Music
The purpose of the Music curriculum is to encourage engagement and appreciation for music from all over the world. Students will gain knowledge of how to read and write music as well as play, perform and improvise individually, as whole class ensembles and small groups.
Students will be encouraged to think about how we as consumers have a significant impact on intellectual property and the future of the music business, as we know it.
Students should have the ability to transform an original composition or arrangement from an idea to a production in front of an audience, thus preparing them for real life scenarios whilst building confidence and developing teamwork skills.
Overview
| Year | Term | Topic(s) |
| Year 7 | Autumn |
Heritage Project/The Language of Music Voices in Layers |
| Spring |
Introducing Keyboards Gamelan |
|
| Summer |
Instruments of the orchestra Introducing pop music |
|
| Year 8 | Autumn |
Copyright The Blues |
| Spring |
Music for gaming Baroque |
|
| Summer |
Musicals Samba |
|
| Year 9 | Autumn |
Working with chords Introducing songwriting |
| Spring |
Introducing Jazz Music from the Romantic period |
|
| Summer |
Film music Introduction to the music industry |
|
| Year 10 | Autumn |
AoS 3: Contemporary Latin music AoS 3: Fusions AoS 4: Minimalism AoS 4: British music |
| Spring |
AoS 2: Rock music from 60s & 70s AoS 2: Pop music from 1990 AoS 1: Baroque AoS 1: Classical |
|
| Summer |
AoS 2: Film and game music AoS 2: Musicals AoS 3: British folk music AoS 3: The Blues |
|
| Year 11 | Autumn |
AoS 4: Copland AoS 4: Hungarian music |
| Spring |
Coursework focus |
|
| Summer |
Exam prep and revision |
Qualification Details
| Exam Board | AQA |
| Course Title and Syllabus | GCSE Music |
Details of Papers |
Core content
Assessments Component 1: Understanding music What's assessed - Listening Contextual understanding. How it's assessed - Exam paper with listening exercises and written questions using excerpts of music. Questions:
The exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes. This component is worth 40% of GCSE marks (96 marks). Component 2: Performing music What's assessed - Music performance. How it's assessed - As an instrumentalist and/or vocalist and/or via technology:
A minimum of four minutes of performance in total is required, of which a minimum of one minute must be the ensemble performance. This component is 30% of GCSE marks (72 marks). Non-exam assessment (NEA) will be internally marked by teachers and externally moderated by AQA. Performances must be completed in the year of certification. Component 3: Composing music What's assessed - Composition. How it's assessed:
A minimum of three minutes of music in total is required. This component is 30% of GCSE marks (72 marks). Non-exam assessment (NEA) will be internally marked by teachers and externally moderated by AQA. |