Music

FACULTY OF PERFORMING AND CREATIVE ARTS

Co - Directors of Music Mrs R Greaves, Mrs A Green

What is Music?

Music is the art of sound. Through combinations of rhythm, melody, harmony and form music creates a vehicle for expression, narrative, intellectual stimulus and beauty. Music touches the soul and brings people together. Without words music can communicate the deepest emotions and the strongest connections. "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything". Plato

CURRICULUM VISION

Our vision is for students to understand what music is and to see how music is a part of everyday life. We aim to engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians that will last beyond their studies at TGSG. We aim to create a sense of curiosity and wonder through learning about contemporary, traditional and cultural pieces of music so students can engage with different musical forms and put their own and others' music into context. They will develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination

Why do we study Music?

Music provides children with many skills required of them in a global market. Being a musician requires many critical skills including group work, creativity, self-confidence and innovation to name a few. Pupils are encouraged to see Music as a part of everyday life and enjoy their lessons. It has been proven that Music enhances memory and cognition. It is also a subject that encourages critical thinking and stretches and challenges pupils of all abilities.

CURRICULUM INTENT

Our students will:

perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
learn to sing and to use their voices, create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
understand and explore how music is created, produced, and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notation

To view a full summary of our KS3 and KS4 Music curriculum please click here.

To view information about A-level Music at the Green School Sixth Form please click here.

CURRICULUM SEQUENCING

The Music curriculum at KS3 encompasses the three key areas of composing, performing, and listening and appraising. In Year 7, following a baseline assessment, students are introduced to the basic concepts of Music including rhythm, pitch, notation and the elements of music. They undertake a keyboard course bringing together these concepts and this lays the foundation for keyboard work studied throughout Key Stage 3. The three key concepts are also reinforced through singing and learning about the instruments of the orchestra. Year 7 students are introduced to Music Technology in the Spring term and learn how to compose using music software. These Technology skills are further developed through Remix in Year 8 and Film Music in Year 9. In years 8 and 9, students refine and develop their performing and composing skills across a range of musical genres, making links between world, classical and popular styles. Students learn to listen to each other more critically and express musical opinions and ideas using increasingly sophisticated vocabulary. Opportunities are provided for those who are new to Music as well as those with more experience. This establishes the foundation for GCSE study.

CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION

How do we study Music?

All units of work involve learning the three skills of listening & appraising, composing and performing. Lessons are interactive and encourage a variety of learning methods which allow students to work on their own, in pairs on in a group. Students are able to engage with Music via a variety of instruments, such as keyboards, pianos, drums, guitars, ukuleles, through singing and also via the use of Music Technology. All students study many different genres of Music from across the world, giving them a broad cultural experience.

Spiritual Moral Social Cultural Education

Spiritual

At key times in the calendar, students take part in activities that link with religious events such as the Christmas Carol service, Easter service and many more. Students all take part in services, assemblies and school events throughout their school career.

Moral

Students analyse Music that covers a broad range of moral topics, for example song lyrics that highlight the need for equality and world peace, to repertoire that instructs us on how to live in community with each other. These topics are discussed in lessons

Social

Students learn about Music from all around the world and learn how society has used Music to communicate with each other. Through the study of set works at GCSE and world music at Key Stage 3, pupils learn social skills and practise them in lessons

Cultural

The cultural context of works studied in lessons enables students to gain a broad range of knowledge of how cultures work, as this is often demonstrated through their musical identity. By referring to cultural aspects and traditions, students are able to establish comparisons with their own culture, thus broadening their awareness about other cultures’ idiosyncrasies, but also the similarities to their own.

Presentation of Work

Each student’s book should be neat, legible and contain their very best work. Date and title of each lesson must be underlined. Each unit will start with a unit checklist for self- assessment and each end of unit has a feed forward sheet to allow for student reflection. When students are completing feed forward they must use green pen.

Home Learning

Home learning is an integral part of the curriculum and tasks are aimed to either consolidate knowledge from the lessons or to build on skills further from lessons. Tasks could involve independent research of a particular idea, listening and analysing pieces of music or practice to prepare for an assessment. When no specific task is set students are always encouraged to read around the current topic.

Co - curricular Activities

Ukulele club
TGSG choir
TGSG band
GCSE composition workshops

CURRICULUM IMPACT

Assessment

Formative assessment will take place in lessons through instrumental and singing practice.

Summative assessment takes place at the end of a topic, through performance or composition submission, where strengths and improvements are identified and students respond to this feedforward.

There are formal examinations at the end of each year.

Outcomes

To view the impact of our curriculum please click here for our latest exam results and here for our student destinations.

Careers Leading on from Music

In addition to the broad range of professional pathways available to musicians, music allows the students to develop their confidence in communication skills as they are frequently asked to perform in front of the class and to share their work. Furthermore, the study of a creative subject enhances future employability in a highly competitive market and is a very attractive and original contribution to a CV.

To view more information about our school Careers programme please click here.

supporting the curriculum

How parents/carers can support their children

Students can go and see concerts to see what music looks and sounds like live.
Encourage students to listen to music that they do not listen to. Share your own musical tastes and discuss why you like a particular style.
Show support through asking students what they are studying and open up discussions at home.
Consider getting instrumental or singing tuition for your child. This can be done in and out of the school.
The Green School for Girls offer instrumental tuition for the following instruments:
Strings
Brass
Woodwind
Guitar
Drum kit
Voice