Music


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KS3 COURSE SUMMARY

The music department follows the national Curriculum which focuses on three main areas of music which are: Performing, Listening and Appraising and Composing. The course is divided into a series of projects which cover the requirements of National Curriculum by focussing on some of the main Elements of Music. This also forms a useful link to the work done on this in Junior Schools.

The topics are taken from the series of books called "New Music Matters" published by Heinemann which are outlined below. We average three or four a year and new projects are introduced on a rolling basis. As part of these projects pupils develop singing, pitched percussion and keyboard skills. They work on their own, in pairs and as a whole class. In addition to this, pupils sing additional material which sometimes links with extra curricular work. The keyboard room enables pupils to practise together in pairs using headphones.

This school year the department is involved in a National Pilot Project linked to the Key Stage 3 National Strategy. This includes re writing the above projects with a change of emphasis to try and make it more interesting and to raise standards.

Assessment is continuous and individual records are kept in files which are added to as pupils are working. They also receive comments on their progress and are given targets on how to improve. We also use self assessment as a means of pupils evaluating their own progress and this enables them to set themselves targets as well. These sheets are kept in their personal folder.

Pupils are currently graded with National Curriculum levels and effort grades in line with College Policy. These assessments then form the basis of reports and the award of final KS3 levels.


Year 7 section

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    		•   Starter activities to assess ability, including improvising.
  •  
    		•   Music in Ternary Form. Structure: Vocal and instrumental music in three sections.
  •  
    		•   "Voices In Layers":Texture/Chords/Harmony/Vocal work.
  •  
    		•   Characteristics of "The Gamelan Music of Java & Bali." Including Pitch (Pentatonic or Slendro scale) ;
        Community Music making and homogenous groups from around the world.
  •  
    		•   More structures in music: Rondo

    Year 8 section

  •  
    		•   Characteristics of Latin American dance music. Including Pitch - "Major & Minor" scales.
  •  
    		•   Characteristics of 1950´s Pop Music. Including: Rock 'n' Roll, fashions and Texture/Chords:
      "Chords I VI IV V".
  •  
    		•   Characteristics of "Ragtime" Music. Including: Duration/Rhythm, syncopation and "vamped" backings.

    Year 9 section

  •  
    		•   The Blues (the influence of the slave trade) and its influence on the development of Rock 'n'
       Roll and modern pop music as well as the development of youth culture. Including: Texture - Chords I IV V & Pitch -    improvising on the Blues Scale.
  •  
    		•   Characteristics of Baroque music and Minimalism. Including: "Ground Bass Variations".
  •  
    		•   Characteristics of Celtic Folk Music: including: Folk Dances such as Jigs; Rhythms in Compound
      Time and Structure.
  •  
    		•   Characteristics of Latin American Samba Music and its place in Latin American culture.
  •  
    		•   "Gospel Music" (and further investigation of the influence of the blues and the influence of the
      slave trade). Including an exploration of vocal music and revisiting chords I IV V.