Music

The Music department has a strong team of two specialist teachers. We also have 5 peripatetic teachers offering lessons in singing, keyboard/piano, drum kit, electric guitar, bass guitar and DJing/launchpad. We have a variety of teaching spaces within music to support our curriculum. One large classroom with 5 practice rooms for rehearsal, one room that hosts a suite of computers, as well as a smaller teaching space which includes a digital recording studio, monitoring speakers and a variety of high quality microphones.

The music department offers a variety of extra-curricular activities including vocal group and band. We have an excellent reputation for performing arts and stage an annual musical, which involves singing and musical accompaniment, plus additional events throughout the year. Over the past few years, we have had great success in additional practical music exams, with students achieving Grade 8. These extra music qualifications carry UCAS points and we have had a number of students continue their music education through university study.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Breakdown

Year 7

Half Term	Topic	Learning Outcomes	Assessment
Half Term 1	Wonder Elements of Music	Perform as a whole class ensemble, playing with fluency, accuracy and expression. Compose within a range of contexts using different structures. Understand basic rhythmic notation	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Baseline Test

Half Term 2	Just Play - Keyboard	Develop correct keyboard techniques through focused technical exercises. Develop both hands when playing the keyboard in order to perform a solo piece.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Solo Performance – Listening Test

Half Term 3	Ukulele Skills	Develop the skills required to play a variety of chords on the Ukulele. Develop a strong understanding of how to read chord diagrams and perform in time with a backing track.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Whole Class Performance

Half Term 4	Keyboard Skills and Notation	Develop the understanding of musical notation including notes on the stave, rhythm and pitch. Perform more complex pieces on the keyboard.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Solo Performance

Half Term 5	Rhythms of the World – African Drumming	Explore music from another culture. Perform, improvise and compose using djembe drums.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Small group composition

Half Term 6	Just Play – Band Skills	Perform a piece of popular music in small groups using a variety of instruments with a focus on timing, fluency and accuracy. Develop ensemble skills when performing and rehearsing as a band.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Small group performance

Year 8

Half Term	Topic	Learning Outcomes	Assessment
Half Term 1	The Blues	Understand the history of Blues Music. Perform the different elements within Blues music and use these elements to compose a Blues inspired song.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Small group performance

Half Term 2	Chords	Develop your understanding of chords and accompaniment on the keyboard. Develop both hands when playing the keyboard in order to perform a solo piece. Understand how to vary chords when performing to add interest for the audience.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Solo Performance

Half Term 3	Rhythms of the World - Samba	Explore music from another culture. Perform, improvise and compose using samba instruments.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Whole Class Performance

Half Term 4	Film and Video Game Music	Perform music from film and video games. Explore different film music devices and utilise them in a variety of compositional exercises. Utilise music technology to create an effective piece of film music.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Solo Performance

Half Term 5	Reggae	Explore the history of Reggae music. Understand the musical characteristics and perform a piece of Reggae music. Develop instrumental and ensemble skills.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Small group composition

Half Term 6	Just Play – Band Skills	Perform a piece of popular music in small groups using a variety of instruments with a focus on timing, fluency and accuracy. Be introduced to performing on instruments like the drum kit and the electric guitar. Develop ensemble skills when performing and rehearsing as a band.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening activities. Small group performance

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Breakdown

Year 9

Half Term	Topic	Learning Outcomes	Assessment
Half Term 1	Pop and Dance Music	How to listen to music and identify different musical styles. Analyse the stylistic features and characteristics of each genre. Develop an understanding of rehearsal techniques through studying a piece of music from each genre.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Small group performance

Half Term 2	Hip Hop	Explore the factors that influenced the inception of Hip Hop, looking at significant events in history. Investigate how the genre has developed and incorporates subgenres within it. Perform in a hip hop style.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Written assessment

Half Term 3	Blues and Jazz	Further explore the Blues genre and how it impacted other musical genres. Explore important recordings and performances within the different genres. Look into musical improvisation in performance.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Small group performance

Half Term 4	Rock and Punk	Understand the differences between Rock and Punk music. Investigate the imagery and fashion associated with the different styles. Perform music from important bands within the Rock and Punk genres.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Whole class/small group performance

Half Term 5	R n B	Investigate important albums within the R n B genre. Recognise elements of music within the genre. Perform a piece of R n B music.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Small group performance

Half Term 6	Country	Explore how Country music has developed from its roots to a more contemporary music genre. Be able to compare musical characteristics across genres.	Performances/compositions. Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Small group performance

Year 10

Half Term	Topic	Learning Outcomes	Assessment
Half Term 1	Musical Knowledge 1 – Coursework Preparation Solo Performance	Develop skills in order for students to describe the contributing traits of two contrasting contemporary musical styles. You will explore: The factors that influenced its inception Significant artists/bands/producers Important recordings/performance/events Imagery and fashion associated with the style Develop solo performance skills through rehearsal and performance to a brief.	Coursework preparation activities. Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Solo performance

Half Term 2	Musical Knowledge 1 – Coursework Completion Duet Performance	Complete coursework where students describe the contributing traits of two contrasting contemporary musical styles. You will explore: The factors that influenced its inception Significant artists/bands/producers Important recordings/performance/events Imagery and fashion associated with the style Develop ensemble skills when preparing the performance with another person.	Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Duet performance Coursework assessment

Half Term 3	Mock Exam Preparation	Undertake a mock of the external unit set by Rockschool, which is completed in year 11. The unit is called Live Music Performance. Students are expected to: Plan for a live performance Undertake an effective rehearsal process Demonstrate, in collaboration with others, the skills to perform a set in a specific live environment to a target audience Reflect on the performance and consider ways to improve future performances	Portfolio of evidence including written, video and audio.

Half Term 4	Mock Exam Completion	Undertake a mock of the external unit set by Rockschool, which is completed in year 11. The unit is called Live Music Performance. Students are expected to: Plan for a live performance Undertake an effective rehearsal process Demonstrate, in collaboration with others, the skills to perform a set in a specific live environment to a target audience Reflect on the performance and consider ways to improve future performances	Portfolio of evidence including written, video and audio.

Half Term 5	Musical Knowledge 2 – Coursework Preparation Solo Performance	Display the ability to accurately recognise and discuss in detail at least four of the following musical elements: Tonality Tempo Instrumentation Lyrical content (where applicable) Production Techniques Develop solo performance skills.	Coursework preparation activities. Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Solo performance

Half Term 6	Musical Knowledge 2 – Coursework Completion Ensemble Performance	Display the ability to accurately recognise and discuss in detail at least four of the following musical elements: Tonality Tempo Instrumentation Lyrical content (where applicable) Production Techniques Develop ensemble performance skills.	Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Duet performance Coursework assessment

Year 11

Half Term	Topic	Learning Outcomes	Assessment
Half Term 1	Optional unit – Coursework Preparation Solo Performance	Develop the skills in one of the following optional units: Improving Instrumental Performance Composing Music Sound Recording Using a DAW Continue to develop music performance skills	Coursework preparation activities. Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Solo performance

Half Term 2	Optional unit – Coursework Completion Duet Performance	Complete the first task from one of the following optional units: Improving Instrumental Performance Composing Music Sound Recording Using a DAW Continue to develop music performance skills	Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Duet performance Coursework assessment

Half Term 3	External Examination	Complete the external unit set by Rockschool. The unit is called Live Music Performance. Students are expected to: Plan for a live performance Undertake an effective rehearsal process Demonstrate, in collaboration with others, the skills to perform a set in a specific live environment to a target audience Reflect on the performance and consider ways to improve future performances	Portfolio of evidence including written, video and audio.

Half Term 4	External Examination	Complete the external unit set by Rockschool. The unit is called Live Music Performance. Students are expected to: Plan for a live performance Undertake an effective rehearsal process Demonstrate, in collaboration with others, the skills to perform a set in a specific live environment to a target audience Reflect on the performance and consider ways to improve future performances	Portfolio of evidence including written, video and audio.

Half Term 5	Optional Unit – Coursework Preparation Solo Performance	Develop the skills in one of the following optional units: Improving Instrumental Performance Composing Music Sound Recording Using a DAW Continue to develop music performance skills	Coursework preparation activities. Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Solo performance

Half Term 6	Optional Unit – Coursework Completion Solo Performance	Complete the first task from one of the following optional units: Improving Instrumental Performance Composing Music Sound Recording Using a DAW Continue to develop music performance skills	Peer/self reflection. Listening & research activities. Duet performance Coursework assessment

For further information on the curriculum offered please contact the Academy F.A.O Nina Kurij Kurij.n@whiteroseacademies.org (Head of Music)