Welcome to Music

Key Stage 3

Each class has two single periods of music over a two week period.  Practical work is seen as a high priority within our curriculum, with every child in the school being taught the recorder through years 7 and 8.   Pupils also use keyboards within their lessons to produce creative compositional work.  Our scheme of work allows pupils to make exceptionally good progress in both music literacy and performing skills, both individual and ensemble.  We also provide opportunities for our KS3 pupils to enhance their ICT skills through the use of Sibelius music software in our studio.

Key Stage 4

Teaching groups usually number approximately 20 pupils, offering a great variety of specialisms.  In composition lessons, pupils have the benefit of using our keyboards and computers.  Pupils receive 5 hours over a two week period.

We now offer GCSE music as an option to Year 8’s which gives pupils three years to spend on their GCSE music. This presents great opportunities for ensemble work and allows us to build up their musical theory skills.  Presently, the department supports the AQA syllabus.

Resources - Music Rooms

Music is presently taught in 2 Music Rooms.  Music Room 1 is equipped with a Yamaha Grand Piano (C7) , 17 Yamaha keyboards with headphones, 2 Yamaha Clavinovas and a Yamaha Electone HE-6 organ. It also houses excellent listening facilities and an interactive whiteboard. Music Room 2 is equipped with a Yamaha Grand Piano (C2),16 Yamaha keyboards with headphones, listening equipment and interactive whiteboard.  The hall is equipped with a Yamaha Grand Piano (C7) and a brand new, state of the art, sound system. 

Studios

This room presently serves as our computer suite and is equipped with 16 PC workstations, each loaded with Sibelius 5 and Microsoft Office.  Recording equipment includes Yamaha digital 16 track recorder. Hi-speed Tape Copying and CD copying facilities are also housed in this room.  We also have a smaller studio room housing 4 PCs running Sibelius 5 and Microsoft Office.

Practice / Teaching

We currently have 3 practice rooms, one with Yamaha upright piano and 2 with Yamaha Clavinovas.  We encourage pupils to leave their instruments in their teaching room during the day of their lesson.