Music

Subject Overview

Our mission within the music department is to cultivate confident, enthusiastic, and progressive young musicians who explore the subject with passion, in a nurturing and supportive environment. We provide opportunities for all to create, play, perform and enjoy music; to develop the skills to appreciate a wide variety of musical forms, and to develop the confidence to make informed judgements about music and feel part of a community. We take opportunities and aspire to excellence.

Programme of Study

Key Stage 3:
Year 7

• Rhythm & Metre – West African Drumming
• Melody / Developing Instrumental Skills
• Instruments of the Orchestra
• Programme Music / Composition
• Chords & Disco Music
• Year 8
• Baroque Music / Ground Bass Structure
• Blues Music
• Reggae Music

Year 9

• Irregular / Unusual Time Signatures
• Steal like an artist - Minimalism & Experimental
• Chords & Pop songs

Key Stage 4:

GCSE Music
Examination Board: Edexcel

GCSE Music is for students who enjoy playing, listening to and composing their own music, and would like to expand their knowledge in a diverse range of genres. Many pupils who study GCSE Music have prepared for the course by taking lessons on an instrument/voice. They see GCSE music as a way to deepen and extend their knowledge, interest and enjoyment of music with independent study.

Employers see great value in studying music as they recognise that the course builds personal skills such as patience, creative thinking and risk taking. Many Universities are attracted by students who have studied music as they value the independent learning and problem solving involved in the course.

The aims of this qualification are to enable students to develop:

• Listening skills
• Analytical skills
• Composition skills
• Performance skills
• Knowledge and understanding of music

A Level Music
Examination Board: AQA

Developing and applying the musical knowledge, understanding and skills set out in the specification ensure students form a personal and meaningful relationship with music. They will be encouraged to engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music and musical contexts and reflect on how music is used in the expression of personal and collective identities.

The aims of this qualification are to enable students to develop:

• The ability to analyse unfamiliar, complex material, identifying patterns and relationships within (developed through analysis of musical scores and audio recordings).
• The ability to understand interrelated laws and principles and apply them to solve problems (developed through completing techniques of composition exercises following the conventions established by composers including J.S. Bach).
• The ability to write concisely and persuasively using technical language (developed through writing essays analysing familiar and unfamiliar music).
• The ability to present confidently to an audience (developed through performing a 10-minute recital on a chosen instrument or voice).
• The ability to develop ideas with imagination and creativity which are framed within given conventions (developed through completing free compositions, inspired by the work of other composers).
• The ability to deal with ambiguities and use language to frame these (developed through reading and making multiple analyses of the set works studied).
• The ability to listen critically (developed through all of the units of the A level music course).

A Level Music Technology

Examination Board: Edexcel

In this course you will learn about many aspects of music production, learning practical techniques of how to produce music as well as some of the fundamental theories behind the technologies used. You will be taught how to use the recording equipment in the college music studio, sequencing techniques and how to use DAW to edit, mix and master audio.

You will:

• Learn how to create multi-track recordings in the music studio, recording your fellow classmates to make high quality productions.
• Learn MIDI sequencing and music composition techniques and various ways to use technology creatively within the composition process
• Study commercial recordings and music technology production techniques and how they have changed over the years
• Learn practical music technology skills – how to use editing, mixing and production techniques in real world scenarios.

Some of the topics covered:

Mixing/Mastering

Sequencing

Sampling

Understanding Sound

Composition

Microphones

Recording Techniques

Synthesis Digital and Analogue Hardware Effects History of Recording

Music Technology combines well with Maths, Physics, ICT/Computing, Media Studies and other arts and technology subjects. Music and Music Technology may be studied as separate courses. The study of music technology offers a wide range of transferable skills that will promote broader opportunities for students taking this subject.