Music

Lesson time and grouping

In Year 7 and 8, lessons are twice a fortnight. In Year 9 lessons are 3 times a fortnight. Students are not set in Music.

Homework

ABRSM Music Theory quizzes are set once a fortnight. Year 7 – Grade 1, Year 8 – Grade 2, Year 9 – Grade 3

Assessment

Students will sit a formal Music listening exam in the school exams weeks for each of Year 7 (May), Year 8 (March) and Year 9 (January).  In addition to day-to-day diagnostic formative assessments, students are assessed summatively at the end of each performance or compositional module. 

Useful curriculum links

https://www.abrsm.org/en-gb

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zmsvr82

Additional information (e.g. trips)

There is an annual theatre trip for all students, as well as opportunity to join the choir and get involved in performing arts. There is a Christmas concert, spring concert and the end of year production.

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5

Term 6

Year 7

Vocal Development 

Explore their voices and learn how to sing and maintain vocal health. 

Learn a variety of songs with the end goal being a performance in the Christmas concert. 

To support their musicianship, they will listen to and comment on a variety of musical genres. 

Resources: Voice 

Instruments of the Orchestra

Explore the different families of the orchestra and the typical sort of melodies they play. 

Develop their ensemble skills and listening to each other in order to play the piece as a class.  

To support their musicianship, they will listen to and comment on a variety of musical genres.  

Resources: ‘Ode to Joy’, Keyboards, bandlab 

Four Chords

Explore the most commonly used chords and learn how to play them on piano and ukulele. These 4 chords can lend themselves well to lots of songs. Singing will also be continued here.

Develop their ensemble skills to create a performance as a class.

To support their musicianship, they will listen to and comment on a variety of musical genres

Resources: Voice, keyboard, ukulele

Rhythmic exploration

Explore the use of rhythm and focus in on percussion instruments.

Develop their notation reading and rhythmic understand to perform as a class

Explore how to create their own rhythmic phrases using call and response

To support their musicianship, they will listen to and comment on a variety of musical genres

Resources: Voice, percussion

Pentatonic music and Ostinato 

Explore pentatonic music and create at least 3 ostinati to go with a drone.  This topic combines the knowledge of melody, texture and harmony with composition. 

Perform their ideas in pairs and some will use two hands on the keyboards. 

To support their musicianship, they will listen to and comment on a variety of musical genres. 

Resources: keyboards, bandlab

 80’s music

Learn about 80’s music and how to the development of technology played a part in this era of music.

Play a classic 80’s tune on keyboard, including the melody, bassline and chords.

To support their musicianship, they will listen to and comment on a variety of musical genres.

Resource: ‘Take on Me’, Keyboards

Year 8

Jazz Composition

Develop prior knowledge of blues and will learn about the history of how it developed into Jazz.

Compose a piece of music containing chords, bassline and improvisations

They will listen to a variety of Jazz pieces and answer questions in order to develop their active listening skills.

Resources: Keyboard

 Samba

Origin of samba and the instruments they are used, then as a class they will play a samba piece of music.

They will listen to a variety of Samba pieces and answer questions in order to develop their active listening skills.

Resources: Samba kit

Music for Media

How music is composed for films and games including, Foley and leitmotifs.

Compose a leitmotif based on a character of their choice.

They will listen to a variety of Film and Gaming pieces and answer questions in order to develop their active listening skills.

They will also appraise their work and write a paragraph on their compositional choices.

Resources: Keyboards

Reggae Performance

Students will learn about the history and development of Reggae.

Recognise and perform the off-beat rhythms of Reggae that originated from Ska and Rock Steady. They will then perform in pairs a Reggae song on the keyboards.

They will listen to a variety of Reggae pieces and answer questions in order to develop their active listening skills.

They will evaluate their own work and peer’s work at the end of the topic.

Resources: ‘No woman no cry’, Keyboards

Performance Project 1

Students learn how to perform a piece from a selection available in the music department or brought in from home. The performance and will be showcased at a mini concert in the middle of term 6 to their class.

Students will learn to work together as an ensemble to create this performance.

Students will develop their performance skills, building upon the last two years by playing more advanced chords and melody lines.

To support this, they will listen to a variety of popular pieces and answer questions in order to develop their active listening skills.

They will evaluate their own work and peer’s work at the end of the topic.

Resources: 4 chord sheet, Students’ own instrument, keyboard, drum, voice or ukuleles,

Year 9

Reggae Composition

Develop their prior knowledge of Reggae and build a composition including chords, bassline, and their own melody with lyrics they will write.

Students will work in pairs to create this composition and will perform it to the class.

They will listen to a variety of Reggae pieces and answer questions in order to develop their active listening skills.

These will progressively get harder and end the topic with extended writing questions

Resources: Bandlab, Keyboards, voice

 Jazz Performance

Students will bring all their knowledge of jazz and blues together to play a performance of a Jazz song.

A choice of elements from; chords, bassline, melody and improvisation.  Students will further develop their keyboard skills by being able to work on more complex chords and melodies.

They will listen to a variety of Jazz pieces and answer questions in order to develop their active listening skills.

These will progressively get harder and end the topic with extended writing questions

Resource: ‘In the Mood’, Keyboards, voice

 Music for Special Events 

How music plays a part in different events in society such as weddings, funerals, and royal celebrations.  

Create their own composition based on one of these briefs (Funeral March, Wedding March, Coronation Anthem) 

They will use their knowledge of harmony, and melody to create a full piece of music.  

To support this, they will listen to a variety of Classical pieces and answer questions in order to develop their active listening skills. 

They will also appraise their work and write a paragraph on their compositional choices.  

Resources: Bandlab, Keyboards 

Folk Music

Folk music and learn to play a popular song.

It will include a choice of elements from; melody, chords and countermelody

-They will work in pairs and have to work together to perform this piano duet.

To support this, they will listen to a variety of Folk pieces and answer questions in order to develop their active listening skills.

They will evaluate their own work and peer’s work at the end of the topic.

Resources: ‘Wellerman’, voice, Keyboards

 Rap and Hip-Hop 

Students will learn about the origins of Rap and Hip-Hip and create their own song.  

This will include a drum beat, riff, lyrics, chord progression. 

They will perform their compositions with the support of a computer-composed drum beat.  

To support this, they will listen to a variety of Rap and Hip-Hop pieces and answer questions in order to develop their active listening skills. 

They will also appraise their work and write a paragraph on their compositional choices.  

Resources: Bandlab, Keyboards, Voice 

Music Industry Portfolio

Students will explore the music industry, including different artists, musical genres, marketing and all the careers available.

Presenting their findings with the opportunity for a cover song to be performed.

To support this, they will listen to a variety of pieces and answer questions in order to develop their active listening skills.

They will evaluate their own work and peer’s work at the end of the topic.

Resources: Keyboards, Powerpoint