The study of music enables students to have the knowledge and understanding to become lifelong musicians. Students will know how to create, perform and analyse various styles of music. We want them to be able to identify and understand various styles of music and their relation to important social and cultural traditions and issues, identify how music has evolved throughout history and how various genres of music are connected and their specific characteristics. Students will develop performance skills through both solo and ensemble performances. Ensemble skills will improve their ability to work within a group/team. Students will also understand how to prepare expressive, fluent and accurate performances using various instruments. These skills are important because they help to create well-rounded musicians. They also expose students to a wide-range of music, and are important to prepare students who wish to continue studying music.
KS3 uses looping to build on basic skills, focusing primarily on performing various styles of music with instruments. Composing and appraising skills are embedded within each scheme of work and developed over various topics. KS3 topics are sequenced to build on performing, composing and appraising skills already developed. Basic composing and performing skills are embedded within the KS3 curriculum which introduces the key skills needed for GCSE. KS4 is sequenced to incorporate the 3 components of the course and is a continuation of the knowledge and skills gained at KS3.
KS3 schemes of work allow for numerous opportunities to develop performance skills needed for GCSE (solo and ensemble). GCSE keywords and listening skills are embedded in KS3 schemes of work to develop the needed skills for GCSE. Composition skills are also introduced in different units across KS3 and a wide range of styles and instruments are explored in KS3 to develop the knowledge and skills needed for GCSE. Studying music is still relevant to those that don’t select the subject for GCSE because they are building their creative, performance and teamwork skills, as well as exposing pupils to a wide variety of musical styles and the social and cultural impact of those styles of music.
