Music

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything."

Plato

Subject Intent:

Music is a powerful, unique form of communication that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. As an integral part of culture, past and present, it brings together intellect and feeling enabling personal, expression, reflection and emotional development. The music curriculum develops pupils’ ability to critically engage with a wide variety of music through active involvement in music making, both individual and communal, inspiring a love of music alongside increased self-confidence, risk taking, creativity and a sense of achievement. The music curriculum is fully inclusive, enabling all pupils to access the knowledge and skills regardless of their starting points and barriers to learning. Specific groups such as SEND, DP, MA are closely monitored and intervention, where necessary, is planned in order to reduce gaps and to allow pupils to meet their targets.’

We built the curriculum with the intent that students will:

experience a broad, deep and knowledge rich curriculum by performing, listening, appraising and creating music across a range of historical genres, styles and traditions.
be literate and numerate to communicate their understanding and personal and critical appraisal skills of the music they are experiencing. Numeracy skills will underpin performance, composing listening and appraisal through the ability to structure, sequence and use of rhythmic notation.
have high expectations for their behaviour and achievement through a mutual respect of their own and others work and resources.
develop their cultural, moral, social, mental and physical development through the embedding of singing to create and perform music on their own and with others, alongside the opportunity to learn a music al instrument
be prepared for life beyond the school by developing communication, independent learning, social and resilience skills. We will address these skills through the strong links within the music curriculum to the place of music in society and the music industry.

Subject Implementation:

The curriculum is taught through the building upon and development of knowledge and key skills as it progresses from year 7 to 11. Reinforcement of previous knowledge and skills are an integral part of the lessons allowing a secure understanding to enable progression to the next level.
This is approached through very practical lessons where the emphasis is on the pupil’s development of independent, critical, evaluative and transferable learning skills. This creates an engaging and supportive learning environment to develop self-confidence.
Listen with increasing discrimination and awareness to inform their practice as musicians is an integral part of the lessons and this is embedded at KS3 to prepare pupils for the demands at KS4.
The SoL allows the development and appreciation of vocal and instrumental fluency, accuracy and expressiveness through the understanding of musical contexts, structures, styles, genres, traditions, identifying the expressive use of musical dimensions and use of music technology.

Rigorous use of assessment trackers allows for interventions and specific targeted planning for different cohorts across years 7-11. Assessment is through teacher observations, the recording and monitoring of classwork alongside peer and self-feedback. The outcomes are analysed and discussed and standardises within the department to enable the implementation of appropriate interventions at all levels. Assessment outcomes are compared to targets to monitor progress. Specific groups such as SEN, DP, MA are closely monitored and intervention, where necessary, is planned in order to reduce gaps.

Subject Enrichment:

In the music department we believe that all pupils should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and be involved in musical ensembles. We offer peripatetic lessons for vocalists and guitar, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. Within these lessons’ pupils have the opportunity to work towards graded music exams through recognised exam boards such as the ABRSM and Trinity, however the emphasis in the peripatetic lessons is very much on developing a lifelong skill and an enthusiasm for performing. The pupils have the opportunity to participate in the brass band, wind ensemble, rock band, acoustic guitar group, beginner’s guitar ensemble, vocal group, keyboard club, ukulele club, music technology club. Beyond the school environment pupils are able to experience performing for and within the local community to live audiences and the opportunity to participate in competitions within the wider community.

As part of the Performing Arts department regular educational visits to theatres and performance venues both locally and further afield to allow all pupils the opportunity to experience live performances to enthuse, inspire and enable these experiences to be embedded within the curriculum. Within the Performing Arts department pupils are able to take part in the school musicals and showcase performance events on offer throughout the year which are open to all year groups.

Subject Impact:

Prepare pupils to be able to play and perform in a range of contexts with accuracy and expression.
Provide pupils with a knowledge of musical structures, styles, genres and traditions which enables them to improvise, compose and extend musical ideas.
Ensure that sequences of learning build on previous knowledge and skills along with laying the foundation for subsequent progression.

Meet the needs of all pupils; enabling them to develop the knowledge, skills and fundamental British Values that will allow them to be active citizens in modern day Britain.

Allow pupils to fulfil their potential; academically, personally, physically, socially and morally, and be successful.
Prepare pupils to make informed choices at the end of each key stage and beyond.
Prepare pupils for the next stage of their education, employment or training.