Subject Overview
The Music Department at Oriel High School is a thriving and dynamic area of the school providing students with a high quality music education alongside an array of extra-curricular activities and performance opportunities. With a team of dedicated music teachers, each an expert in their own specialist discipline, bespoke education can be provided for each individual student. We also boast a vibrant team of peripatetic staff who support all areas of the curriculum.
We have a proven history of high quality provision for GCSE, A-Level and BTEC Music students including dedicated concert evenings, workshops and specialist sessions after school. In addition to this we also have a thriving Music Technology course at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, which prepares students for life in the music industry. These students are always involved in the sound and lighting side of all concerts as well as being given ‘real life’ opportunities to develop their skills. As part of our philosophy, we regularly perform and work with our feeder schools.
Key Stage 3
Music is taught to Key Stage 3 students once per fortnight and our use of Music Technologies, such as Logic Pro and Garageband are fully embedded into our schemes of work. Students follow a programme of study that focuses on and develops the key skills of:
- Performing
- Singing
- Composing
- Improvising
- Appraising
- Building confidence and teamwork skills
Our curriculum map centres around the National Curriculum requirements and incorporates music from a wide range of styles, cultures and historical periods. Students are encouraged to develop their musical creativity through a range of practical activities which utilises their individual skills, imaginations and abilities. Activities both in the classroom and at extra-curricular level also allow students to develop and refine their knowledge, understanding and appreciation of music. Students will use a range of instruments throughout Key Stage 3 including keyboards, guitar, ukulele, various percussion instruments, and voice. Music Technology, which we run on our Mac Computers is used to enhance and facilitate learning and students will learn to sequence MIDI, record and process audio, as well as mixing skills on a range of software and hardware. In Year 9, students start to further refine their skills and knowledge as they progress towards the ‘Step up to GCSE’ unit towards the end of the academic year.
Below is an overview of the topics we teach throughout each year group:
Year 7
| Autumn I | Spring I | Summer I |
|---|---|---|
| Musical Elements - Key Elements of Music: Tempo, Texture, Tonality, Articulation, Dynamics, Pitch, Pulse, Melody, Rhythm - Learning Rhythm notation through use of Kodaly strategies - What is a contrast in music? - Sight singing intro - Singing and performing 'By the Waters' to demonstrate understanding of reading notation and sight singing | The Orchestra, Musical Eras and Genres - Composers of the baroque, classical and romantic historical periods - Musical instrumental families and how to recognise them - Which instruments are in each family? - What is timbre? - What are the key characteristics of the three musical eras and how do we recognise them by listening? - Key composers: Mozart and Saint-Saens | African Music - Research projects on African music, history, geography and culture - Djembe workshop, using Toto Africa - Che Che Kule - perform a traditional song on Djembes, from Ghana, to demonstrate call and response - Class assessment: In groups, compose and perform an African piece, demonstrating the use of Call and Response, Ostinato and 2 contrasting sections Assessment Point 2: End of year quiz, demonstrating understanding of all key terms |
| Autumn II | Spring II | Summer II |
| Notation and Composing with the Elements - Understanding how to read notes of the treble and bass clef - Keyboard basics (with hands together) - Chord Basics (Major and Minor) - Performing on keyboards using simple chords as a background - Applying concepts such as Tonality, Texture and Structure into Composition and Performance work - Understand concept of Ostinato and how to compose using one - Assessment Point 1: Composing a piece using the keyboards that reflects both ostinato and contrasting musical elements. | Programme Music and further Composition - Introduction to Programme Music and research projects - Listening and Appraising set work 'Carnival of the Animals' - Concept of Leitmotif and how it is applied in music for film, games, TV - Compose a Leitmotif (using Ostinato concepts and framework) - Compose music to a set brief or visual stimulus | Band Projects - Achy Breaky Heart Listening Activity and Introduction to lyrics - Introduction to the Ukelele - Learn the chords, either on Ukelele or Keyboards - Cover Songs listening and comparison activities, to practice and apply appraisal skills - Whole class sing along with lyrics - Rehearse full song in groups of 4 Assessment: Performance of band projects (singing and playing) and written evaluation on Word document |
Year 8
Students are provided with worksheets for each unit and the opportunity to play various instruments. Students are assessed throughout the unit on their understanding of the context, listening and performing skills. We perform regularly in lessons to determine students understanding of the unit.
Key Stage 4
Music GCSE
In Key Stage 4 the students follow the Eduqas GCSE syllabus.
http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/music/gcse/
GCSE Music provides students with the opportunity to study both classical, popular and world music genres, looking not only at the integral elements of each type of music, but also providing an awareness and understanding of the social, cultural and traditions of each genre and style. The course is very practical based and allows students to fully develop their skills in composition, performing and application of music technology. We are fortunate enough to offer students full use of our Apple Mac suite, purpose built recording studio and use of software such as MuseScore and Logic Pro.
GCSE Music enables students to extend existing skills in music as well as widen their appreciation of different musical traditions and to see where it is relevant in today’s wide and varied music industry. The main “Areas of Study” for GCSE Music are:
· Musical Forms and Devices
· Music for Ensemble
· Film Music
· Popular Music We do not currently offer Music Technology as a GCSE option but the use and application of music technology skills, is fully integrated into the teaching of GCSE Music.
| Component 1 | Performing | 30% | You must perform 1 ensemble and then a second performance of either a solo or another ensemble. The performances have to add up to 4 – 6 minutes combined. It is teacher examined and then moderated. |
| Component 2 | Compositing | 30% | You must compose 2 pieces of music. One piece is to a brief set by the exam board, the other is in the style of your choice. Both compositions must last 3 – 6 minutes. It is teacher examined and then moderated by the exam board. |
| Component 3 | Exam | 40% | The Appraising exam lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes. You are assessed on 4 areas of study: AOS1 – Musical Forms and Devices AOS2 – Music for Enseble AOS3 – Film Music AOS4 – Popular Music Within this there are 2 set works you have to learn. The set work for AOS1 is Badinerie, from the Orchestral Suite No 2. in B minor by J.S. Bach. The set work for AOS4 is Africa by Toto. The rest of the exam is unheard but will test your understanding of the musical elements, your listening skills and your general theory. |
Peripatetic Music Lessons
All students in every key stage have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument or to participate in singing lessons. Peripatetic music teachers from West Sussex Music offer a wide range of musical opportunities and further details about the cost of these lessons and how to apply can be found at:
Students who study an instrument will be encouraged to use it within the school curriculum and enhance their studies further by following a very individual learning journey throughout their music lessons. We currently offer lessons in voice, piano and guitar.
Learning Outside the Classroom
Extra-Curricular
Extra-curricular activities are a very important part of the life of the Music Department. We hold regular concerts both within and outside of school. In recent years we have been able to give our students the opportunity to tour to Disneyland Paris and Belgium and we work hard to ensure that students are able to experience an array of professional music productions, work with and visit music professionals.