Performing Arts
Performing Arts Teaching Staff
Mrs S Crosby - Head of Performing Arts - S.Crosby@rsat.org.uk
Mr N Allen - Teacher of Performing Arts - N.Allen@rsat.org.uk
Miss E Boulton - Teacher of Drama/English - E.Boulton@rsat.org.uk
Miss C Harrison - Teacher of Drama - C.Harrison@rsat.org.uk
Year 9
Every student in Year 9 receives Music and Drama lessons. Topics studied in both subjects are designed to act as foundation for GCSE and build on the skills they have learnt in previous key stages. We are passionate about opening our students’ eyes and minds to new cultural experiences and therefore lessons are a blend of composing, devising, practical and theoretical. We aim to teach tolerance, appreciation and educated opinion of the amazing culture around us so that when they leave Year 9, whether they continue to study the arts or not, they have explored their own opinion and values in culture.
Year 9 Music topics include:
- Skills development
- The awesome four chords
- Musical Theatre
- Music elements & history
- Film music scores
- Minimalism
- Arts leadership/ industry
Year 9 Drama topics include:
- Skills development
- Silent Movies
- Bouncers
- Practitioners
- Theatre in Education “Too much Punch for Judy”
- Shakespeare
- Devising skills
As our students progress into their GCSEs, they start developing their creative skills and widen their knowledge of the arts through lessons and enrichment trips and workshops. They cover most of their course in the first year and then develop skill and study in further detail for their second year whilst completing written and practical tasks and preparing for their exams.
GCSE
Year 10 & 11 Music topics (Edexcel)
- Popular music – Set work – Killer Queen
- Western Classical set works – Purcell, Bach, Beethoven
- Classical/Romantics – Beethoven
- Changes over time
- Music theory
- Musical Theatre – Set work – Defying Gravity
- Film Music – Set work - Star Wars
- Composition techniques
- Solo and ensemble performance tasks
- Live concerts
Year 10 & 11 Drama topics (WJEC):
- Devising skills
- Explorative strategies
- Understanding your audience
- Set work – DNA
- Brecht – study and devised work
- Arto – study and devised work
- Key vocabulary and descriptive writing
- Live theatre
A Level studies
We teach both Music (Edexcel) and Drama & Theatre studies (AQA) at A Level. By this point in their education, our students are now developing into experienced performers, composers and artists in their own right and the A level courses develop their creativity at a higher level. The courses include workshops, devising, composing, performing music and from a script, technical theatre, music theory, all alongside personal development and teamwork.
Extra-Curricular Activities
ALL students are encouraged to enrich their school experience by getting involved in extra-curricular and we offer a wide range of opportunities through the week, terms and the school year.
They cover:
Musical, Play, Performing Arts Week, theatre skills class, Choir, Girls’ Voices, Boys Vocal group, String ensemble, Windband, Sax group, Clarinet choir, Music theory class.