Music

Head of Subject: Mrs. Love

Outline of Course:

Practically based course with the emphasis on composing, listening and performing (in half-termly modules)

Content:

Term 1:

• Reggae: an exploration of the Reggae style and its development, leading to a performance task.
• Blues: an exploration of the Blues style and its development, leading to a composition and performance task.

Term 2:

• Ragtime: a study of Ragtime music and its characteristics through practical tasks.
• Programme Music: a study of the interpretation of art and 20th Century Music into music through listening and composing.

Term 3:

• Gamelan Music: a study of music from Indonesia using a range of percussion instruments.
• Popular Music: Powerpoint presentation on a genre or artist of their choice. Developing presentation skills, that will be transferrable to other subjects.

Activities:

• Group activities using and developing vocal and instrumental skills.
• Group and individual activities developing performance and composing through given stimuli.
• Improvisational work.
• Listening activities which provide stimuli for composing and development of musical understanding.

Skills:

Term 1:

• To identify the features of Reggae and Blues music through listening tasks.
• To compose and perform in the style of Reggae and Blues.

Term 2:

• To develop improvisation skills.
• To take part in a group performance and show awareness of style and sense of ensemble.
• To develop keyboard/instrumental skills.

Term 3:

• To select and combine resources and develop musical ideas.
• To express and justify opinions and preferences using musical knowledge and vocabulary.
• To perform showing an awareness of audience.

Homework activities:

Students will be expected to complete at least 1 hour of Aural Skills per half term. They can do this using the computers within school. The software will develop their aural ability and musical theory knowledge. As students complete levels awards/certificates will be awarded.

Homework will only be set for appropriate activities eg write up of material listened to in class. Appraisal of composition work. Students are expected to develop their composition work if they have an instrument at home.

Assessment:

• The majority of assessment is done on an informal basis through their practical activities and homework assignments.
• At the end of year there will be an assessment task focusing on skills developed throughout the year.

Parental contribution:

• Parental encouragement is important in the development of the students instrumental skills.
• The encouragement to listen to a wide variety of musical styles will develop students' musical understanding.
• All instrumentalists should be encouraged to participate within a band/group or orchestra, within school.