Music
Subject Leader: Ms Jane Dyer - j.dyer@lavington.wilts.sch.uk
Year 7
What are we studying?
Students will complete 6 units of work.
The topics covered are:
The Elements – Looking at the key items that create music: performance task
Music Technology: Pachelbel's Canon - Learning about the Baroque Period and ground bass, and the skill of arranging and creating their own arrangement of Pachelbel's Canon on Musescore using music notation: arrangement task
Impressionism and Graphic Scores – Learning about the style of Impressionism and how graphic scores are used. Pupils then create their own graphic score: composition task
Rhythm and Notation: The Underground – Looking at music notation of rhythms: performance & notation task
Structure and the Orchestra - Learning about the importance of structure in music, different types of structure and how the orchestra is made up: performance task
Intercity Stomp – Consolidating keyboard skills by learning to play a new piece: performance task
How are we assessed?
Each topic lasts for one term. At the end of the topic students’ knowledge, skills and understanding of music is assessed using curriculum levels.
This will be compared to their target level to measure progress and performance.
How are we grouped?
Students are always taught in mixed ability classes. During lesson time, students work in pairs, small groups and mixed gender groupings.
What homework are we expected to do?
- Spellings of key words
- Understanding the meanings of keywords
- Completion of composition or rehearsing of performance task
What can parents do to help?
Ask your child what has happened in their music lesson and encourage them to complete any homework tasks set.
Encouraging your child to listen to a wide variety of music in general and in particular to explore the topic/genre studied at home.
Year 8
What are we studying?
Students will complete 3 units of work.
The topics covered are:
Variations – Learning about Theme and Variations in music, and then creating their own variations of Frere Jacques on keyboards: composition task
Film Music – Becoming a musical director, composing music to fit a film script or scene: composition task
Song writing – Composing and performing a song: composition & performance task
How are we assessed?
Each topic lasts for one term. At the end of the topic students’ knowledge, skills and understanding of music is assessed by curriculum levels.
This will be compared to their target level to measure progress and performance.
How are we grouped?
Students are always taught in mixed ability classes. During lesson time, students work individually, in pairs, small groups and mixed gender groupings.
What homework are we expected to do?
- Spellings of key words
- Understanding the meanings of keywords
- Completion of composition or rehearsing of performance task
What can parents do to help?
Ask your child what has happened in their music lesson and encourage them to complete any homework tasks set.
Encouraging your child to listen to a wide variety of music in general and in particular to explore the topic/genre studied at home
Year 9
What are we studying?
Students will complete 6 units of work.
The topics covered are:
Gamelan – Learning about Gamelan music leading to a composition using Musescore: composition task
Blues – Studying Blues music leading to a performance of their own Blues arrangement: composition & performance task
Minimalism – Study of Minimalism leading to a minimalist composition using Musescore or Bandlab: composition task
Video Games Music – Study of the features and function of video games music, leading to a performance of the Tetris theme tune: performance task
The Tango – Learning about the origins and features of the Tango, and then performing a tango in pairs: performance task
Pachelbel's Canon - Learning about the Baroque Period, ground bass and how to arrange Pachelbel's Cannon using Bandlab, making it modern and adding their own parts: arranging/composition task
How are we assessed?
Each topic lasts for one term. At the end of the topic students’ knowledge, skills and understanding of music is assessed by curriculum levels.
This will be compared to their target level to measure progress and performance.
How are we grouped?
Students are always taught in mixed ability classes. During lesson time, students work individually, in pairs, small groups and mixed gender groupings.
What homework are we expected to do?
- Spellings of key words
- Understanding the meanings of keywords
- Completion of composition or rehearsing of performance task
What can parents do to help?
Ask your child what has happened in their music lesson and encourage them to complete any homework tasks set.
Encouraging your child to listen to a wide variety of music in general and in particularly to explore the topic/genre studied at home.
Years 10 and 11
What are we studying?
Eduqas GCSE Music
Component 1: Performing (30%)
Minimum of 2 performances, one of which must be an ensemble lasting at least 1 minute. The other piece(s) may be performed as a solo or part of an ensemble
Total duration of performances: 4-6 minutes
- Total of 72 marks
Component 2: Composing (30%)
2 compositions
- 1 to set brief
- 1 free composition
Total duration of compositions: 3-6 minutes
Total of 72 marks
Component :3 Appraising (40%)
Written examination 1 hour 15 minutes
4 Areas of Study with 2 Set Works each:
- Musical Forms and Devices Set Work Badinerie by J.S.Bach for Flute and String Orchestra with Harpsichord, (Final movement, Orchestral Suite No.2 in B minor, BWV 1067)
- Music for Ensemble
- Film Music
- Popular Music (Set Work Africa by Toto)
Total of 96 marks
How are we assessed?
Lessons will be a mixture of practical and theory.
Students need to learn about the following in order to critically appraise pieces of music through the contexts of areas of study:
- Form and structure in music
- Appropriate musical vocabulary for the course
- Stylistic features of the set works and the genres covered in the Areas of Study
- Conventions used in different times and places
- How music relates to the context in which it was created
- How to express and justify their opinions and preferences
Students need to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of musical elements, musical contexts and musical language in relation to music that they have studied and to unfamiliar music for each of the areas of study.
What homework are you expected to do?
Regular lessons and practice of chosen instrument/voice – this should be at least 10 minutes a day, with 3 longer sessions.
Composition tasks
Practice theory development, essay practice and revision of set works
Learning meaning and spelling of key words
What can parents do to help?
Oversee regular practice of chosen instrument/voice and organisation of choosing pieces to perform.
Checking in on composition progress.
Encourage participation in choir/orchestra or other suitable performance group.
Testing of key words.
