Music

If you enjoy performing music in your own time, can play an instrument (including singing), and enjoy composing your own music using iMacs then this is a good subject to choose. This course will broaden your knowledge of many types of music, and give you an appreciation of the diversity of musical styles that exist today.

The course is suitable for students who have taken Music in Year 9. Students must be having private instrumental lessons to enter this course.

Half Term 1: Foundation skills and Ukulele Debut

Students are introduced to notes, chords, tempo, and tonality. Students learn, with the use of Ukuleles, to develop an understanding of musical notation and how this is used to learn pieces of music effectively. 4 chords are learned for the debut level entry pieces to begin with, and students then work towards full song performances on Ukulele at the end of the half term. More advanced musicians can access melodic Ukulele pieces for a further challenge. Students are assessed on their performances in class.

Half Term 2: Rhythm and Djembe drumming

The use of Djembe drums in this project allows students to begin to develop their musical listening skills and use the subject-specific language for describing the elements of music (rhythm, dynamics, tempo, notation, pulse). Students also continue developing their understanding of musical notation and performance directions and applying it to different instrumental contexts. Students are assessed on group performances and are also assessed on their knowledge of musical notation and instrumental understanding.

Half Term 3: Piano Debut

This project allows students to develop basic piano skills and understand detailed traditional music notation. Students complete debut pieces where they learn how to perform the melody from a variety of well-known pieces. More advanced piano players have access to more complex pieces that will allow them to further develop these essential skills. Students are assessed on their performances of their chosen pieces. Students are also assessed on their knowledge of musical notation and instrumental understanding.

Half Term 4: Piano extended

This project has been chosen to allow students more time to master their piano skills and expand their notation knowledge started in half term 3. Students will focus on adding in the bass clef to begin with, using a note naming game to help them increase their reading speed. Students will use the Rock School debut piece 'Imagine' by John Lennon to enhance their notation reading ability alongside developing their piano playing skills. More advanced piano players are introduced to more complex pieces to ensure their progress continues throughout the project. Students are assessed on their piano performance as well as their knowledge of musical notation and instrumental understanding.

Half Term 5: Ukulele project 2

Students are given the opportunity to revisit the Ukulele, recall their knowledge and skills previously learnt, and extend them to be able to perform more complex pieces in this second Ukulele project. Students learn to play along to song videos which teach them strumming patterns, tempo and accuracy in performance. Students performances are assessed in class. 

Half Term 6: Famous musicians and music

Students continue to expand their understanding of the social context in music and expand their music history knowledge. In each lesson, students are introduced to famous musicians and their music throughout the years as well as learning some of the pieces of music on instruments as well. This ensures students experience an eclectic mix of music and some may even discover a new favourite musician! Students are assessed in a listening task that allows students to demonstrate their understanding of music through audio as well as their increased knowledge of music history across a variety of genres.

Half Term 1: Ukulele Year 8 project 1

Students continue to develop their Ukulele skills to include more complex chordal skills. More advanced musicians can access melodic Ukulele pieces for a further challenge. Resources are used to support students' learning as well as helping them to perform in time with other parts on backing tracks. 

Half Term 2: Grade 1 theory and drumming

During this half term students focus on developing their musical knowledge and understanding. Students learn from the ABRSM syllabus for grade 1 to help them develop their ability to read musical notation. Students also enjoy a second opportunity to play the Djembe drums in these lessons too to expand their understanding of rhythm. Students are assessed throughout this topic. 

Half Term 3: Piano film music

Students learn about film music and its composers. Students use the music of famous films to expand their piano skills further in this project as well. 

Half Term 4: Keane on soundtrap

Students learn the band parts for a song by Keane. Students then recreate this song on soundtrap either through manually entering the notes or by recording MIDI tracks. Students learn how to self-assess their work and use editing skills to ensure their work is accurate. These are important skills for students to develop for future projects and possible GCSE studies. 

Half Term 5: Ukulele year 8 project 2

Students are given the opportunity to experience creating music using soundtrap. Students bring together all of their musical knowledge from key stage 3 to compose pieces of music for the planets using apple loops. Each lesson, students consider the required emotional setting for each planet and how they will create this in their work.  This allows students the opportunity to experience another element of the GCSE (composition) so that they can make an informed decision about their option choices. 

Half Term 6: Film music composition

During this half term students are given a choice of film clips that they compose their own music to accompany. Students learn how to use soundtrap loops to create effect film music that creates the right atmosphere for their chosen film clip. 

Half Term 1: The 4 chords

Students begin the year ensuring that they are confident playing the four main chords used in pop music on either Ukulele, Piano or Guitar. Students have a choice of pieces to learn and perform as their assessment at the end of the project. 

Half Term 2: Musical theory

During this half term, students focus on musical theory. Students develop their familiarity with musical vocabulary, theory and understanding. Emphasis is placed on understanding scales and keys in order for students to become more independent when working out chords for a song. 

Half Term 3: Soundtrap Count on me

This half term students return to soundtrap to create a MIDI version of Count on me. This project gives the students the opportunity to develop their soundtrap skills which is the platform used for GCSE. 

Half Term 4: Film motifs and themes composition

Composition is the focus for this half term as students explore their talents at creating film music motifs and themes using loops and their own compositional skills through soundtrap. 

Half Term 5: The riff challenge

The challenge this half term is to learn 40 riffs from famous songs on a mixture of Ukulele, Piano and Guitar. Students gain points as they work through the riffs and their end of unit grade is taken from their number of successful pieces performed to their teacher each week.

Half Term 6: Pop song mashup

To complete year 9 students create a mashup using a variety of well-known pop songs. Students show how innovative they can be by experimenting with mixing songs to create a unique piece of music. 

Half Term 1: Theory of music and composition tasks

Students develop their awareness of how musical elements shape pieces of music and how these elements are used in composition. Whilst expanding their understanding of musical theory and analysis, students develop their compositional skills in a variety of composing tasks this half term. As students work through these composition tasks and begin building their first piece as they develop their understanding of how compositions are marked.

Half Term 2: Debut solo performance and composition

Students complete their first solo performance as part of the whole school in class assessments during this half term. Students are expected to attend their weekly private instrumental lessons and conduct the required practice time to ensure they can reach the required standard of performance grade 3. The department highly recommends that students learn with the school's peripatetic teachers so that communication regarding performance development is as effective as possible. Students also continue to develop their compositional and analytical skills this half term through listening activities and detailed analysis tasks.

Half Term 3 and 4 : Orchestral and film composition

During this term students expand their musical awareness into the genres of orchestral and film music scores. Students study on screen and classical music composers and develop their awareness of the orchestra and all of the exciting instruments it has to offer. Students are provided with opportunities to expand their compositional skills into these genres of music as well so that they can develop an eclectic portfolio of compositional skills.

Half Term 5 and 6: Group performance

Students are given a set group performance rehearsal time in the music departments practice rooms when a music teacher will also be available to support with rehearsal development. All students record their group performance in order to experience recording a performance in preparation for year 11 coursework performances. A live performance of these group pieces can be seen at the creative arts evening this term and parents are able to attend this evening as well. Alongside this, students study more unusual forms of music including Minimalism, Samba, African drumming, Blues and Improvisation.

Half Term 1: Composition coursework

Students focus on their composition coursework this term. One composition is set to a brief which is written by the exam board and students compose a piece in response to this. The other composition is a free composition and students write their own brief for a piece of music composed in their own chosen style. Students analyse music and use their musical understanding to dissect existing pieces of music to allow them to see how established composers created these desired effects. Students then apply this knowledge to their own creations. Year 11 students attend after school intervention sessions in order to provide more time for coursework completion outside of lesson time.

Half Term 2: Composition and solo performing coursework

Students continue developing their coursework compositions along with two detailed scores and a log book explaining their work. Students also ensure that they are preparing for their solo recordings with a mock performance completed as part of their PPEs and the final performance exam taking place in January. Students must provide a score for their chosen piece. Year 11 students attend after school intervention sessions in order to provide more time for coursework completion outside of lesson time.

Half Term 3: Coursework completion

Students record their group performance pieces this half term which must provide a recording of at least 1 minute of group performance. Students are given set times to complete this performance recording so that all members of the group are able to perform successfully. Students must provide a detailed score for their chosen part of their group performance. Students also continue to develop their knowledge of the exam content and set works for their GCSE.

Half Term 4 and 5: Examination preparation

Students now solely concentrate on the exam component of the GCSE. Students look at past papers, examiner reports, and Eduqas resources to support their learning. Students have this intense time of exam preparation in order to focus their memory on the exam content. Students sit mock exam papers in class in a variety of ways so that all students can access the work and develop their working memory in the build up to the exam paper.

This course is 60% coursework. This is made up of 30% composing and 30% performing. Composing entails creating 2 pieces of music (15% each). Performing entails recording a group performance and a solo performance (15% each). The final written exam completes the remaining 40%.

Specific mark schemes can be found on the Eduqas website. 

Students are offered the opportunity to continue their musical studies in sixth form. The course runs the BTEC level 3 Performance national extended certificate. 

Half Term 1: Foundation skills, theory and harmony

Students focus on expanding their range of skills and knowledge beyond that of the GCSE during this first term. Students are encouraged to try new instruments and learn new techniques with weekly live performance lessons taking place in the Proctor Hall when possible. This provides an opportunity for the students to develop their acoustic performance skills in a large hall before an audience is invited to join us. 

Half Term 2 and 3: Unit 1 Practical music theory and harmony

Students study the BTEC level 3 extended certificate in music performance at Glyn. Units 1 and 3 are completed during year 12 with units 2 and 6 completed in year 13. Students are able to apply for the certificate at the end of year 12 if they do not wish to complete the full 2 year course. Unit 1 ensures that students are exploring all aspects of written music, in various forms, so that they have an excellent basis for their practical work in unit 3. 

Half Term 4 and 5: Unit 3 Ensemble music performance

Unit 3 is not simply an ensemble performance unit, it requires students to understand how to arrange pieces of music into varying genres with excellent attention to detail. Students are expected to develop an eclectic playlist and to habitualise the ability to analyse all music that they hear. Students will complete tasks set by the Pearson exam board at set times during this term. 

Half Term 6: Preparing for year 13

Students explore the expansive world of music creating an awareness of the many forms that music can take across the world. This includes Djembe drumming, samba percussion, minimalism, classical and jazz music. 

Half Term 1 and 2: Unit 2 Professional practice in the music industry

Unit 2 includes a set task which is marked by Pearson examiners. There is also a supervised 5 hour assessment period and a written submission. Students complete this unit in January.  

Half Term 3 and 4: Unit 6 solo performance

Unit 6 ensures that students are able to effectively prepare for a solo performance. Students must understand how to rehearse effectively so that the performance deadline is met with exceptionally well prepared performance pieces.  

Half Term 5: Final musical dreams

Always wanted to perform a certain piece or learn a new instrument? This final term is the chance for students to make those dreams come true so that their end of sixth form performances are as interesting and impressive as possible. 

Music surrounds everyone's lives from everyday technology such as TV and advert music to movies and live performances. Musicians are not just live performers but there are a lot of careers in music that the public do not always see such as musical directors, foley artists and recording studio technicians. Music GCSE and level 3 BTEC are a great foundation for all aspects of working within the music industry not matter which aspect you choose to specialise in in your future career.

Music Development Plan