Music
Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. Our aim
is to engage and inspire our pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians,
and so increase their self confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.
As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.
Aims
Pupils will perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a diverse range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the workers of the great composer and musicians. They will learn to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others. Individual needs and styles are taken into account and we seek to unlock the potential of students from all backgrounds. We create opportunities for pupils to learn musical instruments through the aid of our guitar club program, also keyboard skills within the lessons. We also promote the use of music technology which gives our pupils the chance to progress to the next level of musical excellence. We develop pupil’s understanding of how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.
Working closely with other departments further develops the pupil’s knowledge and underpins how music can be adapted and engaging across different subjects.
The curriculum is aligned to the National Curriculum, which aims to develop individuals holistically and so, to give them the necessary skills, qualification and experiences to access further education, employment or training. This goal is underpinned by the need to develop resilience, tolerance and all round personal well-being. There is an emphasis on the process of learning, developing a growth mindset and practical hands-on experience.
Year 9 start the BTEC Music course ahead of year 10 to enable pupils to have more time to complete the coursework and revise for the unit 1 exam. Pupils who are not undertaking the BTEC course will benefit from this process because the additional knowledge that they will experience will contribute to their life skills pathway in terms of skills required in the world of business.
The British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect of those with different faiths, cultures and beliefs are taught explicitly and reinforced in the way in which the school operates.