Music
Welcome to the Music Department
“Where words fail, music speaks.”- Hans Christian Andersen
Head of Department:
Mr Appleman
e-mail: sappleman3.310@parkhighstanmore.org.uk
Introduction
In Music, we aim to foster a love for and understanding of music through a wide range of musical opportunities, leading to confident, successful, resilient and well-rounded students who are skilled performers, creative composers and astute listeners. This is demonstrated through a variety of topics exposing students to a range of styles and cultures that build upon students’ skills year on year. This, in turn, allows our students to contribute positively to society as responsible citizens. Students have access to music technology (Garage Band, Logic and Musescore) in order to further develop their knowledge, skills and understanding, particularly in the area of composing.
Music at Key Stage 3 and 4 encompasses the three core skills of Performing, Composing and Listening/Appraising ensuring that not only the specific components of the specifications are met but that students develop as all-round musicians.
Instrumental lesson form
Use the link on the right-hand side menu to apply for this.
Key Stage 3
Our creative and challenging curriculum encompasses the three core skills of Performing, Composing and Listening, encouraging resilience, teamwork and curiosity. As such, it meets and exceeds the National Curriculum for Music.
Based on “Striking the Right Note” (OFSTED, September 2023), our curriculum: deliberately build pupils’ procedural knowledge of how to control sound; provides plentiful opportunities to consolidate procedural knowledge, including using staff notation; is built in a way that is gradual, iterative and coherent with regard to instrument choice; includes opportunities for students to develop and practise the components of compositions that are set out in the schemes of learning; includes tasks at a technical level that are appropriate for students to be able to realise their expressive intentions; and, gives students opportunities to learn about musical culture and repertoire.
This will be achieved in the classroom by enabling all pupils to discover, explore and experiment with the creative process; allowing all pupils to fulfil their own potential and enjoy music as either part of their education and/or as a leisure pursuit’ improving pupils’ personal skills including self-confidence and self-esteem; promoting team skills, open-mindedness and independence; and, creating an atmosphere of encouragement and support.
Year 7
Students will start their musical journey with an introduction to music through exploring the Elements of Music, singing and the use of voice. They will create a short composition by experimenting with their voice which they will then perform. Following this, students will learn to read standard musical notation which will give Year 7s the necessary knowledge to enable them to develop keyboard skills. Further exploration of the Elements of Music through Renaissance and Baroque music will then be applied to music technology and the use of Logic. Ensemble skills will be developed throughout.
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Elements of Music
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Keyboard Music
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Medieval and Baroque Music
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Home learning is allocated for each topic. This may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it complementing performance and composition in lesson.
In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course. Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.
Knowledge Organisers:
Year 8
Year 8 begins by re-enforcing core skills learnt in Year 7 and then a composition project exploring Variation Form and Remix. Keyboard skills will be revisited with the opportunity to visit more complex pieces, extending students’ keyboard skills and musical understanding. This is followed by an in-depth look at conventions in film music, introducing Logic Pro, a professional-grade music technology suite, while learning about film music conventions. Students will use this knowledge by composing a piece of music to accompany a film scene.
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Theme and Variations
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Keyboard Music
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Film Music
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Home learning is allocated for each topic. This may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it complementing performance and composition in lesson.
In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course. Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.
Knowledge Organisers:
Year 9
Year 9 begins by learning about the development and conventions of Blues Music. Students will learn to perform melodic and accompanying customs of the style as well as opportunities for improvisation and to perform as a group. Researching different influential bands, students will learn to play different pieces of popular music, developing further their instrumental skills, leading to composing their own song. In the Summer Term, students will complete a further performance project based on Caribbean Music combining performance, composition and ensemble skills learnt through Key Stage 3.
| Autumn | Spring | Summer |
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Blues Music?
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Song-writing
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Caribbean Music
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Home learning is allocated for each topic. This may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it complementing performance and composition in lesson.
In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course. Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.
Key Stage 4
The curriculum is more bespoke at KS4 to ensure that not only the specific components of the EDUQAS specification are met, but that students develop as all-round musicians. Students prepare performances for final assessment in addition to two compositions, building in confidence and ability. Students develop their skills through a variety of tasks. These two components inform and complement work for the listening paper: two set works (Bach and Toto) and four Areas of Study.
Year 10
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Ongoing assessment of appraisal and elements of music etc.
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Ongoing assessment of appraisal and elements of music etc.
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All students who follow this course will be given home learning weekly. Focus on Sound is used to support learning and will often be used for home learning. Wider reading is always useful either from the websites offered, the text book or as directed by their classroom teacher
GCSE Music 60% of the assessment is through Non-Examined Assessments, which consists of two compositions and two performances, one solo and one an ensemble. One composition and the solo performance should be completed by the end of the summer term in Year 10.
In the Summer Term, each student will sit a formal, internal exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course worth 40%. Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.
Examination Board:
Useful Reading Material:
WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Music written by Jan Richards
Grade 1 Theory in Practice ABRSM
WJEC/Edeqas GCSE Music Revision Guide By Jan Richards
WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Music Revision Guide (Syllabus 2016 onwards) Rhinegold
Step up to GCSE Music by Paul Terry
Year 11
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Ongoing assessment of appraisal and elements of music etc.
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Ongoing assessment of appraisal and elements of music etc.
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Ongoing assessment of appraisal and elements of music etc.
Exams |
All students who follow this course will be given home learning weekly. Focus on Sound is used to support learning and will often be used for home learning. Wider reading is always useful either from the websites offered, the text book or as directed by their classroom teacher
GCSE Music 60% of the assessment is through coursework which consists of two compositions and two performances, one solo and one an ensemble. One composition will be a set brief given in September of year 11. Eduqas will give a choice of 4 briefs and students must choose one to compose to.
In the Summer Term, each student will sit the final appraising exam which will consist of all elements taught throughout the course worth 40%. Appropriate preparation in the form of revision should be taken seriously with sufficient planning and organisation to ensure each student fulfils their potential.
Examination Board:
Course Specification:
Qualification obtained:
GCSE Music
Useful Reading Material:
WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Music written by Jan Richards
Grade 1 Theory in Practice ABRSM
WJEC/Edeqas GCSE Music Revision Guide By Jan Richards
WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Music Revision Guide (Syllabus 2016 onwards) Rhinegold
Step up to GCSE Music by Paul Terry
Additional Information
Enrichment
There is a rich and varied programme of extra-curricular activities and a comprehensive provision of instrumental lessons with over 90 students learning an instrument in school, often supported (i.e. funded) by the school. There is a rich range of termly concerts (formal and informal), Arts Festival, School production, workshops and external visits.
Collectively, this ensures that we have strong foundations and ambitions aims for all four pillars highlighted in ”The Power of Music to Change Lives” report (DfE, June 2022): 1) Curriculum (Years 7-9 curriculum and GCSE); 2) Extra-curricular (school production, choir, instrumental ensemble and informal groups); 3) Memorable Experiences (concerts, workshops, visits, musical, formal and informal recitals) ; and, 4) Instrument Lessons (7 visiting teachers, over 90 students learning, 50% increase in 2 years).
Instrumental & Vocal lesson form
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