The Arthur Terry School Music Department 2010

Music is a thriving and popular subject at The Arthur Terry School. The subject enjoys a high number of students opting for GCSE and A-Level, and very successful pass rates.

Staffing

The department is fortunate to have the services of five specialist music teachers:

  • Mr. C. Collet – Head of Music and Deputy Head of Performing Arts College
  • Miss M. Swift
  • Mr K. Williams
  • Mrs. C. Mortimer
  • Mr P. Bagnato

Resources

The Department is housed in four specialist classrooms with eight practice rooms and a small recording studio.

The Department has 24 Apple Mac computers running state of the art music programmes such as Logic Studio. These are used in GCSE, AS and A level Music and Music Technology lessons as well as some Key Stage 3 lessons whenever they are available.

We also possess a small recording studio control room, offering students the ability to record music from virtually any room in the department. This is recorded directly to hard-disk using industry standard software on an Apple iMac, connected to audio interfaces and a control surface. Work can then be transferred from here to any of the other Apple computers in the department for mixing and submission.

Curriculum

KEY STAGE 3

Music is a compulsory subject in Years 7 and 8. Students have 2 hours of Music per fortnight. Lessons are based around a range of topics including Jazz, Reggae, Blues, and various World music styles as well as looking at some more traditional classically orientated styles of music. Students develop the skills of performing, composing and listening. Students use a variety of instruments including keyboard, samba percussion and voice.

KEY STAGE 4

Music is a popular option at GCSE. Students start the GCSE Music course in Year 9 and study GCSE Music for three years. We currently have 70 students studying music in year 11, taught in 3 groups. The Department follows the OCR course which develops students’ performing, composing and listening skills. Students record a number of solo and group pieces over the duration of the course and the best of these are selected for submission to the exam board in the spring of Year 11. Students will also compose two pieces, one for their instrument / voice and one using Logic Studio. There is also a listening exam for which students prepare by studying a variety of western and non western musical styles.

GCSE Music results have been consistently strong. In 2010 the Department achieved an 89% A* - C pass rate, and half of students achieved A* or A grades, with a strong ‘value added’ residual.

POST 16

Music AS Level

AS Music is an exciting and lively course for students who enjoy performing, singing, composing and studying music. Music is a popular subject at The Arthur Terry School and we have one of the highest candidatures of any school in the Midlands. We have had a 100% success rate at A-level since 1989 following the OCR course.

Students need to be able to perform to a good standard on an instrument or voice (approximately Grade 4 by the start of the AS course, Grade 6 by the A2 course), and be able to read music fluently. Many students have taken GCSE Music before taking the AS course, although this is not an absolute requirement.

Unit Details

UNIT 1 – PERFORMING (40%) is in three parts:

  • Students will prepare a solo recital on their main instrument or voice of around 8 minutes duration, to be performed to a visiting examiner in the Spring Term of Year 12. As a guide students should be around Grade 4 standard by the start of the AS course (and Grade 6 by Year 13 for the A2 performance examination)
  • There is a short viva voce discussion in which students will discuss the performance and the preparation of their recital.
  • Students will also be asked to choose either to perform a four-minute piece on a second instrument, to perform in an ensemble or to improvise.

UNIT 2 – COMPOSING (30%) is in two parts:

  • Students will prepare an arrangement of a lead sheet (a melody with chords, for example a popular song). This will be completed on music computers. Students will need to submit a score and a recording by Easter of Year 12.
  • Students will complete seven exercises of harmony, the last of which will be under exam conditions. To prepare for this, students will receive full training on the methods and conventions of music theory.

UNIT 3 - INTRODUCTION TO HISTORICAL STUDY IN MUSIC (30%)

This is an exam sat in the summer term of Year 12. Students will study three Classical music set works and three Jazz set works and then be asked questions relating to musical details of the works and their context. Students will also be asked questions on either classical or popular instrumental music, comparing, describing and adding missing notes to the score.

Goes Well With

Music can be taken in conjunction with any other subject. Many students opt to take Music Technology alongside Music.

Career Opportunities / Progression

As you can see from the course outline, MusicAS level requires a wide range of skills and techniques, attractive to employers and Universities. These include analytical techniques, historical techniques, (historical topics), time management skills and self-motivation (with instrumental practise), organisation and people-management (conducting/rehearsing), team work (performing in an ensemble), and creativity (composition).

Music Technology

A brand new course started in September 2008 which was even more exciting, innovative and vocational in style, than the current specification. The AS Level course prepares students for the vigorous A2 course where students are able to build upon the fundamentals ascertained within the first year.

Every element of the 2-year course is delivered in a fast paced, university style lecture/workshop sessions by Industry experienced specialist staff trained in Session Musicianship, Film Composition and Music Production. Students will use Industry standard Hardware and Software for the duration of the 2-year course.

The course ethos is one of an ‘anything is possible’ attitude, even under extreme pressure. This ethos centres itself upon fully preparing students for the rigors and pressures of working within the Music related Industry. The course covers a wide variety of practical topics including: Music Sequencing/Arranging, Multi-Track Recording, Popular Music Studies, Sound Design, Electronic Synthesis, Film Composition and Music Production.

The unit structure is designed to prepare students in the art of Music Production:

AS: Music Technology Portfolio 1 – Unit 1 (70% of AS / 35% of A-Level)

  • Sequenced Realised Performance
  • Multitrack Recording
  • Creative Sequenced Arrangement

AS: Listening and Analysing – Unit 2 (30% of AS / 15% of A-Level)

A 1¾-hour examination upon Popular Music since 1910, including 2 special areas of study i.e.: Rap/Hip Hop & Rock and Roll.

A2: Music Technology Portfolio 2 – Unit 3 (60% of A2 / 30% of A-Level)

  • Sequenced Integrated Performance
  • Multitrack Recording
  • Composing Using Music Technology

A2: Analysing and Producing – Unit 4 (40% of A2 / 20% of A-Level)

A 2-hour practical examination using computer software to comment upon musical elements and technological processes, find errors in recordings and create a stereo mix from a multitrack session.

The course last year enjoyed great successes with the A2 course achieving 100% A-C with overall performance well above national averages for Music Technology. Previous students have gone on to study at:

  • Birmingham Conservatoire,
  • LondonCollege of Music – ThamesValley
  • SAE – School Of Audio Engineering,
  • LeedsCollege of Music,
  • Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.

Pre-requisites

In terms of pre-requisites, students would benefit from previous musical training in either instrumental skills or composition, or at the very least, possess the ability to play simple chords and melodies with a keyboard. All students are required to proactively supplement studies with research and should be willing to accept constructive criticism at all times.

Goes well with

The course complements all subjects including: Music, Drama, IT, Physics & English.

Career Progression

Music Technology provides a plethora of multi-faceted employment pathways following graduation including:

  • Music Producer
  • Recording Engineer
  • Composer for TV/Film
  • Music Journalism
  • A & R
  • Promotion
  • Teaching
  • Session Musicianship

For information speak to Mr. Williams or Mr. Bagnato in the Music Department.

Instrumental Lessons

The Music Department has close links with Birmingham Music Service. Fourteen visiting instrumental and vocal teachers deliver lessons to students in small groups on a weekly basis. Lessons are available on orchestral string, woodwind and brass instruments, as well as guitar, keyboard, voice and drums. Around 250 students have instrumental lessons.

Wherever possible, lessons are rotated so that students do not miss the same lesson each week. Parents are asked for a contribution of £50 for each term of instrumental lessons and the school picks up the rest of the cost of the lessons.

Although the department is fortunate enough to have 45 hours of tuition per week there may be a waiting list for some of the most popular instruments.

Lessons are coordinated by Miss Swift.

Extra Curricular Music

There is a thriving programme of extra curricular music in the school. Ensembles will meet on a regular basis to rehearse. Groups include:

  • Senior orchestra
  • Junior orchestra
  • Choir
  • Soul Band

There have been annual productions of Musicals in the Spring Term. Recent shows have included:

  • Les Miserables
  • We Will Rock you
  • Little Shop of Horrors
  • Grease
  • Les Miserables
  • Godspell
  • Return to the Forbidden Planet

External Links

The Music Department has close links with eight primary schools in the Four Oaks Cluster. Music staff have worked alongside primary teachers in the delivery of a bridge curriculum to ease the transition from Year 6 into Year 7. Year 5 pupils also benefit from the delivery of a Samba percussion programme.

Candidates

Candidates should return the Application Form plus a Letter of Application, including your Teacher Reference Number where applicable and names, addresses and telephone numbers of two referees. We do always take up references on candidates considered for any post.

It is our policy not to notify unsuccessful candidates; therefore, if you do not have further communication from us, please accept our good wishes for your future applications and thank you for the interest shown in this post.

Mr C Collet

Subject Leader of Music

(September 2010)

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