S2 Music:
Reporting Window 1

The topics covered over the course of the year are:

Performing

• Classroom Group Arrangement – Summer Term

• Personalised Programmes of Study (Film Music and Graded Pieces) – Term One/Two

• Understanding Chords (including group performance) – Term Three

• What Is A Riff? (including group performance) – Term Four

Learners will have the opportunity to perform music individually and as part of a group demonstrating accuracy within each performance on their two chosen instruments. Learners continue to develop understanding of notation specific to their instruments and through performance directions, including dynamic markings, learners continue to explore mood and character within a piece of music.

Composing

• Impressionism Composition - Term One

• Developing Melody – Term Two

• Developing Harmony – Term Three

• Incredibox (Music Technology) – Term Four

Through various contexts learners will study compositional techniques to create music. This includes working with a stimulus to create an Erik Satie inspired Impressionist piece and a more in depth look at the musical elements to explore and inspire musical ideas within composition. Where possible, learners are encouraged to use appropriate music notation to capture ideas.

Understanding Music

• Film Music (Instruments of the Orchestra) – Term One

• Developing Harmony – Term Three

• What Is A Riff? – Term Four

Learners will have the opportunity to recognise a range of music styles, identifying instruments and instrumental techniques whilst understanding concepts associated with the musical elements. Throughout these activities’ learners are encouraged to use appropriate music vocabulary and to use this vocabulary to regularly reflect upon their strengths and areas for improvement in all music elements.

Course Overview

Whilst allowing a minority of learners, at points throughout the year, to experience the challenge of Level 4, the majority of work covered in S2 Music continues to be based around CfE Level 3 outcomes with the majority of learners working initially at Third C or above (Report 1). As a department we would hope to see this progress to Third B or above within the latter part of the year (Report 2).  Learners working below this level continue to be offered classroom support to ensure progression in learning.

Working Level and Working Grade descriptions for S2 Music:

Fourth+: Making outstanding progress within CfE Level 4, performing exceptionally well against all the outcomes covered. Can demonstrate the key skills specific to their chosen instrument(s) and/or voice including performing with accuracy and assurance to a standard often above the required Grade 2 standard. Learners can independently create an original composition which demonstrates a clear understanding of melodic/harmonic concepts in a coherent and musical way. Learners will be consistently demonstrating that they understand and can recall content linked to concepts and musical elements covered and are able to apply that knowledge to performing, composition, listening and literacy work (averaging 70% or more). Regardless of the grading of A to D, pupils working at Fourth+ are working at an advanced level and beyond those that are graded as Fourth/Third Level below. Music is strongly recommended as an S3 subject.

Fourth A to D: As with the below descriptors for grades A to D at Third Level, these gradings from A to D reflect excellent through to some progress, the only difference being that the learner is predominantly working at a higher level (CfE Level 4) as opposed to CfE Level 3. Music is strongly recommended as an S3 subject.

Third A: Making excellent progress within CfE Level 3, performing well against all the outcomes covered and is coping very well particularly within the performing element of the course. Can demonstrate the key skills specific to their chosen instrument(s) and/or voice including performing with accuracy to a standard equivalent to Grade 1 (or above). Learners can create an original composition which demonstrates a clear understanding of melodic/harmonic concepts in a coherent and musical way. Learners will be consistently demonstrating that they understand and can recall content linked to concepts and musical elements covered and are able to apply that knowledge to performing, composition, listening and literacy work (averaging 70% or more). Music is strongly recommended as an S3 subject.

Third B: Making good progress at CfE Level 3, performing well against all of the outcomes covered particularly within the performing element of the course. Can demonstrate the key skills specific to their chosen instrument(s) and/or voice including performing with accuracy to a standard equivalent to Grade 1. Learners can create an original composition which demonstrates understanding of elements such as melody and harmony. At times advice has been given to aid progression of the piece. Learners will be demonstrating that they understand and can recall much of the content linked to concepts and musical elements covered and are able to apply that knowledge to performing, composition, listening and literacy work (averaging 60-69%). Music is strongly recommended as an S3 subject.

Third C: Making reasonable progress at CfE Level 3, performing well against some of the outcomes while finding others more challenging. Is sometimes able to demonstrate the key skills specific to their chosen instrument(s) and/or voice including performing with some degree of accuracy to a standard equivalent to Grade 1. Learner would continue to benefit from further consolidation of this grade before increasing the challenge to subsequent grades. Learners have been able to create original music but at times throughout the process have required support to generate further ideas including advice on concept development within the piece. Learners will be demonstrating that they understand and can recall some of the content linked to concepts and musical elements covered and may be able to apply some of this knowledge to performing, composition, listening and literacy work (averaging 50-59%). Music, with the right attitude and application, would be possible in S3.

Third D: Making some progress at CfE Level 3 against outcomes covered whilst finding the majority challenging. Is limited to the amount of progression in performing at Grade 1 standard. At this level learners have found it challenging to create original music within composition. Learners have required support to generate ideas and have required further reinforcement of concepts to create a piece of music. Learners may be demonstrating that they understand and can recall some of the content linked to concepts and musical elements covered but may be challenged to apply this knowledge to performing, composition, listening and literacy work (averaging less than 49%). Music as an S3 subject would be challenging.

Second A to D: While continuing to experience CfE Level 3 outcomes the majority of the work can be very challenging, and most tasks require further explanation and to be broken down into smaller, simplified versions in order to make progress and build confidence. Music as an S3 subject would be challenging.

At this stage in the Music curriculum, pupils on a pathway towards achieving SCQF Level 5 in S4 will be working at Third C or above. 

Further information, including an overview for all subject areas can be found here.