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Music
BackWELCOME
The aim of the Department is to make music available to all students at the school and to foster a life-long interest in music-making, by encouraging active participation at all levels.
All students in Years 7 and 8 receive weekly class lessons as part of the curriculum. Work covers singing, listening, percussion and keyboard skills, improvising, composing and theory. At Year 9 students can opt to follow a GCSE course and beyond that to AS and A2 Levels.
There are many exciting opportunities to take part in ensembles and concerts, both in school, locally, nationally and even abroad!
Please do not hesitate to contact me at the school if you would like any further information. To keep up to date with even more Music Department news and views, follow POLYPHONY - the music department blog.
- Mr House, Director of Music
WHAT WE DO
The Music Centre includes a main classroom, recital room, recording/technology room, office, instrument store and six practice rooms. This enables the structure of classwork to be flexible, assisting group improvisation and composition, as well as individual private practice.
There is a team of 12 visiting teachers who provide tuition in most woodwind, brass and string instruments, as well as the guitar and voice. These lessons occur in school time but are arranged in addition to the main curriculum and are charged for separately.
Lower Years Music
The Key Stage 3 curriculum will involve the following:
| Year 7 | Year 8 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Autumn Term |
The world of music |
Rhythm and Riffs |
|
Spring Term |
Jazz |
Music for the stage |
|
Summer Term |
Folk music |
Film music |
Middle Years (Y9-11) Music
The middle years curriculum will involve the following:
| Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Autumn Term |
Musical forms and devices 1 – structure and variations Music for ensemble 1 – chamber music |
Set work – Since you’ve been gone [practical exploration] Film music 2 – creating an atmosphere |
Composition brief released Preparation of performances and compositions Appraising mock examination |
|
Spring Term |
Set work – Eine kleine Nachtmusik : Mozart [practical exploration] Film music 1 – theme tunes |
Music for ensemble 2 - musical theatre, jazz and blues Popular music 2 - Fusion |
Preparation of performances and compositions Regular appraising revision |
|
Summer Term |
Popular music 1 – rock, pop and bhangra Musical forms and devices 2 – Baroque, Classical, Romantic |
Individual performing and composing Internal appraising examination |
NEA Work uploaded to Eduqas Appraising examination |
Upper Years Music
The upper years curriculum will involve the following:
| Year 12 | Year 13 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Autumn Term |
First performances (two minutes) Score reading – piano, string quartet, symphony Harmony – triads, extended harmony and chromatic chords Composing – individual work, use of Diminished 7ths and cadences, Beethoven ending Sonata Form – examples from symphonies [Haydn ‘London’] Figured Bass |
Rehearse for final recital (ten minutes) Composition brief released – ideas, planning and drafting Preparation for ABRSM Gd8 Theory Descriptive answers Independent work on own Area of Study Ongoing revision and listening work |
|
Spring Term |
Longer performances (four minutes) Piano piece completion Melody writing Harmonic analysis Orchestral score knowledge Mendelssohn ‘Italian’ symphony study Individual composing Choice of own Area of Study |
Rehearse for and give final recital Second composition produced (three minutes +) Independent work on own Area of Study Ongoing revision and listening work Final preparation of compositions for submission |
|
Summer Term |
Planning of final recital Full composition produced (three minutes +) Development of Symphony |
Preparation for final |
