Music

If you enjoy performing music in your own time, can play an instrument (including singing), and enjoy composing your own music using iMacs then this is a good subject to choose. This course will broaden your knowledge of many types of music, and give you an appreciation of the diversity of musical styles that exist today.

The course is suitable for students who have taken Music in Year 9. Students must be having private instrumental lessons to enter this course.

Half Term 1: Foundation skills and Ukulele Debut

Students are introduced to notes, chords, tempo, and tonality. Students learn, with the use of Ukuleles, to develop an understanding of musical notation and how this is used to learn pieces of music effectively. 4 chords are learned for the debut level entry pieces to begin with, and students then work towards full song performances on Ukulele at the end of the half term. More advanced musicians can access melodic Ukulele pieces for a further challenge. Students are assessed on their performances in class.

Half Term 2: Rhythm and Djembe drumming

The use of Djembe drums in this project allows students to begin to develop their musical listening skills and use the subject-specific language for describing the elements of music (rhythm, dynamics, tempo, notation, pulse). Students also continue developing their understanding of musical notation and performance directions and applying it to different instrumental contexts. Students are assessed on group performances and are also assessed on their knowledge of musical notation and instrumental understanding.

Half Term 3: Piano Debut

This project allows students to develop basic piano skills and understand detailed traditional music notation. Students complete debut pieces where they learn how to perform the melody from a variety of well-known pieces. More advanced piano players have access to more complex pieces that will allow them to further develop these essential skills. Students are assessed on their performances of their chosen pieces. Students are also assessed on their knowledge of musical notation and instrumental understanding.

Half Term 4: Piano extended

This project has been chosen to allow students more time to master their piano skills and expand their notation knowledge started in half term 3. Students will focus on adding in the bass clef to begin with, using a note naming game to help them increase their reading speed. Students will use the Rock School debut piece 'Imagine' by John Lennon to enhance their notation reading ability alongside developing their piano playing skills. More advanced piano players are introduced to more complex pieces to ensure their progress continues throughout the project. Students are assessed on their piano performance as well as their knowledge of musical notation and instrumental understanding.

Half Term 5: Ukulele project 2

Students are given the opportunity to revisit the Ukulele, recall their knowledge and skills previously learnt, and extend them to be able to perform more complex pieces in this second Ukulele project. Students learn to play along to song videos which teach them strumming patterns, tempo and accuracy in performance. Students performances are assessed in class. 

Half Term 6: Famous musicians and music

Students continue to expand their understanding of the social context in music and expand their music history knowledge. In each lesson, students are introduced to famous musicians and their music throughout the years as well as learning some of the pieces of music on instruments as well. This ensures students experience an eclectic mix of music and some may even discover a new favourite musician! Students are assessed in a listening task that allows students to demonstrate their understanding of music through audio as well as their increased knowledge of music history across a variety of genres.

Half Term 1: Ukulele Year 8 project 1

Students continue to develop their Ukulele skills to include more complex chordal skills. More advanced musicians can access melodic Ukulele pieces for a further challenge. Resources are used to support students' learning as well as helping them to perform in time with other parts on backing tracks. 

Half Term 2: Grade 1 theory and drumming

During this half term students focus on developing their musical knowledge and understanding. Students learn from the ABRSM syllabus for grade 1 to help them develop their ability to read musical notation. Students also enjoy a second opportunity to play the Djembe drums in these lessons too to expand their understanding of rhythm. Students are assessed throughout this topic. 

Half Term 3: Piano film music

Students learn about film music and its composers. Students use the music of famous films to expand their piano skills further in this project as well. 

Half Term 4: Keane on soundtrap

Students learn the band parts for a song by Keane. Students then recreate this song on soundtrap either through manually entering the notes or by recording MIDI tracks. Students learn how to self-assess their work and use editing skills to ensure their work is accurate. These are important skills for students to develop for future projects and possible GCSE studies. 

Half Term 5: Ukulele year 8 project 2

Students are given the opportunity to experience creating music using soundtrap. Students bring together all of their musical knowledge from key stage 3 to compose pieces of music for the planets using apple loops. Each lesson, students consider the required emotional setting for each planet and how they will create this in their work.  This allows students the opportunity to experience another element of the GCSE (composition) so that they can make an informed decision about their option choices. 

Half Term 6: Film music composition

During this half term students are given a choice of film clips that they compose their own music to accompany. Students learn how to use soundtrap loops to create effect film music that creates the right atmosphere for their chosen film clip. 

Half Term 1: The 4 chords

Students begin the year ensuring that they are confident playing the four main chords used in pop music on either Ukulele, Piano or Guitar. Students have a choice of pieces to learn and perform as their assessment at the end of the project. 

Half Term 2: Musical theory

During this half term, students focus on musical theory. Students develop their familiarity with musical vocabulary, theory and understanding. Emphasis is placed on understanding scales and keys in order for students to become more independent when working out chords for a song. 

Half Term 3: Soundtrap Count on me

This half term students return to soundtrap to create a MIDI version of Count on me. This project gives the students the opportunity to develop their soundtrap skills which is the platform used for GCSE. 

Half Term 4: Film motifs and themes composition

Composition is the focus for this half term as students explore their talents at creating film music motifs and themes using loops and their own compositional skills through soundtrap. 

Half Term 5: The riff challenge

The challenge this half term is to learn 40 riffs from famous songs on a mixture of Ukulele, Piano and Guitar. Students gain points as they work through the riffs and their end of unit grade is taken from their number of successful pieces performed to their teacher each week.

Half Term 6: Pop song mashup

To complete year 9 students create a mashup using a variety of well-known pop songs. Students show how innovative they can be by experimenting with mixing songs to create a unique piece of music. 

Half Term 1: Theory of music and short composition tasks

Whilst expanding their understanding of musical theory, students develop their compositional skills in a variety of short composing tasks in various genres in order to self assess what genres suit their strengths. As students work through these short tasks students are guided towards understanding how they can achieve the highest coursework grade possible. This allows students and teachers to choose the most suitable genre for students to complete their full GCSE free composition in. 

Half Term 2: Debut solo performance and composition

Students perform their first fully assessed solo performance during this half term. Students are expected to attend their weekly private instrumental lessons and conduct the required practice time to ensure they can reach the required standard of performance grade 3 by the summer term. The department highly recommends that students learn with the school's peripatetic teachers so that communication regarding performance development is as effective as possible. 

Half Term 3 and 4: Free composition coursework

Students begin their composition coursework during this term in order for them to be able to manage their workload and be able to dedicate the desired amount of time to completing their music coursework in balance with their other studies. Students will have discovered their strengths for compositional genres during the first term and will therefore be equipped to start creating their coursework. Students follow the Eduqas GCSE and the markscheme is use throughout this term to ensure students understand what their examiners will be looking for in their work. Students use their chromebooks and soundtrap to complete their work so it is imperative that all students have a chromebook in excellent working condition and a decent pair of headphones for all lessons. 

Half Term 5 and 6: Group performance coursework

This term is dedicated to completing students' second piece of coursework - group performance recording. Students are given a set time in the recording studio to capture their performance and a live performance can be seen at the creative arts evening. Students therefore conclude their year 10 studies having completed 2 pieces of coursework worth 30% of their final GCSE grade.

Half Term 1: Set brief composition

Students begin working towards their set work compositions. Completion of short compositional tasks allows students to trial techniques for applying a setting to a piece of music for the desired effect. This is the main difference with this year's composition compared to their year 10 work. Students analyse music and use their musical understanding to dissect existing pieces of music to allow them to see how established composers created these desired effects. Students then apply this knowledge to their own creations. 

Half Term 2: Composition and solo performing coursework

Students continue creating their set brief compositions with the aim of completion by the end of term. Students also ensure that they are preparing for their solo recordings that will take place in January.  Students must provide a score for their chosen piece. 

Half Term 3: Performance coursework recording

Students will record their solo performances in the recording studio at the start of this half term. Time is dedicated to ensuring students are performing suitable pieces, at a high enough standard under pressure during this term. Mock performances to the teacher take place regularly to enable this and ensure all students are prepared for their recording session. This is completed at this stage in the year to allow students the maximum amount of time to develop their instrumental skills as possible and therefore gain the highest marks possible. 

Half Term 4 and 5: Examination preparation

Students now solely concentrate on the exam component of the GCSE. Students look at past papers, examiner reports, and Eduqas resources to support their learning. Students have this intense half term of exam preparation in order to focus their memory on the exam content. Students sit mock exam papers in class in a variety of ways so that all students can access the work and develop their working memory in the build up to the exam paper. 

This course is 60% coursework. This is made up of 30% composing and 30% performing. Composing entails creating 2 pieces of music (15% each). Performing entails recording a group performance and a solo performance (15% each). The final written exam completes the remaining 40%.

Specific mark schemes can be found on the Eduqas website. 

Students are offered the opportunity to continue their musical studies in sixth form. The course runs the BTEC level 3 Performance national extended certificate. 

Half Term 1: Foundation skills, theory and harmony

Students focus on expanding their range of skills and knowledge beyond that of the GCSE during this first term. Students are encouraged to try new instruments and learn new techniques with weekly live performance lessons taking place in the Proctor Hall when possible. This provides an opportunity for the students to develop their acoustic performance skills in a large hall before an audience is invited to join us. 

Half Term 2 and 3: Unit 1 Practical music theory and harmony

Students study the BTEC level 3 extended certificate in music performance at Glyn. Units 1 and 3 are completed during year 12 with units 2 and 6 completed in year 13. Students are able to apply for the certificate at the end of year 12 if they do not wish to complete the full 2 year course. Unit 1 ensures that students are exploring all aspects of written music, in various forms, so that they have an excellent basis for their practical work in unit 3. 

Half Term 4 and 5: Unit 3 Ensemble music performance

Unit 3 is not simply an ensemble performance unit, it requires students to understand how to arrange pieces of music into varying genres with excellent attention to detail. Students are expected to develop an eclectic playlist and to habitualise the ability to analyse all music that they hear. Students will complete tasks set by the Pearson exam board at set times during this term. 

Half Term 6: Preparing for year 13

Students explore the expansive world of music creating an awareness of the many forms that music can take across the world. This includes Djembe drumming, samba percussion, minimalism, classical and jazz music. 

Half Term 1 and 2: Unit 2 Professional practice in the music industry

Unit 2 includes a set task which is marked by Pearson examiners. There is also a supervised 5 hour assessment period and a written submission. Students complete this unit in January.  

Half Term 3 and 4: Unit 6 solo performance

Unit 6 ensures that students are able to effectively prepare for a solo performance. Students must understand how to rehearse effectively so that the performance deadline is met with exceptionally well prepared performance pieces.  

Half Term 5: Final musical dreams

Always wanted to perform a certain piece or learn a new instrument? This final term is the chance for students to make those dreams come true so that their end of sixth form performances are as interesting and impressive as possible. 

Music surrounds everyone's lives from everyday technology such as TV and advert music to movies and live performances. Musicians are not just live performers but there are a lot of careers in music that the public do not always see such as musical directors, foley artists and recording studio technicians. Music GCSE and level 3 BTEC are a great foundation for all aspects of working within the music industry not matter which aspect you choose to specialise in in your future career.