activity – creating music through exploration of
chosen key words
Pupils study under the EDEXCEL GCSE for music. Pupils will learn 12 set
works from four different Areas of Study. Pupils will explore these set
works through three weekly lessons, organised into Listening,
Composition and Performance. Pupils will need to perform a solo and
ensemble piece and produce two compositions that are linked to two
areas of study.
Recordings of pupils’ work where applicable.
Assessments: (The Areas of Study are not studied in numeric order for the
ease of students learning)
Tuesday 8th December 2015 – AOS3 assessment
Pupils will sit a mini exam based on the set works they’ve studied for
Area of Study 3
Pupils will receive an instrumental lesson weekly, which the school will
pay for. All students are expected to perform regularly, including in their
GCSE showcase concert, which takes place in Easter.
All pupils are expected to attend at least one after school session per
week.
Edexcel - 4 Areas of study
Western Classical Tradition 1600-1900
20th century Music
Popular Music
World Fusion Music
Coursework associated with all areas of study and note making for the
individual topics to be covered.
Regular Listening and Appraising to develop listening skills and writing
skills for the listening paper.
Composing 2 pieces one for solo instrument and one for another mediumensemble etc.
Creating music on the spot for the 45 minute examination and for use in
compositions.
Thursday 11th February 2016 – Performance assessment
Mock – performance – solo
Tuesday 8th December 2016 – AOS3 assessment
Pupils will sit a mini exam based on the set works they’ve studied for
Area of Study 3
Tuesday 12th April 2016 – AOS1 assessment
Pupils will sit a mini exam based on the set works they’ve studied for
Area of Study 1
Tuesday 28th June 2016 – AOS2 assessment
Pupils will sit a mini exam based on the set works they’ve studied for
Area of Study 2
Tuesday 5th July 2016 – Performance assessment
Mock – performance – solo
Tuesday 19th July 2016– Composition 1 final deadline
Pupils must hand in their finished first composition
*All coursework is to be completed within school under teacher
supervision in a given time limit*
11
We currently do not have a year 11 group, however when year 10 return
as year 11 next year, they shall be continuing to learn the set works of
Area of Study 2 and they will complete their second composition. Pupils
will also record their solo and ensemble compositions.
Performance exam – Date to be confirmed