Music
Key Stage 3
All students in Key Stage 3 study Music, covering a range of different disciplines.
In Year 7, students explore the following topics:
- Find Your Voice
- Keyboard Skills
- Sonority – Instruments in the Orchestra
- Samba
- Musical Structures
- Old to New Remix (technology based unit)
In Year 8 students study topics including:
- Scales and Tonality
- The Blues
- Computer Gaming Music (Technology based unit)
- Musical Variations
- Reggae
- Song-Writing
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4 we offer AQA GCSE Music. The course is broken into 3 key components: Understanding Music, Performing Music and Composing Music. Students have the opportunity to explore a wide range of musical styles, from classical music, to pop music, to traditional music. Students will explore and develop understanding of a wide range of musical devices and will explore a number of set works in depth. The course content is explored through a mix of performance, composition and listening and appraisal activities.
The course is broken down into three components as detailed below:
Component 1 Listening and Understanding: Students will be assessed on their understanding of a range of ‘unfamiliar’ music clips and on two given set works through an exam at the end of Year 11.
Component 2 Performing Music: Students will complete two performances, lasting a combined total of 4 minutes. One of these should be an ensemble performance / performance with two or more live performers (this music last for a minimum of 1 minute).
Component 3 Composing Music: Students will compose two pieces of music lasting a combined total of 3 minutes or more. One composition is a ‘free’ composition choice and the second is a ‘composition to a brief’ which is released by the exam board in the September of Year 11. Students will have the use of music software (Logic and Sibelius) along with the iMacs to complete each composition.
Key Stage 5
At Key Stage 5 we offer both A Level Music and A Level Music Technology.
Music
At Key Stage 5 we offer AQA A Level Music. This A Level music course aims to further develop the performance, composition and musical understanding that students have already gained at
GCSE. The course encourages students to engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music and musical contexts and to reflect upon this. The AQA A Level allows students to develop particular strengths and interests, whether than be in musical performance, composition or musical analysis and appreciation. Throughout this course students will explore wide ranging Areas of Study including Western Classical Traditions, Music for Media and Music for Theatre, developing their understanding and ability to analyse and make judgements on the music they hear.
The course content is broken down into the following components:
Component 1 Appraising Music: Students will explore three given Areas of Study to understand the typical musical characteristics of each style within these. Students will analyse in depth set works within Western Classical Traditions. They explore the importance and impact of a range of composers on a particular musical genre and will develop the ability to draw clear comparisons through musical analysis of a wide range of musical extracts. This part of the course is assessed at the end of Year 13 through a 2 1/2 hour examination.
Component 2 Performance: At A Level, students are expected to be independent in their rehearsal and self-motivated to set targets and develop their instrumental / vocal technique. Students are required to perform a recital of 10 minutes or more, of at least Grade 5 standard. This will take place during the March of Year 13.
Component 3 Composition: Students will build upon compositional techniques to develop stylish, original compositions through a sophisticated use of a wide range of musical elements and devices, showing high levels of understanding of how to use these to create highly creative and effective musical compositions. Students will complete two compositions, lasting a combined total of at least 4 1/2 minutes. The first of these is a ‘free’ composition and the second is a ‘composition to a brief’ which is released by the exam board in September of Year 13.
Whole School Show - High School Musical Press Release
03/04/2023 Find out more