Music

Length of Course : The second year of a three year Key Stage 3 course.

Course description and aims:

Year 8 pupils will build on their previous knowledge and skills through performing, composing and listening.

They will develop their vocal and/or instrumental fluency, accuracy and expressiveness, and understand musical structures, styles, genres and traditions, identifying the expressive use of musical dimensions.

They will listen with increasing discrimination and awareness to inform their practice as musicians. They will use technologies appropriately, appreciate, and understand a wide range of musical contexts and styles.

Main concepts and topics covered

· Jazz and Blues

· Film Music

· Samba

· Guitar and Ukulele skills through ‘Band’ work

· Keyboard and Drum Skills through ‘Band’ work.

· VIP Music Technology

Contents:

· Jazz and Blues - Pupils begin by learning about the history, origin and development of the Blues and its characteristic 12-bar Blues structure exploring how a walking bass line is developed from a chord progression.

· Film Music - pupils explore the challenges and musical devices used in film soundtrack composition. The unit focuses on three genres of film soundtrack: Action/Thriller Soundtracks, ‘Western’ Soundtracks and “Horror Movie” Soundtracks.

They perform a number of “James Bond” themes and compose their own soundtracks.

· Samba - through performing Samba pupils will learn the sounds, understand the roles of each instrument used in Samba, and experience the exhilaration and physical impact of percussion ensemble music.

· Band skills – skills on Guitar, Ukulele, Drums, Keyboard and Voice, will develop through listening, practising and performing a variety of songs.

· Music Technology – VIP and Sibelius programs to compose and arrange music.

Course outcomes

Students will be able to:

· play and perform confidently in a range of solo and ensemble

· improvise and compose; and extend and develop musical ideas

· use staff and other relevant notations appropriately and accurately

· listen with increasing discrimination to a wide range of music

Types of assessment:

Assessment is carried out by the teacher, involves marking of teacher set tasks, observations and self, and peer assessment for each taught unit. In addition to this, there is an end of year examination covering all the topics taught for the year.

Methodology:

A variety of techniques and teaching styles are used to cater for the diverse learning styles of our students. They include individual and group activities, research and investigation, and project work to encourage independence and creativity

Text and materials:

Mixture of teacher prepared materials and online multimedia resources.

Instrumental resources from the department.

Grading policy:

All formative assessments will use our working without levels ‘can do’ statements. Students will be made aware of the assessment statements for each of the four categories – Mastered, Secure, Developing and Emerging. Students will be encouraged to set realistic targets and also self-assess their work before teacher assessment.

Additional expectations:

Involvement in extra curricula music.