The team and facilities:

The music department is situated within a purpose-built Creative Arts block, with one main teaching room and 3 practice rooms. The largest practice room benefits from a set of guitars, an electric piano and a drum kit. The remaining two practice rooms both have an electric piano. In addition, the music department has a wide range of instruments available for whole class teaching, including a full samba kit, African djembe drums, ukuleles, xylophones and keyboards at each desk.

Within the department, there are two specialist class teachers who deliver a variety of clubs, and instrument lessons throughout the school year. Students will have the opportunity to experience different cultures, technologies and instruments.

KEY STAGE 3:

Students have the opportunity to study a range of topics, with an emphasis on learning a number of different instruments and providing students with the opportunity to gain an appreciation of other cultures and the history of music. Students learn about the elements of music through their practical lessons and will learn how to play African djembe drumming, the ukulele, the keyboard and the xylophone. An emphasis is also placed on students singing throughout the music curriculum, with the opportunity to perform as part of a band whilst learning pop and blues music. Students will also learn instruments of the orchestra and basic music theory.

KEY STAGE 4:

At KS4, Music is an option subject which runs over 2 years. We follow the EDUQAS GCSE Music specification.  Students will have a double lesson and a single lesson each week.  Students have four areas of study, which include musical forms and devices, music for ensemble, film music and popular music.  The course has three components which encompass the three strands of music – composing, performing and appraising.  For each composing and performing session, students are required to submit two pieces of work; the performance is solo and ensemble, composing to a brief and then a free composition of the student's choice.

Please see links below for the Music Curriculum Intent and easy-read curriculum map, which explains what your child is learning and when throughout the year.