Music
Year 7 Curriculum plans
| Term | What are we learning? | What Knowledge, Understanding and Skills will we gain? | What will excellence look like? | How will these be assessed? |
|
Autumn |
The Elements of Music and Keyboard Skills | Students will learn the key musical language, and identify all the notes on the keyboard, learning to play one-handed melodies smoothly. Students will work independently and collaboratively on Performance skills and Listening and Appraising skills. | Students will perform confidently, showing good piano technique (use of correct fingers), and an awareness of how the elements of music can be used to create an expressive performance. Students have the ability to articulate how the elements of music have been used to create a variety of moods, and recognise a range of instruments from listening. | Students perform Song of the Bluebird to the class for assessment. Students are also assessed on Listening and Appraising each lesson by the work in their booklets. |
|
Autumn |
Ukulele Skills |
Students will understand the instrument by naming parts of the Ukulele, they will learn to read chords from TAB and finding correct positions on the Ukulele. Students will develop rhythm skills and learn to change chords fluently in order to perform songs with primary chords. | Students will confidently be able to change between chords whilst maintaining a strumming rhythm. They can give feedback to others on improving their ukulele technique. Students begin to access barre chords and explore a variety of rhythmic patterns. | End of unit performance assessment. Theory and listening and appraising work assessed formatively through booklets. |
|
Spring |
African Music |
Students will understand how to use notation to compose rhythms. They will develop their performance skills through whole class and small group performances. | Students will be able to lead a group performance confidently, using the elements of music to create expression. Students will compose a piece of music with a thorough understanding of African music conventions and cultural awareness. | End of unit composition and performance assessment. Theory and listening and appraising work assessed formatively through booklets |
|
Summer |
Film Music |
Students will develop their composition skills, and film music conventions. They will gain an understanding of how the musical elements: tempo, pitch, timbre, texture, dynamics, are used to create a variety of moods in film music. | Students will create a composition which shows an understanding of harmonic, rhythmic and melodic devices. Students will use all the elements of music to create a range of moods, and they pay special attention to timing in order to match the music to the film clip. | An end of unit assessment of practical work. Listening and appraising work is assessed through booklet work. |
|
Summer |
Samba | Students will learn about Samba music, including common instruments, rhythmic devices used and context in which it is usually heard. Students will build on their notation skills by reading and writing rhythms using notation. | Students will have a confident grasp of rhythmic devices, including syncopation. They can hold their own rhythmic part in an ensemble and will lead others. Their timing is exemplary and they are able to read notated rhythms and compose their own using written notation. | Practical work will be assessed in an end of term performance. Listening and appraising work is assessed formatively through booklet work. |
Year 8 Curriculum plans
| Term | What are we learning? | What Knowledge, Understanding and Skills will we gain? | What will excellence look like? | How will these be assessed? |
|
Autumn |
Keyboard Skills 2 |
Students will strengthen their piano skills through learning Fur Elise. Students will begin learning the note positions on the stave and work on their two-handed piano technique. | Students will confidently perform Fur Elise, with the melody part in the right hand and accompanying part in the left hand. The performance is fluent and expressive. Students will perform Fur Elise to the class for assessment. | Students theory and Listening and Appraising work is assessed each lesson in their booklets. End of term performance assessment. |
|
Autumn |
Ukulele Skills |
Students will understand the instrument by naming parts of the Ukulele, they will learn to read chords from TAB and finding correct positions on the Ukulele. Students will develop rhythm skills and learn to change chords fluently in order to perform songs with primary chords. | Students will confidently be able to change between chords whilst maintaining a strumming rhythm. They can give feedback to others on improving their ukulele technique. Students begin to access barre chords and explore a variety of rhythmic patterns. | End of unit performance assessment. Theory and listening and appraising work assessed formatively through booklets. |
|
Spring |
The Blues |
Students will gain an understanding into the slave trade, and how this changed American popular music. Students will perform the 12-bar blues on the keyboard and improvise using the blues scale. | Students will confidently play the 12-bar blues chord sequence with a bass line. Students improvise showing development, contrast, and an ability to syncopate rhythms to make the improvisation in keeping with the style. | End of unit performance of 12-bar blues with improvisation Listening and appraising assessed formatively through booklet work. |
|
Summer |
Dance Music |
Students will develop their composition and ICT skills, as well as gain a deeper understanding of texture, rhythm, harmony and melody. | Students will compose the component parts for a piece of electronic dance music (rhythm, bass line, chord sequence, and melody) as well as creatively choosing instrument sounds and using effects. Students will create an exciting end product by using skills such as panning and tracking the dynamics. | Practical work is assessed through an end of unit assessment. Listening and appraising work is assessed formatively through booklet work. |
|
Summer |
Ska | Students will learn about Ska music, including common instruments, rhythmic devices used and context in which it is usually heard. Students will have the opportunity to develop both their composition and ensemble performance skills and arranging a well known Ska song. | Students will have a confident grasp of rhythmic devices, including syncopation and off-beat rhythms. They compose idiomatically, with an understanding of the political context to a lot of reggae music. Their timing is exemplary and they show leadership in ensemble performances. | Practical work will be assessed in an end of term performance of their composition. Listening and appraising work is assessed formatively through booklet work. |
Year 9 Curriculum plans
| Term | What are we learning? | What Knowledge, Understanding and Skills will we gain? | What will excellence look like? | How will these be assessed? |
|
Autumn |
Keyboard Skills 3 |
Students will strengthen their piano skills through learning Paradise by Coldplay. Students will broaden their music theory by understanding a range of note values, pitches, key and time signatures. | Students will confidently perform Paradise, with the melody part in the right hand and accompanying part in the left hand. The performance is fluent and expressive.Students perform 'Paradise' to the class for assessment. | Students theory and Listening and Appraising work is assessed each lesson in their books. End of term performance assessment. |
|
Autumn |
Ukulele 3 |
Students will develop the ability to play secondary chords as well as the primary chords, with an aim to be able to play chord inversions in more challenging musical pieces. Students will develop rhythmic complexity of pieces, moving smoothly from chord to chord whilst keeping to the rhythm. | Students will confidently change between chords whilst maintaining a strumming rhythm. Students give constructive feedback to others on improving their ukulele technique. | End of unit performance assessment. Theory and listening and appraising work assessed formatively through books |
|
Spring |
Film Music |
Students will learn what Leitmotif is, and use their knowledge of the elements of music to compose a piece of film music that suits mood and creates atmosphere. | Students' will compose music which successfully matches the mood and atmosphere selected. Students will incorporate a wide variety of musical elements into their pieces. | Students' work is assessed through a final performance/presentation of their composition. Listening and appraising assessed formatively through booklet work. |
|
Summer |
Pop Music |
Students will gain a broad understanding of a range of popular music styles ranging from 1950s rock n roll to current chart songs. Students will develop their analysis skills as well as compositional skills as they apply their learning. | Students will analyse music and articulate how the elements of music are used in different ways in the various sub-genres. Students’ use of musical vocabulary is excellent, and they compose idiomatically by drawing on the features studied. Students are brave with their creativity, and draw on their own listening to inform decisions they make in their compositions. | Listening and appraising work is assessed formatively through booklet work. Practical work is assessed in an end of term assessment. |
Year 10 Curriculum plans
| Term | What are we learning? | What Knowledge, Understanding and Skills will we gain? | What will excellence look like? | How will these be assessed? |
|
Autumn |
AoS 5: Conventions of Pop | Students will study the musical features, cultural knowledge and evolution in pop music. | Students will analyse music and articulate how the elements of music are used in different ways in the various sub-genres. Students’ use of musical vocabulary is excellent. Students are brave with their creativity, and draw on their own listening to inform decisions they could then demonstrate in courseowrk related to Area of Study One: My Music. | Students will be assessed through a mixture of informal and formal examination questions. |
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Autumn |
AoS 3: Rhythms of the World | Students will gain cultural understanding and deeper understanding of how the elements of music are used in Greek Music, Israeli Music, Palestinian Music | Students will be able to use musical analysis skills to discuss the key features of a range of non-western musical styles from across the world. Students will be able to identify specific and traditional rhythms characteristically used in non-western musical styles. | End of unit listening assessment. |
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Autumn |
AoS 1: My Music - Solo Performance/Composition and Ensemble Performance/Composition | Students will develop their instrument/vocal technique showing an awareness of interpreting the music for an audience. | Students will perform confidently with expression showing excellent technical skills on their instrument/voice for example playing a range of key signatures, choosing rhythmically challenging repertoire and intonation. | End of unit performance and recording. |
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Spring |
AoS 2: Concerto Through Time | Students will develop an understanding of the key features of Baroque, Classical and Romantic era classical music. Understanding of the orchestra and soloists’ roles in concertos. | Students will be able to identify from listening, a wide range of musical elements and genres. Comment accurately on the key features of each of the areas of study. | End of unit listening assessment. |
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Spring |
AoS 4: Film Music | Students will study the Elements of Music: Tempo, Pitch, Timbre, Texture, Dynamics and demonstrate how these can be used to create different moods. | Students demonstrate a secure knowledge of how the elements of music can be used to maniuplate the audience and create a variety of moods from fear to empathy and joy. | End of unit listening assessment. |
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Spring |
AoS 1: My Music - Solo Performance/Composition and Ensemble Performance/Composition | Students will develop their instrument/vocal technique showing an awareness of interpreting the music for an audience. | Students will perform confidently with expression showing excellent technical skills on their instrument/voice for example playing a range of key signatures, choosing rhythmically challenging repertoire and intonation. | End of unit performance and recording. |
|
Summer |
GCSE Music Areas of Study Revision | Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the key features of music from the areas of studies. | Students participating fully in both open questioning and exam practise showing maturity and growth mindset when undertaking exam questions. | Students will be assessed through teacher led question and answer and peer and self assessment of exam questions. |
Year 11 Curriculum plans
| Term | What are we learning? | What Knowledge, Understanding and Skills will we gain? | What will excellence look like? | How will these be assessed? |
|
Autumn |
Area of Study 3 Rhythms of the World | Students will gain a cultural understanding, and a deeper understanding of how the elements of music are used in Bhangra, Indian Classical Music, Samba, African Drumming, Calypso, Greek, Israeli & Palestinian Music | Students will be able to identify from listening, a range of instruments from a variety of cultures, including Classical Indian, Bhangra, Calypso, Samba, Africa and the Mediterranean and the Middle East.Comment accurately on the key features of each of these types of music. | End of unit assessments on Rhythms of the world. |
|
Autumn |
Area of Study 2: Concerto Through Time | Students will develop an understanding of the key features of Baroque, Classical and Romantic era classical music. Understanding of the orchestra and soloists’ roles in concertos. | Students will be able to identify from listening, a wide range of musical elements and genres. Comment accurately on the key features of each of the areas of study. | Listening and Appraising Mock Papers. |
|
Autumn |
Solo & Ensemble Performance | Students will develop their instrument/vocal technique showing an awareness of interpreting the music for an audience. They will be able to read chords and melodies and have an awareness of how they perform as part of a group. | Students will demonstrate excellent performance skills with secure intonation and expression and will work effectively in a team. | Students have to perform for a recording and present a score for teacher assessment. |
|
Autumn |
Composition to a brief | Students will develop harmonic and melodic understanding. Students will respond to a stimulus and understand how to use compositional devices to create music. | Students will show a clear use of stimulus throughout which has been developed in a creative manner. Instrumental writing which shows full use of range and understanding of the instruments capabilities. | Students have to perform or present a recording and score for teacher assessment. |
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Spring |
Conventions of Pop | Students will study timbre, cultural knowledge, structure and changes in pop music from the 50s to present day. | Students will have a deep understanding of the changes in popular music from 1950’s and 60’s Rock and Roll, 70’s and 80’s Rock Anthems, Pop Ballards from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and Solo Artists until present day. | End of unit listening assessment. |
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Spring |
Area of Study 4: Film Music | Students will study elements of Music: Tempo, Pitch, Timbre, Texture, Dynamics and how these can be used to create different moods. | Students demonstrate a secure knowledge of how the elements of music can be used to maniuplate the audience and create a variety of moods from fear to empathy and joy. | End of unit listening and appraising mock questions |
|
Spring |
Composition to a brief | Students will develop harmonic and melodic understanding. Students will respond to a stimulus and understand how to use compositional devices to create music. | Students will show a clear use of stimulus throughout which has been developed in a creative manner. Instrumental writing which shows full use of range and understanding of the instruments capabilities. | Students have to perform or present a recording and score for teacher assessment. |
|
Spring |
Solo & Ensemble Performance | Students will develop their instrument/vocal technique showing an awareness of interpreting the music for an audience. They will be able to read chords and melodies and have an awareness of how they perform as part of a group. | Students will demonstrate excellent performance skills with secure intonation and expression and will work effectively in a team. | Students have to perform for a recording and present a score for teacher assessment. |
|
Summer |
Revision of AoS 2: Concerto through Time, AoS 3: Rhythms of the World, AoS 4: Film Music, AoS 5: Conventions of Pop. Exam preparation, past papers. | Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the key features of music from the areas of studies. | Students will have a deep understanding of Baroque, Classical and Romantic concerto’s, film music, world music and the changes in popular music from 1950’s and 60’s Rock and Roll, 70’s and 80’s Rock Anthems, Pop Ballards from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and Solo Artists until present day. | Mock Papers and practise questions. |
