Subject
Music
Ks3 About There are two curriculum paths in Music: Students who have instrumental lessons are placed into either a wind group or a string group. In this case: - Performance activities are centred around performing in a wind band or a string group. - Composition activities are based around composing (for example film music) for wind band where possible. - Listening skills are taught though performance where possible. In some cases instruments are not used in order to enable listening to music in a wider context – Western Classical Music, World Music and Popular Music. - Once every half term, students have a music theory lesson to enable this aspect of musical development to keep up with performance skills. Students who do not have instruments lessons (or who have piano lessons) are placed into a general music group. In this case: - Performance activities are centred around keyboard skills (which are introduced at the beginning of Year 7). - Composition activities (for example film music composition) are developed on keyboard and then notated in books. - Listening skills are taught in three contexts – Western Classical Music, World Music and Popular Music. - General music theory is also taught throughout the three years. Assessment Arrangements There are three assessment focuses: performing, composing and listening. Each focus accounts for 33% of the overall mark. At the end of each academic Year, students sit a written exam which tests students’ ability to listen to music and pick out specific musical aspects from the Western Classical tradition, World Music and Popular Music traditions. This written exam also includes some music theory questions. Performance and composition activities are formatively assessed throughout the year, and these grades will go towards the overall mark.