Music

To spark a lifelong appreciation and gratitude of music by developing skills and knowledge, and through opportunities to be creative and courageous.

OVERVIEW OF COURSE

Music is an exciting and rewarding subject. It brings together intellect and feeling and enables personal expression, reflection and emotional development. Students have the opportunity to perform, as well as create their own work using a wide range of instruments and technologies. Through key stage 3 students explore a variety of topics, from Film Music to African Drumming and Mantra Music to Rap & Hip Hop. Through studying these topics, students will develop their performance, composition and appraising skills. Music is a subject which requires perseverance and dedication, and this is a reason it is a subject so highly valued in the academic world.

PROGRAMME OF STUDY

SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE / UNDERSTANDING

Learning in music is based upon the elements of music. We use the acronym MAD T-SHIRTS

Melody

Articulation

Dynamics

Texture

Structure

Harmony

Instrumentation

Rhythm

Tempo

Sonority

We study these elements of music through an integrated approach where theory, listening, composing and performing is learnt through exploring a range of music styles and using a range of musical instruments.

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT

We will use a range of assessments:

Topic tests to check understanding of key features and musical theory

End of term listening assessments

Performance assessments

Compositions assessments

Pupils receive 3 reports during the year. The overall grade for music contains 40% listening and 60% performing/composing

We will also use a range of different styles of feedback to students:

Regular verbal feedback

Written feedback on practical work

A written breakdown of pupil feedback after termly assessments

HOW PARENTS / CARERS CAN HELP