The Music Department

Transcription

1 The Music Department The department is based in a self contained block with a specialist Music Room, recording studio, ensemble/it room and large store cupboard. There are also three small rooms which are used as rehearsal and band rooms. In addition the Department makes regular use of the School Hall which houses the lighting, staging and sound system for both lesson work and school performances. Students receive two music lessons a fortnight at Key Stage 3. At Key Stage 4 students can select to study BTEC national first Diploma course in Music or GCSE Music. Extra- Curricular classes run in GCSE Music and AS music for those students on the Gifted and Talented register. At Key Stage 3 students learn about a wide variety of styles of music. They have the chance to use all of the department equipment including the music recording studio, ICT facilities and instruments. At Key Stage 4 students develop their skills further and have more opportunity to specialise in their chosen area. In GCSE music students compose their own music in a chosen style and perform on their instruments. They also learn about different styles in more detail, including Fusion Music and Dance Music. The BTEC course approaches the subject in a more vocational way, students organise music events in school, meet people who work in the industry and are assessed on their contribution to different projects as well as their skills. Music plays a huge part in the life and culture of the school. Students are provided with many opportunities to get involved in trips to shows, plays and concerts, as well as workshops with visiting artists. There are an increasing number of extra curricular activities available to all students including Orchestra, Choir, rock club and Chamber Choir. The department puts on regular performances each year, including Christmas Concerts, musicals and a summer concert. The department has for the last three years entered the regional round of the National Festival of Music for Youth, and students have also had opportunity to travel and perform abroad with Poland and Russia being recent destinations. A range of other performances take place including Talent Shows and Battle of the Band competitions. Students perform at all of the main school events, including assemblies, Awards Evening, Presentation Evenings and Open Nights. Students have also performed at many events out of school including the recent opening of Redcar Band stand. The community aspect of the school is also vital, and students in feeder primary schools are given opportunities in Brass, wind and string lessons through the TVMS provision as well as being invited to school musical performances. The school hosts several TVMS groups and is the permanent rehearsal venue for their successful Percussion ensemble.

2 Curriculum Overview Key Stage 3 Year 7: Unit 1 Making Music - Students are introduced to music through reading rhythms, notes on the staves and through simple performance. They work towards a baseline assessment which informs their musical level. Unit 2 The Elements of Music Students are encouraged to develop their performing skills through the introduction of the Elements of Music. They are introduced to Tempo, dynamics, texture etc and learn the traditional terms, meanings and their application. Unit 3 Telling a Story Using Prokofiev s Peter and the Wolf as our stimulus students begin to develop a sense of mood by using music to enhance a story. Unit 4 Minimalism Students explore simple repeated patterns in music through the Post modernist minimalist movement. They will use a variety of methods to compose and perform minimalist music whilst listening to famous works and exploring music technology. Unit 5 Taiko Drumming Students learn how Taiko drumming music has developed from the traditional instrument of Japanese war into the martial art fusion form which is prevalent today. They will demonstrate how this influences the drum strokes we use and have an awareness of its place as a multi functional art form in Japan. Year 8: Unit 1 Gamelan Students will explore the pentatonic scale to help perform Gamelan melodies from Indonesia. These will use layering techniques and allow students to investigate another culture. Unit 2 Ground Bass - Students will look at a variety of pieces of music which employ a Ground Bass before composing their own. Using Pachelbel s Canon as a starting point, students will develop an awareness of simple harmonies as well as using the left hand and reading Bass clef. Unit 3 The Blues Students will explore the history of Blues music before composing lyrics and improvising on the Blue s scale. Unit 4 Variations Variations allow us to utilise many of the skills used thus far and explore their impact on a melody. Students will use chords, major/minor and other strategies to develop variations.

3 Unit 5 African Drumming A hands in introduction to African singing, drumming and dance. Pupils will explore the cross rhythms and strokes of Drumming. Year 9: Unit 1 The Beatles In groups pupils will develop a performance of The Beatles classic song Let it Be. This will be reinforced through exploring the musical impact of the band since their arrival on the pop scene. Unit 2 Music in Advertising Developing their own advertising storyboard will form the stimulus for students to create their own jingles and themes for an advert. Unit 3 Film Music Presented with a short clip students must employ compositional skills to produce a soundtrack. Unit 4 Pop Music Students will explore a variety of popular styles including Dance, Reggae and Britpop before choosing a style in which to base their own pop song. Unit 5 Recording Students will use technology to produce and edit their pop songs from the previous unit. Key Stage 4. Students have the opportunity to follow either the Edexcel BTEC specification or the OCR GCSE in music. Btec consists of two core units. Creating a musical Product students devise and manage their own musical project exploring roles in the profession. Exploring the Music Profession Students explore roles, managing a budget and marketing a product. There are then a variety of optional units exploring composition, performance and music technology. GCSE

4 The course has three elements. 1. Composition Students will develop compositional techniques. A folio of two compositions will be submitted at the end of the Spring Term in Year 11. Each composition will be taken from a different Area of Study with guidance from the teacher. 2. Performance Students will perform two pieces. The choice of pieces will be chosen in conjunction with their instrumental teacher. 3. Listening The only formal exam. Students will answer questions related to the three Areas of Study. 1. Baroque and Classical, Plainsong, Folk Music, Gamelan, atonal music, Serialism. 2. Minimalism, Salsa, Bhangra. 3. Waltz, Pavane and Galliard, Disco. Many of these areas have already been studied in Years 8 and 9 and will be further developed at GCSE level. Extra Curricular Activities September Catholic Education Mass Middlesbrough Cathedral. December Christmas Concert March Music For Youth Competition April Bugsy Malone School Musical April Exchange visit to St Petersburg Russia July Summer Concert with Russian School

5 November Anti Bullying Song writing final Sage Gateshead December Christmas Concert January Joint residential to Ingestre Hall with Bydales School March Music For Youth Festival April The Wizard of Oz. May Opening of Redcar Bandstand June Now is The Time Liturgical Music concert July Musical tour of Krakow, Poland.