Music
The Music curriculum at Twynham
aims to inspire and develop our aspiring young musicians. Through teaching a varied and current curriculum, we hope to instil a love of music within all our students.
Music Development Plan
Curriculum Information
Key Stage 3
The three main areas of performing, listening and appraising, and composing are explored throughout our KS3 curriculum. We aim to develop students’ creative and evaluative skills that will equip them with the necessary tools for success across all curriculum subjects. In complementing the skills learned within the classroom, we also offer a wide variety of extra-curricular groups where students can choose to follow their chosen path and develop their skills even further. During each year at KS3, students will study the topics of Singing Together, Exploring Sound, Structure, Music Technology and World Music.
Year 7
In year 7, we cover the following content:
- Singing Together 1 – Swing Low, Count on Me, Your Song
- Exploring Sound 1 – Instruments of the classical orchestra
- Structure 1 – Classical structures with a focus on Rondo
- Music Technology 1 – Remix of Bach’s ‘Toccata and Fugue’ using garageband on the iPads
- World Music 1 – Samba
Year 8
In year 8, we cover the following content:
- Singing Together 2 – Wellerman, Shotgun, How far I’ll go
- Exploring Sound 2 – Instruments of the c.20th orchestra and extended playing techniques
- Structure 2 – Popular song form
- Music Technology 2 – EDM combining samples and own compositions using garageband on the iPads
- World Music 2 – Calypso music
Year 9
In year 9, we cover the following content:
- Singing Together 3 – The Nights, performed in small groups combining vocals and acoustic instruments
- Exploring Sound 3 – Instruments used in film music
- Structure 3 – Reggae music
- Music Technology 3 – Composing film music using Logic X on the iMacs
- World Music 3 – West African drumming
Key Stage 4 Options Information
| Exam board: AQA |
| Qualification: GCSE in Music |
| Specification: AQA GCSE in Music |
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Assessment: The three pillars of music making (Composing, Performing and Listening) will form the basis of the assessment process: 1. Coursework - Performance: 30% of final marks (Controlled Conditions) You will have considerable preparation time for this task and 10 hours of controlled conditions when performances can be recorded for final submission to an examiner. 2. Composition: 30% of final marks (Controlled Conditions) You will have considerable preparation time for this task (under controlled conditions) for each piece when compositions will be written up for final submission to an examiner. 3. Examinations: Listening and Appraising: 40% of final marks. |
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Who is the course for? This course is for those who enjoy and are interested in Music. You will already have a clear idea of what Music is like. The subject is 60% coursework. You will be provided with opportunities to use both computers and the studio to create music and perform. You must be able to work well in this type of situation. If you already play an instrument or have instrumental lessons this will be an advantage, but it is not essential. There are ample opportunities for using Music Technology so if you have an interest in this area then this could be the course for you. If you have enjoyed Music at Key Stage 3, then you should consider Music carefully. Apart from becoming a better musician, you will find future employers and higher education establishments value the many attributes music can bring to a student’s general development. Music is a subject that can truly benefit all your future aspirations. |
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What will I do on the course? The AQA GCSE music programme offers an unrivalled opportunity for you to develop as a Musician and as confident young adult and provides an invaluable framework for knowledge that will benefit all of your learning. Good musicians are recognised to possess self-discipline, initiative, organisational skills, teamwork and many more important attributes. The GCSE music programme is precisely the vehicle to enhance your learning skills as well as providing the foundation for future academic and personal successes. GCSE Music gives you the exciting opportunity to become a more rounded musician and to discover some really inspiring music, in both challenging and familiar styles. You will be given the opportunity to deepen your awareness of the different styles through listening, analysing, composing and performing work relating to four different ‘Areas of Study’. These cover classical music, c.20th music, world and popular music. You will study a range of music from symphonies and waltzes to folk and contemporary tracks. The clearly defined Areas of Study will structure your music learning into 4 broad categories: - Western classical music tradition 1650-1910, - Popular music, - Traditional music, - Western classical tradition since 1910. Whilst catering for all tastes, there are ample opportunities for you to develop and broaden your musical horizons. At the same time, it provides you with the musical grammar and syntax that might previously have been alien to you. Ultimately, you will finish your course with greater knowledge and skills as a musician. Music Technology is an important part of the course. Apple Macs and Logic are used for composition and you will learn how this software can best help when preparing coursework. Involvement in active music making on your instrument or within the studio is essential. You should be willing to work hard at your skills as a performer or producer and commit to peripatetic music lessons and extra-curricular activities where possible. Performing: As a traditional performer, you will learn to become better as both a soloist and as an ensemble musician. GCSE music allows development in all styles of music, and there are no restrictions or prejudice against any individual musical genres. Ultimately, you will become better at expressing yourself as a performing musician. There is also a Music Technology option where you will be able to act as a producer in recording other people's performances or perform a DJ set. Composition: As a composer, you will learn to utilise all your musical skills to express yourself in a methodical and organised manner. You will learn to use Macs to help you with this process. You will also get to experiment with new techniques and new sound worlds to broaden your musical horizons. Whether you are interested in producing dance tracks or writing Symphonic Variations, you will learn new skills to make your compositions original, and hopefully groundbreaking. Listening: As a listener, you will learn to enjoy music critically with historical and theoretical understanding. You will be equipped with the skills to analyse music and get to the core of what you are listening to. In time, your musical tastes will widen and you will have a greater understanding of what makes music tick in many styles |
