Music

Resources and Facilities

Currently we have a :

• Teaching classroom with seating and keyboards for 32 students
• Teaching classroom with 30 computers containing Sibelius and Cubase software
• 3 practice rooms containing a drum kit, piano, CD players and amplifiers
• 1 recording studio/live room with digital mixing desk running Presonus and Cubase software
• 300 capacity concert hall fitted with lighting rig and sound system.
• Full Samba, Taiko and Djembe kit for 32 students
• Full class set of guitars and keyboards
• Amplifiers and PA equipment for KS4/5 students

ENTITLEMENT IN KEY STAGE 3

KS3 students will receive 1 x 68-minute period per week.

• Students will learn through performing on keyboard, guitar, voice and percussion instruments.
• Students will develop skills and knowledge in world music through percussion activities
• Students will create original compositions using Cubase5 / Sibelius software.
• Students will complete regular music theory activities and learn about current and changing roles/trends in the music industry.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• School Choir – Open to all students. Perform regularly throughout the year in school concerts, assemblies and events.
• School Band – Open to any students who plays a band or orchestral instrument. Performs regularly in school concerts.
• Drumming Group – Open to any student with an interest in any percussion styles ranging from drum kit, African drums, Taiko and Samba. Performs regularly in school concerts.
• Band and Solo work – Open to students through audition to support with concerts and events throughout the school year. This is for any instrumentalist or vocalist interested in performance.
• School Musical – Open to any student, through audition, who would like to sing/act/dance or provide technical support for the school show.
• Keyboard/Theory Club – Open to any student with an interest in developing their keyboard/piano skills. This club operates on a drop in basis where students may use the facilities to rehearse and are supported by staff/KS4/5 students where necessary. The opportunity to bring in theory workbooks is also available at this time.
• Peripatetic lessons. Students may wish to arrange for 1:1 or small group lessons. These take place with external staff at a small cost per week for a 20-minute lesson during school time.

KS4 students will receive 2 x 68-minute period per week.

Students in KS4 follow the RSL level 2 Certificate in Performance for Music Practitioners.

Entry Requirements

Students taking level 2 music must play an instrument or sing. They do not require a grade on their instrument and can start the course as they begin learning a new instrument.

It is recommended that students take this course alongside 1:1 peripatetic lessons to contribute to their skills development.

All students taking this course are expected to take part in an extra-curricular group each week in year 10 from a choice of:

• School band
• Choir
• Percussion Group
• Keyboard club
• School musical

Unit 201ta – Musical Knowledge

The aim of this unit is to build the learner’s musical knowledge and give them the ability to articulate their thoughts and feelings about music using the appropriate industry and theoretical language whilst drawing upon knowledge learned within this unit.

Learners will study musical styles and the various distinctive traits that comprise them. Through study of this unit learners will build a wider contextual and theoretical knowledge of contemporary music. This knowledge will be demonstrated through the ability to identify and analyse the key stylistic and musical elements present within contemporary music.

Within this unit learners will
• Identify and Describe the contributing traits of two musical styles.
• Recognise and discuss key musical elements

Assessment – This unit is internally assessed and moderated by RSL. Students
are required to save work to a protected folder and to back up work on a USB.

Unit 202ta – Live Music Performance

Through study of this unit learners will engage with a full live performance project including planning, rehearsal, performance and evaluation. The skills learned within this unit can be directly applied to any future pursuits in the live music industry.

The rehearsal elements of the unit are designed to develop the learner’s ability to rehearse effectively. Learners will develop their planning, organisation, communication and evaluation skills throughout the rehearsal process. The purpose of the unit is to prepare learners for the undertaking of a live musical performance in front of an audience.

Within this unit learners will
• Plan for a live performance
• Undertake an effective rehearsal process
• Demonstrate, in collaboration with others, the skills to perform a set in a specific environment to a target audience
• Reflect on the performance and consider ways to improve future performances

Assessment – This unit is completed under exam conditions between January and March in the second year of study. Work is saved in a protected coursework area and uploaded to RSL for external moderation.

Unit 204ta – Instrumental Study

This unit aims to enhance the learner’s capacity to understand how to maximise their development as an instrumentalist, to recognise success and to encourage improvement in areas which require further work through objective and reflective self-assessment.
The purpose of this unit is to facilitate the learner’s ongoing development as an instrumentalist, based around their own goals and objectives using structured planning and reflection of personal development.
This will in turn facilitate the capacity to use their instrument as their primary tool for creating and/or performing music.

Within this unit learners will
• Demonstrate care of the instrument and the instrumentalist
• Understand how to develop instrument-specific technique appropriate to performance at this level
• Know how to review progress in instrumental techniques and identify strengths and areas for development

Assessment – This unit is internally assessed and moderated by RSL. Students
are required to save work to a protected folder and to back up work on a USB.

KS5 Content: Courses

KS5 students will receive 3 x 68-minute periods per week

Students in KS4 follow the RSL level 3 Subsidiary Diploma for Music Practitioners.

Entry Requirements

Students taking level 3 music must play an instrument or sing. It is recommended that students have studied level 2 music either BTEC, RSL or GCSE music. It is possible for students to join level 3 without prior music qualifications if they have strong performance skills / grade 3/4 equivalent on a particular instrument.

It is recommended that students take this course alongside 1:1 peripatetic lessons to contribute to their skills development.

All students taking this course are expected to take part in at least one extra-curricular group each week from a choice of:
• School band
• Choir
• Percussion Group
• Keyboard club
• School musical

Students in Key Stage 3 will complete regular homework based around musical theory. You can support your child by reading through tasks with them and providing access to online resources such as
www.musictheory.net www.musictechteacher.com www.mymusictheory.com

Students taking music at KS4 are expected to take part in regular rehearsal in addition to weekly homework.

They should be completing a minimum of 30 mins rehearsal per day.
Coursework research and preparations make up the homework requirement for this course.

You can support your child by helping proof read their coursework drafts. Encourage them to print out and use the assignment brief as they complete any work at home to ensure they are meeting the assessment and grading criteria.

Encourage your child to take part in any local performance events within your community. Provide them with an audience when they are nearing a performance in school.

Career Pathways

Successful completion of the Level 2 course in KS4 will allow your child to move on to study Level 3 music in KS5.
Students not wishing to stay in school for sixth form may consider a music course at a college.