Music

Music Department Intent

As you arrive in the music department from the top of the stairs, a quote from Professor Graham Welch from the UCL Institute of Education greets you in a floor to ceiling graphic that declares: “We are all musical, we just need the opportunity”.  The curriculum intent for music is simply the realisation and application of this maxim, and can be summed up as follows:
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The curriculum for music assumes the inherent musicality of every child and primarily seeks to train children to explore and recognise this too, in themselves and others.

​…or to put it in a more succinct, student-centred form:
You are musical. Let’s prove it.
  

Key stage 3

Music is taught in a purpose built classroom. There is a wide selection of electric bass guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, keyboards, pianos, a range of percussion and two drum kits.

Instrumental lessons are also available from our team of visiting peripatetic teachers. Instruments covered include:

• Drum kit and percussion
• Guitar and electric bass
• Saxophone, flute, clarinet
• Violin, cello
• Piano and voice
• Brass (including trumpet and cornet)

What do students study?
Music is taught as part of the Core Curriculum at Key Stage 3. Every student in Years 7, 8 and 9 has a one hour lesson per week. High standards of work are expected and students develop self-awareness and self-confidence in an environment where success is recognised and valued.

At KS3 lessons are heavily practical and involve a variety of stimulus material. All topics include Performing, Composing, Listening and commenting on Music. Lessons are delivered using the various resources available. All students develop performance skills using voice, Guitar, Keyboard and Percussion.

In Year 7, Students study a Bridging Unit, Keyboard Skills, Boomwhacker Project, BBC Ten Pieces Project, Mediterranean Music and Summertime Guitar project.
 
Building on the skills and knowledge established in Year 7, students continue to use a range of instruments in Year 8 , including voice, to study Communicating Music, Tchaikovsky and the Romantic Concerto, Blues Music, 50s and 60s Rock ‘n; Roll, Minimalism and Solo Artists.
 
In Year 9, students begin to cover more areas from the GCSE Syllabus. Music projects in Year 9 include; My Music (an opportunity for students to focus on a performer or composer of their choice), Film and Game Music, Pop Ballads, Rock Anthems of the 70s and 80s, Indian Classical Music and Bhangra and Musicals.

How are students assessed?
Students are assessed using the Sidmouth College Route system. Each project is assessed either by the Teacher, peer or self-assessed (or a combination of all three). Assessments are recorded in a booklet designed by the Music department to keep a record of listening work, composition work, as well as the end of project assessment.

Assessment

Key stage 4

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
This course will suit students who enjoy performing, composing and learning about a wide range of musical genres. It would also suit musicians who have taken graded exams (ABRSM) (Rock School). You should be prepared to become involved in Extra Curricula Music at School or in the Community.
 
Prerequisites for the course 

• A passion for music
• A motivation to extend your knowledge of different musical traditions and music from around the world
• A passion for playing a musical instrument (this includes singing)
• A basic level of musicianship (to be able to identify notation basics)

​EXAM BOARD, COURSE CONTENT & ASSESSMENT DETAILS
 We will be studying GCSE Music with OCR

The course consists of five Areas of Study:

• Area of Study 1 – My Music: Students focus on their instrument or voice, performing a piece which they choose. They also create a composition for their instrument, and a written accompaniment to their composition piece
• Area of Study 2 – The Concerto Through Time: Students study the Concerto from its beginning during the Baroque Period through to the Romantic Period. Understanding is assessed in the listening paper for this area
• Area of Study 3 – Rhythms of The World: Students explore traditional Rhythmic Roots from India and Punjab, Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America. Understanding is assessed in the Listening Paper
• Area of Study 4 – Film Music: Students study Music composed specifically for Film, Classical Music used in Film and Music composed for Video Games. Understanding is assessed in the Listening Paper

The course consists of five Areas of Study Continued:

• Area of Study 5 – Conventions of Pop: Students will study a range of Popular Music from the 20th Century including; Rock’n’Roll from the 1950s and 1960s, Rock Anthems of the 1970s and 1980s, Pop Ballads of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, Solo Artists from the 1990s to the present day. Understanding is assessed in the listening paper

As well as understanding being assessed in the listening paper, students will also demonstrate understanding through the 8 set briefs for Unit 2 Composition, which will include;

• A choice of two Seven note patterns
• A choice of two Rhythmic Phrases
• A choice of a short Story or an image to create Film-Style composition
• A four line Stanza of Words for a song
• A Four-Chord sequence

 
WHAT CAN THIS COURSE LEAD TO POST 16?
A level Music and other Music qualifications.
 
FOR WHAT CAREERS WILL THIS COURSE BE USEFUL?
There are many careers where the skills learned through studying Music can be applied;
Ability to work with others (ensemble skills), the ability to work on your own (solo performance), the ability to be focused and self-motivated (practise), an ability to show empathy (studying Music you wouldn’t normally listen to), creativity (composition skills), following a brief (coursework).
More obvious choices include; Education (Classroom Teaching, Peripatetic Teaching, Music Department Technician), Community Musician, Composer (Film Music and Game Music is a growing Sector), Sound Engineer (Live and/or Studio), Copywriter, Music Publisher, Music Journalist, Military Band Member, Songwriter, Performer, Youth Work, Music Therapist
All careers in the music and recording sector.