Music

The music department has two subject specific classrooms as well as practice rooms.  There are two subject specialists within the department.

The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
• Learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations

The music curriculum intent is to engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and develop their talent as musicians, in doing so increase self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. Music education encourages active involvement in different forms of music making, both individual and communal, helping to develop a sense of group identity and togetherness. Music can influence pupils’ development in and out of school; it can help foster personal development and maturity, a sense of achievement and self-worth and the ability to work with others in a group context.

Music learning develops pupils’ critical skills: their ability to listen, to appreciate a wide variety of music and to make judgements about musical quality. It also increases self-discipline, creativity, aesthetic sensitivity and fulfilment.

Music courses follow the national curriculum and make use of a range of resources available.

The scheme of work for key stage three is designed to match national curriculum based learning outcomes with appropriate resources and activities in order to provide a varied and stimulating music education.  The schemes of work are planned to create a clear understanding of national curriculum expectations.

Key stage four schemes are designed in line with the GCSE Edxcel music specification and are designed to encompass a range of practical and theoretical activities. Pupils will develop performing, composing and appraisal skills.