Music
Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum aims to develop the three interrelated musical skills of performance, composition and listening/analysis to build confident and independent musicianship. Students will be given performance opportunities in a range of styles (both ensemble and solo), listen to a range of classical and popular styles as well as completing simple composition and improvisation tasks.
Our students will learn different notation styles to increase independent musicianship and prepare for GCSE standard work. These will include tablature, traditional notation and a range of lead sheets. Students will be exposed to musical element vocabulary on a regular basis and encouraged to describe music using this set vocabulary on a lesson-by-lesson basis.
What are the key things our students need to learn according to the National Curriculum, the new OFSTED framework and to prepare them for KS4?
Students need to learn skills related to the three aforementioned strands of music, composition, performance and listening. This should take place in a primarily practical and skills-based curriculum.
Reading notation, a basic and fundamental skill will be learned alongside concrete composition and performance skills. Students will develop instrumental skills on three instruments; percussion, voice and keyboard. Students with extra-curricular instrumental lessons may take part in the curriculum using those instruments if they choose.
Students will also learn how to compose using notation software and develop their ICT use.
What skills do we want our KS3 learners to have mastered by the end of KS3?
We want students to have developed skills around the three musical strands, analysis, performance and composition to allow all students to access GCSE if needed.
These include;
- Two handed keyboard skills, working up to pieces of a grade 1/2 standard.
- Vocal skills in two or possibly three-part harmony for more able students.
- Familiarity with accessible notation software such as ‘Noteflight’.
- Familiarity and ability to use musical element terms to describe, both aurally and written.
- Development of knowledge of harmony and tonality to the point where students are confident to compose.
What does our KS4 curriculum aim to do?
Prepare students to fulfill GCSE exam and coursework requirements. These are also based around the three main strands discussed.
The KS4 curriculum aims to develop independence and a continuation of the development of skills from KS3.
Composition – Students will develop two main compositions by the end of KS4.
Performance – Students will have developed two performances, one ensemble and one solo to an appropriate level.
Listening – Students should have developed listening skills which allow them to analyze the eight set works on the course as well as cover a variety of relevant unseen listening.
What skills do we want our KS4 learners to have mastered by the end of KS4?
We want students to have mastered firm skills in the three strands which make them confident and independent musicians.
These skills include:
- Performance skills which allow students to develop themselves to a standard on their instrument which will help create independent musicianship and achieve target grade. Difficulty level is currently very important to final mark so this is monitored and planned carefully.
- Familiarity with accessible notation software such as ‘Noteflight’ and how to write idiomatically for instruments using this.
- Familiarity with and ability to use musical element terms to describe, both aurally and in written work. Ability to write about these in more extended prose and relate to set works.
- Development of knowledge of harmony and tonality to the point where students are confident to compose in a more extended fashion and to a brief.