Teaching Staff and Responsibilities
Mrs McCoy Subject Leader for Music
Mr Hitchman Teacher of Music
KS3 (Years 7-9)
How do we organise teaching groups at KS3?
At KS3, classes are taught in form groups (classes of 30-32) which are all mixed ability.
What are our aims at KS3?
- to inspire a love of music and culturally enrich students in our care;
- to provide regular opportunities to perform and compose in an environment which is conducive to creative development and pushing personal boundaries;
- to produce SOW which engage and instil a genuine aspiration to perform music to a high standard;
- to provide an understanding of how social and contextual influences impact on compositional styles and genres;
- to inspire a genuine curiosity in Music by introducing unfamiliar music to broaden students’ experiences of musical styles and celebrate diversity;
- to develop performance skills which will allow pupils to revisit and further develop their musicianship after KS3;
- to develop composing skills though the learning of musical conventions and compositional devices which provides the foundation for individual development in composing after KS3;
- to provide opportunities for students to develop transferable social skills including teamwork, compromise, commitment, organisation, perseverance, independence, interpersonal relationships, written and oral communication and self-discipline;
- providing an environment that allows for self-expression, individuality and inclusion;
- Musical Pedagogy is linked through etymology with a wide range of subjects as well as links through transferable skills and developing creativity
- Produce a curriculum which gives frequent opportunity for retrieval practice which allows students to build on previous knowledge and skill set so performance, composing and apprising music comes naturally to our learners
How does this subject develop over KS3?
- Over KS3, pupils will study a wide variety of musical styles in increasing complexity and detail to build on previously acquired knowledge and concepts;
- Pupils will develop the ability to produce extended performances and compositions in the different styles covered. In Year 7, pupils will learn to compose using basic compositional techniques and learn to read and perform from the notes of the treble clef on guitar and keyboard. By Year 9, there will be greater focus more complex compositional techniques and structures and they will compose using Sibelius Music software;
- Pupils will compose and develop effective practising techniques with increasing independence;
- Pupils will identify and develop their understanding of listening to music. In year 7, the pupils concentrate on the elements of Music. By year 9, pupils will be using GCSE standard musical vocabulary;
What will my daughter learn at KS3?
Year 7
Elements of Music
Singing together
What is ensemble singing? How does context impact
Preparation for year 7 mass.
The Train to Caipira
Learn about the elements of Music (texture, timbre, tempo, structure, pitch, dynamics, duration, silence)
Compose a piece of music which uses the elements of music appropriately to represent a train journey.
Change of Environment
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
“Blitz” composition: Explore the elements of Music in context of the story of
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and create a Ternary form piece of music in groups which accurately Represents the blitz.
Listen to music with understanding.
“Narnia” composition
Explore the elements of Music in a contrasting contextand create a Ternary form piece of music in groups which accurately represents the characters discovering Narnia.
Listen to music with understanding.
Instruments of the orchestra
Keyboard skills
Performance: Learn correct keyboard performance technique and
perform pieces with one hand
Reading Music
Reading Music, treble clef and note values
African Music and STOMP
Djembe Learn context of African music percussion, learn an
African piece as a class, and use it as a basis for an
African group composition.
STOMP
Who are STOMP? Watch “STOMP out loud” for inspiration for STOMP style Composition
Keyboard skills 2
Performance: Learn how to play chords using correct keyboard
performance technique and Perform pieces with two
hands
Reading Music
Reading chords, major and minor chords listening
Ukulele Skills
Learning how to read tab and perform chords on Ukulele
Year 8
60s Music
Stand By me: Explore the context of events in the 60s and the impact this had on the music scene, learn how to play “Stand by me” bassline, chords and drum kit part in preparing a group performance of the song
Beatles and Ballads
History of the Beatles, ballads, 32-bar song, compose a 60s style ballad
Jazz and Blues
Blues: Learn context (slave trade) and musical characteristics of Blues music (12-bar-blues, improvisation, syncopation, call and response) and perform “Walking Bass”
Jazz
Learn about different styles of Jazz (New Orleans, Bebop, Swing, Cool Jazz) and artists associated with the different styles.
Compose a blues song in 12-bar-ablues structure.
Samba Music
Performance Introducing Latin American percussion, Samba Class, performance, polyrhythms, call and response, syncopation
Composition Latin American Music – Combine samba with Salsa – keyboards – Knowledge based on the role of the instruments e.g Clave Rhythms/Role Agogos/Shakers/Drums – then go into salsa piece and they formally learn how to play with a backing track with accompaniment using Chords
Guitar
Performance: Learn how to play bass line using open strings, chords using correct Guitar technique, learn about riffs and chords to build up the layers of a performance of “Chasing Cars” including vocals and drum kit
Cheesemouse
Composing to a short film, use of “micky-mousing” and other film composition techniques, Harry Potter Performance
Theme and Variations
Composition Introducing Sibelius software, Compose Twinkle,
Twinkle Little Star variations (melody, texture, rhythm and tonality)
Musicals
Composition: Learning typical features and compositional devices used in Musicals to write a musical style song
Guitars
Don’t Stop Believing:
Learn to play more notes on strings, learn how to play a bass line, riff and chords on guitar.
Learn to add drum kit to a performance, piano hook and prepare a performance of “Don’t Stop Believing”
Year 9
Film Music
James Bond Film Music (performance) – James Bond Performance, musical impact in films, Leitmotif Composition
London Curriculum
Song Writing Write a popular song in any style inspired by London
Are there any websites that will support my daughter’s learning?
https://sacredheartofmary.musicfirst.co.uk/app/
https://shommusic.weebly.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
KS4/GCSE (Years 10-11)
How do we organise teaching groups at KS4?
At KS4, classes are taught in option groups (class size dependent on uptake) which are all mixed ability.
Which GCSE specification do we prepare pupils for?
Eduqas GCSE (9-1) in Music (C660QS). Here is a link to the specification for more detailed information:
What will my daughter learn at KS4?
Year 10
We have selected the following options
Component 1: Performing
- Solo performance workshops and preparation
Component 2: Composing
- Composition techniques
- Composition of Free composition
Component 3: Appraising
- Musical Forms and Devices & Ensemble Music
- Baroque Ensemble Music – Concerto and Baroque Suite
- Set work: Badinerie by Bach
- Classical ensembles – String Quartet and other ensembles
- Romantic ensembles – programmatic music
- Musical Theatre
- Jazz
Year 11
We have selected the following options
Component 1: Performing
- Ensemble and Solo performance workshops and preparation
Component 2: Composing
- Composition techniques
- Composition of Set Brief composition
Component 3: Appraising
- Film Music
- Genres of Film Music
- Popular Music
- Rock and pop
- Electronic Music
- Fusions
- Set Work: Africa by Toto
Are there any websites that will support my daughter’s learning?
- https://classroom.google.com
- https://portal.focusonsound.com/
- https://shommusic.weebly.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
- https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/examspecs/z6chkmn
KS5/A Level (Y12-13)
How do we organise teaching groups at KS5?
At KS5, classes are taught in option groups (class size dependent on uptake) which are all mixed ability.
Which A Level specification do we prepare pupils for?
Eduqas A Level Music. Here is a link to the specification for more detailed information:
Year 12
We have selected the following options from the specification to teach in Year 12.
- The Western Classical Tradition (The Development of the Symphony 1750-1900)
- The early Classical Symphony (Stamitz, C. P. E Bach, Mozart and Haydn)
- Symphony No. 104 in D major, ‘London’: Haydn Set Work
Area of study C: Musical Theatre
- Rodgers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Boublil and Schoenberg, Stephen Schwartz
Area of study E: Into the Twentieth Century
- Three Nocturnes, Number 1, Nuages: Debussy
- Contextual Composers and their music (Neo-Classical Music, Impressionism, Expressionism)
Year 13
We have selected the following options from the specification to teach in Year 13.
- The Western Classical Tradition (The Development of the Symphony 1750-1900)
- The late Classical and early Romantic Symphony (Beethoven, Berlioz, Dvorak)
- Symphony No. 4 in A major, ‘Italian’: Mendelssohn
Area of study C: Musical Theatre
- Stephen Sondheim
Area of study E: Into the Twentieth Century
- Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano, Movement II: Poulenc
- Contextual Composers and their music (Neo-Classical Music, Impressionism, Expressionism)
Are there any websites that will support my daughter’s learning?
https://portal.focusonsound.com/
https://shommusic.weebly.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
Future pathways/careers
https://www.careersinmusic.com/
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/music