Subject: Music

Term
1 / What is Music?
Pupils explore the building blocks of Music. They will cover the 7 elements of Music as a tool to analyse the music they hear. They will learn how to read and write pitch and rhythm in western notation. Pupils will also compose a short rhythm and perform a piece on the keyboard. All work will be differentiated to support and challenge pupils.
2 / Pop Music
Pupils will learn about chords and pop music structure. They will perform the 4 chord song, compose a melody and listen and appraise a wide variety of pop songs.
3 / Classical Music
Pupils will learn about the music from 1750-1820. They will research composers and study the characteristics of this genre in music through composition and performance tasks.
4 / Musical Theatre
Pupils will learn about the history of Musical Theatre, musical influences and origins. They will sing and play a piece from a show on the keyboard, differentiated in steps.
5 / African Drumming
Pupils will learn keywords and characteristics of African drumming through practical work and a keyword listening test. They will work in groups to compose and perform an on the class set of djembes.
6 / End of Year Exam and Independent Project
Pupils will revisit the topics from the year for the end of year exam and then have an opportunity to revisit a style from the year. They will be able to choose a research project, composition or performance task.
Term / Unit / How Assessed?
1 / What is Music? / Baseline Test, Listening Analysis, Rhythm Composition, Keyboard Performance.
2 / Making a Band / Listening, Rehearsing and Performance mark
3 / Classical Music / Listening, Composing and Performance Task (‘Ode To Joy’)
4 / Musical Theatre / Listening and Performance Task (All that Jazz’)
5 / African Drumming / Listening, Rehearsing and Performance Task
6 / End of Year Exam
Independent Project / Summative Listening exam
Either Performing, Composing or Listening
Suggested extra reading and extension activities / Visiting music venues to see live music in a variety of styles (The BBC Proms is a cheap and accessible way to see music over the summer break). Music theory books from ABRSM. Cambridge guide to Opera, Classical Music, Musical Theatre, Jazz etc.
Recommended websites / Music Theory support:
Subject specific:
Sheet Music:
Making Music:

Required equipment / As per school equipment policy.
How parents/carers can support / Above all else, the Music department values the support and cooperation of parents in ensuring pupils attend school on time and ready to learn, complete classwork and homework to the highest possible standard and in meeting the standards required in the school behaviour policy.
The greatest way to support your son in their study of music is through encouraging their participation and exposure to it. Students benefit greatly from experiencing live music whether amateur or professional and we encourage all of our students to see live music as often as possible.
If your son would like to learn a musical instrument or take singing lessons please sign him up with Kingston Music Service. Financial help is available.
Extra-curricular activities / The Department offers a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities. These vary from Choir, Federated Orchestra, String Group, A Cappella, Samba and School Bands. Kingston Music Service also offer individual lessons and jam hub group sessions.

Additional Qualifications / The Department also offer the Arts Award qualification as an extra-curricular opportunity. Arts Award is a range of unique qualifications that support young people to grow as artists and arts leaders. We offer the Arts Award at Bronze & Silver levels and this will be offered in the Art forms of Drama, Music & Art.
The Arts Award qualification offers your son a chance to:
  • Discover the enjoyment of creating and participating in any art form
  • Develop his creativity and leadership skills
  • Learn new skills and share them with others
  • Get to work with or experience working with creative arts professionals

Head of Department / Miss H M Lucas
Teachers / Miss L Golding