Music

Why study Music?

Music brings any community together through singing, ensemble playing, experimenting with the creative process through improvisation and composition.  The study helps strengthen students’ ability to sing and perform in harmony while further developing sound production and performance. Listening as a technical exercise develops the ability to explore musical and performance meaning and purpose and listen to music with increasing discrimination. It supports the development of a reliable musical and performance  memory deepening understanding of the music they listen to, engage with, and perform. More generally the study of Music supports the development of concentration, phonemic awareness, literacy, memory, and academic achievement.

How will I study Music ?

Students are given extensive listening opportunities to help develop expressive intentions. They are given space for exploration, inconsistency, and independence. High levels of guidance are given for novices, but productive struggle is encouraged affirming a creative state of flow. Opportunities are given to explore knowledge of musical and performance cultures, genres, traditions and repertoires throughout time, which is part of a broad education and a joy in and of itself. Students develop their singing moving from 2-part unison to 3 and 4-part unison. In each unit students compose their own music and then perform either individually or in an ensemble.

What will I study at Key Stage 3?

In Year 7 pupils gain a fundamental understanding of elements of music including rhythm, beat, melody, layering and accompaniment. They also gain an introduction into the keyboard where they explore hand positioning & instrumental technique as well as understanding the geography of the keyboard, and playing simple melodies. The ukulele is introduced to pupils where they develop strumming patterns, chord sequences, basic tuning with a sound understanding of the geography of the ukulele. Pupils will also explore music from around the world in the form of Reggae – specifically on Jamaican culture and Rastafari, on drum beat, musical culture (lyrics), drum beat, and skank.

In BTEC Music students develop an understanding of how the Music Industry operates. Students study health, safety & security at venues. They explore how organisations interrelate & why these relationships are important. They look at the roles and responsibilities of all involved from performance and creative roles to management roles. Students study production and promotion and how to charge and get paid as a musician.

The BTEC Music curriculum covers Musical Performance. Students explore techniques, interpretative skills and stylistic qualities of music. They focus on music rehearsal and performance skills including but not exclusive to warm-up, repertoire, rehearsal techniques, musical interaction & feedback.

Students then go onto manage a Music Product. They plan for a live concert/event giving consideration to factors such as venue, target audience, repertoire, technical and logistical requirements & constraints. Students learn to organise and facilitate planning and development activities. They then realise and deliver the Music Product including promotion and marketing.

Students study the introduction of live sound. This includes developing an understanding of the legal considerations such as PRS and licensing. Stage planning, set up and sound checks need to be organised. Students study the sound equipment and the associated manual handling, PPE and electrical safety. They study how to check the sound for quality, levels and mix. Safety regulations need to be understood to both operate the live sound safely and to derig safely.