YEARS 7 , 8 and 9 

Our aim is to develop in all our pupils, an appreciation and enjoyment of Music through involvement in practical music making activities. The Music programme covers four main areas:
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• Performing: Pupils will develop practical skills through performance.

• Composing: Pupils will develop a wide range of composition techniques.

• Listening: Pupils will develop aural discrimination and an awareness of sound as a means of expression.
• Appraising: Pupils will respond to and  evaluate live  performances and recorded music.

Topics
The topics set will be wide and varied, and will include the study of creative music, folk music and world music from Australia, Indonesia and China.

Skills
All elements of the course, including basic theory and listening, will be approached through the medium of composition.  Within this structure pupils will be encouraged to experiment in order to create their own composing styles and to document their work using graphic notation, traditional notation or by using music technology.

Pupils will also be encouraged to learn to play an instrument and to participate in one of the many extra-curricular music clubs

Pupils' skills are assessed in line with the four main National Curriculum Attainment Targets:

• Performing

• Composing

• Listening

• Appraising

Detailed assessments are made at the end of each project in relation to these targets.

Homework often involves research, preparation or completion of tasks relevant to the set project.  

GCSE

The course aims to develop an appreciation and enjoyment of music, through active involvement in three main activities:

• Listening

• Performing

• Composing

It is a particularly flexible course aimed at all pupils and it is organised in the following way:

Listening;
Trough listening to a wide range of styles (including popular and world music) pupils will develop aural awareness, discrimination and analytical skills.

Performing
Pupils will be required to attempt the following:

• singing or playing individually

• singing or playing in an ensemble.

Composing
Pupils will be expected to submit a folio and tape of representative examples of their work composed during the course.

Examination Board:  AQA Syllabus 3271 

The GCSE music course is examined in the following way: 

Listening Test
This consists of a written paper linked to musical examples recorded on cassette.  The answer papers are marked externally.                          

Performances
These are assessed internally and are externally moderated.                                  

Compositions              
These are assessed internally and are externally moderated. 

Integrated Assignment:  
Composition (Externally assessed) 

Coursework will involve the completion of performances and compositions as mentioned above.

HOMEWORK

Homework in this subject will supplement the coursework requirements.  Pupils will be expected to adhere to the strict deadlines.