The Music department delivers a vibrant and inclusive curriculum which constantly explores imaginative ways to make learning relevant to our students.
Music lessons take place once a week and are always taught by music specialists. In every lesson, pupils are directly involved in making music, engaging them in a short practical activity from the start. We assist students in realising why it is that they respond physically and emotionally to music. Your child will have access to a whole range of instruments such as keyboard, ukulele, drums, guitar, bass…to name just a few! Music lessons are heavily practically based, and all students perform, compose and appraise a wide variety of genres.
We have a suite of Apple Macs and students will use GarageBand and Sibelius software to create compositions in certain topics.
Music lessons provide opportunity for your child to be creative, to develop self confidence in performing, to collaborate, to communicate and to become resilient learners.
We have an extensive extra-curricular programme made up of Junior and Senior Choir, Band club, Steel Band, Samba Band, Jazz Band and Karaoke club! We open our practice rooms for students to book at break, lunch and after school and there are also opportunities to receive further instrumental tuition from our fantastic team of visiting instrumental teachers. Please contact the Music Department if you have any queries.
Topics in KS3
Year 7
Students are involved in many different and varied musical activities from the start of year 7, which are designed to enhance their ability to Perform, Compose and Appraise music. Students are also encouraged to learn different aspects of music technology starting with scoring their own compositions using Sibelius.
Topics covered throughout the year:
- Exploring the Elements of Music
- Keyboard Skills
- African music
- Medieval Music
- Waltz and March
Year 8
Students continue to develop their Performance, Composition and Appraisal skills and are also encouraged to learn different aspects of music technology with producing their own piece of gaming music on GarageBand.
Topics covered throughout the year:
- The Blues
- Latin American Music
- Gaming Music
- 20th Century Music
- Songs of concern – an introduction to band skills
Year 9
Students continue to develop their Performance, Composition and Appraisal skills. Students are also able to create their own film score using GarageBand and are introduced to aspects of GCSE Performance and Composition by forming bands and writing their own songs and are all involved in a ‘Battle of the bands’ scheme of work.
Topics covered throughout the year:
- Music of Jamaica ‘From Mento to Dub’
- Song writing skills
- Pachelbel’s Canon – Performance and arrangement
- Composing for Film
Musical Futures ‘Battle of the bands’
