KS3 Music
Music Curriculum
Key concepts in Music: Composition, Performance and Listening and Appraising.
Composing
Pupils are encouraged to be creative working within in a wide range of musical styles, genres and traditions. They also spend time improvising, exploring and developing musical ideas. From the beginning of 1st year pupils are able to identify the expressive use of the musical elements and compose within certain structures.
Performing
Music is mainly taught through performance based tasks where pupils work in a range of group sizes. All pupils sing as a class, developing vocal techniques and musical expression. They learn how to play the keyboards, percussion, world instruments and pop band instruments with control, instrument specific techniques and musical expression. Pupils practice, rehearse and perform with an awareness of the different parts, the different contributions of the group and the audience.
Listening and Appraising
Pupils are expected to analyse, evaluate and compare pieces of music. They can identify conventions of different styles of music and are able to use music vocabulary to communicate their feelings about it. They can adapt their own musical ideas and refine and improve their own and others’ work. Pupils peer assess and self evaluate every module.
Choral Lessons – one hour every fortnight
In Choral lessons pupils learn the skills to sing and perform as an ensemble. They learn specific vocal techniques and musical expression. The pupils learn a varied repertoire from hymns for assemblies to performance pieces for concerts. Pupils are then selected to be in the Junior Choir that performs at the main events throughout the year.
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Module
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Learning Outcomes
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Preparation for GCSE
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Introduction to Music
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Pupils will understand the basics of music theory. They will learn the elements of music, how to read rhythmic notation, staff notation and graphic scores. Pupils will learn keyboard basics and percussion skills.
Assessment: Composition and Performance on percussion instruments and keyboards. Theory test at end of module.
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Strand: Classical Music
Continuous performance, composition and listening practice.
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African Music and the Blues
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Pupils will learn about African culture and how to play the Djembe drums with the correct techniques. They will understand the fundamentals of African music (Ostinato, Polyrhythms, Improvisation). Leading on from this, pupils will research into the slave trade and how ‘Blues’ music originated. Pupils will understand about harmony of the 12 bar blues, riffs and improvisation.
Assessment: Composition and Performance on Djembe drums and on the keyboards.
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Strand: World and Popular
Continuous performance, composition and listening practice.
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The Media
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Pupils will understand the influences music can have on an audience. They will learn how music can persuade the consumer and change the overall plot. Pupils will understand the techniques composers use to attract an audience and sway their opinion.
Assessment: Composition and Performance on Keyboards
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Strand: Popular Music
Continuous performance, composition and listening practice.
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World Music
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The World Music module focuses on Indian Music, African Music and Latin American Music. Pupils will be able to recognise the features of each of these different cultures. They will also be able to recreate performances that are representative of that culture. Leading on from this pupils will use the music software package ‘Acid’ and create simple sequencing compositions using the techniques they have learnt.
Assessment: Compositions using ‘Acid’ music software and practical Performances from each of the different styles covered.
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Strand: World Music
Continuous performance, composition and listening practice.
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Film Music
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Pupils will understand how film composers create certain atmospheres. They will learn about leitmotif, compositional techniques and the orchestra. Pupils will understand how certain timbres create different sounds and how the ensemble can affect the overall sound. They will compose their own film soundtrack using ‘Acid’ music software on their minibooks. They will also perform film theme tunes on the keyboard.
Assessment: Film Music Composition on ‘Acid’ and Performance on the keyboards.
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Strand: Popular Music and Classical Music
Continuous performance, composition and listening practice
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Popular Song
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Pupils will understand the developments of popular music throughout the 20th Century and be able to recognise the main features of each of the decades. Pupils will then work in groups to create their own cover song. They will have master classes to learn to play pop instruments and put together a band. Using ‘Acid’ music software pupils will also create their own remix of a pop song.
Assessment: Composition using ‘Acid’ music software and Performance of Popular song.
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Strand: Popular Music
Continuous performance, composition and listening practice.
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If you look deep enough you will see music; the heart of nature being everywhere music.
Thomas Carlyle