What will students study in Music this year?

Year 9 (Extended Music Curriculum)

Dance Music

As part of the extended Music curriculum pupils will look at how dance music has transformed overtime from Baroque to Disco to EDM.

For GCSE Music, pupils follow the Eduqas GCSE in Music. The course is split into 30% Composition, 30% Performance and 40% Listening & Appraising Music. Pupils need to be a Grade 3 standard on their instrument by the time they start Year 11.

Year 9

Step up to GCSE, Samba, Mambo, Orchestral Music over time, Film Music, Composition, Pop Music

Year 10

Developing Orchestral Music (set work), Developing Pop Music (set work), Music for Ensembles, Free Composition, Performance.

Year 11

Orchestral Music over time extended, Pop Evolution through the ages, Solo Performances, Ensemble Performances, Set brief composition.

Alongside the above topics, pupils will glean knowledge in music theory and reading of notated music. They will also have the opportunities to perform in ensembles and individually, they will compose using Sibelius, MuseScore and SoundTrap. Pupils will all be listening and appraising music throughout all of the above topics and across a wide range of genres. They will gain a critical understanding of music throughout a variety of genres and time periods. Each topic has a workbook attached to it with knowledge organisers that pupils will find useful to help with their learning overall.

What are the major assessments this year?

At the beginning of each topic, pupils will be required to complete a small online quiz to understand their knowledge of a topic to aid teacher planning. At the end of each topic, pupils will submit a practical assessment on either composition or performance (whichever the focus of the topic has been) and answer exam questions. Practical verbal feedback is given at the end of each assessment. Your child will also complete listening and written assessments in line with the school calendar at the end of each term and more ad-hoc within the curriculum.

What do assessments test?

Practical assessments will test pupils’ skills in either performance or composition. The listening and written assessments will test pupils’ ability to identify features in music, key features of genres of music and music theory. These will by the end of the Summer term cover all the topics the pupil has discovered that academic year.

What are the expectations of my child in Music?

Pupils should turn up to their lessons with all their equipment, including the topics workbook. They need and a positive attitude to learning for each Music lesson and keep going in every lesson. They should come with energy and enthusiasm for learning in Music. Pupils are also expected to review the knowledge organisers in their booklets and complete all homework and online quizzes to the best of their ability. At KS4, pupils are expected to support the music department in the running of events and attending of ensembles or extra-curricular. They may wish to support in leading these groups.

What should my child do if they feel like they are struggling in Music?

In the first instance, please get your child to talk to their music teacher about how we can support them further and offer them targeted advice and ways to help. They may suggest extra resources or attending KS4 support sessions to aid their work. Pupils need to remember that music is not an easy subject and they have to be resilient and keep going – don’t give up!

How can I best support my child in Music?

Ask your child about what they have discovered/learned in their music lessons and if they feel there is an area in particular in music they are struggling with. Mozart may have been a natural composer, but not everyone is! Encourage your child to practice their instrument/vocals as much as they can. We also offer peripatetic lessons through The Surrey Sound of Music and Future DJs. If your child is interested, please get her to speak to her music teacher or you can email egravenor@carshaltongirls.org.uk for more information.

Pupils can access music in different forms (radio, Spotify, YouTube etc.) so please discuss with them what they have been listening to. There are a number of resources for free to support their learning including BBC Ten Pieces. You may also wish to signpost your child to our Focus on Sound Pro website, in which every pupil at KS4 has a log in. We can also suggest I can Compose courses to aid composition. The best thing to do is practice! You can also use https://www.topmarks.co.uk (Select Music >> Key Stage 4) for age appropriate resources that can support their learning. The most important to support their music reading is www.musictheory.net.

Whom should I contact for further advice or information?

Please feel free to contact your child’s class teacher in the first instance or Miss Gravenor, Lead Teacher of Music, on egravenor@carshaltongirls.org.uk for any further queries.