Music

Key Stage 3

Please find attached the Curriculum Map for KS3 - this is evolving all the time.

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Key Stage 4

There are 5 areas of study for GCSE music in Year 10:

Rhythm and metre

Harmony and tonality

Texture and melody

Timbre and dynamics

Structure and form

These are experienced through three strands:

1. The western classical tradition

2. Popular music of the 20th and 21st centuries

3. World music

Controlled assessment: will all be carried out under informal supervision.

Composition 1 = 20% of the final mark - pupils will compose a piece of music in a style of their choice, but must use two or more of the areas of study. This will be marked by their teacher and moderated externally. To be completed in the summer term of Year 10.  

Performing = 40% of the final mark - Pupils will perform individually and as part of a group on their chosen instrument or voice. Each piece should last a maximum of 5 minutes. This will be recorded and marked by their teacher and then moderated externally.  Performances throughout the course, final deadline February of Year 11. Pupils are provided with a shared lesson in school time on the instrument they are to use in their performance.

Composition 2 = 20% of the final mark - pupils will need to compose a piece of music and complete an appraisal of that piece of music which uses at least two of the areas of study and is linked to the "Western classical music" strand.  This will be marked by an external examiner. To be completed in the autumn term of Year 11.

Examinations

Listening exam = 20% of final mark. Pupils will listen to a range of music from the three strands studied and answer questions under the five areas of study in the June of Year 11.

Instrumental Tuition

There is a range of high quality instrumental lessons provided by Stockport Music Service including woodwind, guitar, keyboard, piano, percussion, violin and vocal tuition. It is not necessary for pupils to have prior knowledge of the instrument chosen but must be able to purchase or hire instruments as access to them at home is required for practice purposes (music shops such as "Sounds Great" in Heald Green can arrange this for you or, if you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Keenan).

Pupils can choose to have shared or individual lessons.  Fees are invoiced by Stockport Music service at the start of each term.

For this academic year 2012/2013 fees per term are as follows:

Individual lessons of 20 minutes duration = £140

Shared lessons (in pairs) of 20 minutes duration = £75

Large group lessons of 30 minutes duration = £45

The Music Service guarantees a minimum of 33 lessons during the academic year.  These lessons are provided during school hours and where possible are on a rotation system so that your child does not miss the same school lesson every week.

Pupils are given individual timetables for each term and these are also available on the new music department notice board on the music corridor. 

If you wish for your son/daughter to have instrumental lessons and have not yet requested them, please ask your son/daughter to collect a letter from the front office at break/lunch time.  Please post forms to Stockport Music Service.

Extra Curricular Activities:

Monday - Choir practice 3:30 - 4:30pm

Tuesday lunch – KS4 Vocal Group

Thursday - Band 3:15 - 4:15pm

Extra information:

Some useful equipmentcould be to have a keyboard at home. Unfortunately, music equipment is often expensive, so this is a recommendation only as pupils are able to use the school's equipment at break and lunch time when they need to practice.

Some computer software that might be useful:

1. Any of the ejay programmes (e.g. dance ejay, hip-hop ejay). These cost approximately £20.

2. Garage Band for Apple Mac's.

3. For those who can read tab, there is a useful programme available to download free of charge which is called "Power Tab" and can be found at www.power-tab.net 

4. For the more able you may also conisder Cubasis/Cubase SE by Steinberg and Sibelius.