Subject Introduction

Music at Cressex Community School is about creativity and enjoyment. We aim to provide a balanced and broad experience for all our pupils. To make music more engaging for our students, we try to explore the different social and cultural backgrounds (relevant to students) in what we are studying. Singing, learning instrument techniques and ensemble skills are found in our lessons, students are encouraged to support each other's learning while rehearsing and performing music.

Key Stage 3 Information

The focus and theme of Key Stage 3 music is creativity. This enables students to explore their own ideas and develop their confidence skills in performing. Students will also work together (in groups) to develop communication, leadership and listening skills.

In music we follow the Model Music Curriculum. Students sing with confidence, explore different instrumental skills, learn to read notation, and create compositions and performances.

Year 7

The Elements of Music - Students learn about the 9 elements of music using a variety of practical activities including boomwhackers, singing, and body percussion. We start with this unit as it then provides our pupils with a foundation of musical vocabulary for use at Key Stage 3.

Rhythm – In this unit students learn about pulse and its importance in music. They will look at different forms of musical notation including note values, bars & notation and be able to compose their own rhythm work.

Keyboard Skills – Students continue to develop their knowledge of notation and rhythm by applying this to keyboard performance work. Students are taught how a keyboard functions and then they establish the skills needed to play the keyboard including posture, fingering patterns, scales and melodies. Students who already have these skills are supported to learn higher level pieces of work.

African Drumming -Students learn about the culture of West African music as well as djembe drum techniques and polyrhythms, they look at the other instruments of Africa and compose their own polyrhythms.

Dance Music – Students will use Bandlab to create a piece of electronic dance music (EDM). Students will be able to identify ‘What makes a piece of dance music?’ and will be able to use Bandlab to create a drumbeat, insert loops and add effects.

Ensemble Skills – Students will create a group project of a popular song using rhythm, melody and instrumental skills that they have learnt this year.

 

Year 8

Jazz and Blues – Students are taught the key features of Jazz and Blues including chords, swing rhythms, the blues scale and how improvisation is used. The unit ties in with ‘Black History month’ and students look at musicians who have created Jazz and Blues as well as creating their own improvisations.

Ground Bass – Students look at a classical device and create their own version using DAW software. Students learn note input and editing techniques using Bandlab.

Film Music - This unit aims to give pupils the experience of being “film soundtrack composers” and explores the challenges and musical devices used in film soundtrack composition. Pupils compose their own soundtrack to the James Bond film trailer “No time to die” learning how film composers use “Cue sheets” to create music to fit with exact timings.

Off Beat – This project explores the origins of Reggae music from Mento, Ska and Rock Steady and looks at the famous Reggae musician, Bob Marley Pupils learn about the different textural elements that make up a Reggae song including offbeat chords, syncopated rhythms and the vocal melody line.

Chair Drumming - Students recap their knowledge of rhythm and develop drumkit skills using body percussion and chairs. Students learn syncopation, polyrhythm and the basic techniques of drumming using a kit.

Samba - This unit continues with the rhythm knowledge developed so far and introduces pupils to the polyrhythms used in Latin – American Samba. Students perform using samba instruments and they revisit polyrhythms, cyclic rhythms, syncopation, ostinato and call and response.

 

Key Stage 4 Information

We offer Pearson BTEC Tech Award in Music Practice to students at Key Stage 4. The course offers students the opportunity to continue their studies at A level or a higher-level BTEC.

Students in year 9 study Component 1 and 2. They learn about different styles of music and how they are created. Students create and perform music from different styles and create and perform music using their own ideas. Students’ complete components 1 and 2 in year 10 and the final exam component in year 11. The units are synoptic.

The BTEC consists of three components:

Component 1: Exploring Music Products and Styles
Students research different styles and genres of music and produce written evidence of their research and understanding of the areas chosen. Students produce performances and DAW projects of the different styles of music chosen

Component 2: Music Skills Development Students complete a skills audit based upon their chosen discipline and then work on studying different pieces of repertoire to develop their skills further, Students are expected to create two projects, one on performance skills and one using DAW skills. At the end of the component students evaluate their work in line with their skills audit and talk about their progress and targets to improve further.

Component 3: Responding to a Brief
The exam board sets a performance-related brief for students in their final year. Students plan and prepare a piece of music for performance to a camera for the exam board to assess. Students are expected to complete a formally written plan and evaluation of their work in exam conditions as part of their grade.

Performing Arts Curriculum Map All Years

MUSIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN - click here