Curriculum Aims

We aim to create skilled, confident and passionate musicians across a range of musical disciplines. We want to nurture independent performers, composers and analysts, but most importantly, to awaken a joy in music for all students.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Overview

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is designed to deliver an ambitious take on the National Curriculum for Music. By the end of key stage 3 all pupils will:

· Become confident performers on one or more instruments. This requires them to not only develop a variety of practical skills, but also to acquire the theoretical skills required to understand their instrument and deliver high quality performances.

· Become discerning listeners to a wide variety of music, using technical language routed in the elements of music to analyse and discuss music in greater and greater depth.

· Become creative composers in a variety of musical styles. This deepens understanding of the mechanics of music, whilst allowing pupils to unleash their creativity.

Our curriculum is designed in a ‘spiral model’, which means that throughout Key Stage 3, pupils revisit the same topics in ever increasing depth. The topics are as follows:

· Harmony and Tonality

· Rhythm and Metre

· Texture and Melody

· Composition Skills

Key Stage 4

Course: GCSE Music

Exam Board: Edexcel

Final Assessment: 2 Performances (one solo, one ensemble), 2 Compositions (one free, one exam board brief) completed throughout the course and a 1 hour and 30 minute Listening and Appraising exam, completed at the end of Year 11.

Curriculum Overview

Students follow the same areas of Performing, Composing and Appraising that have been present throughout Key Stage 3, albeit in 

much greater depth.

Performance: Students record one solo and one ensemble (duet or group) performance on an instrument of their choice (including voice). The standard level is difficulty is equivalent to ABRSM Grade 4, with pupils being awarded additional marks for more difficult pieces.

Composition: Students produce two individual compositions. The first is a ‘free composition’, meaning that students can produce music in any style or genre that interests them. For the second, students compose to a given exam board brief.

Listening and Appraising: Students study 8 set works from a variety of musical styles and genres in detail. They also complete wider listening as a comparison. They are required to do both rhythmic and melodic dictation and write an essay analysis.

Areas of study include:

Instrumental Music

Vocal Music

Music for Stage and Screen

Fusion Music