Curriculum Leader: Mrs Fletcher

The Music Department provides opportunities for all students to develop their performing, composing and listening skills. Students are encouraged to develop their confidence, independence and teamwork while exploring their voices and instruments such as the ukulele, keyboard and djembe drumming through a range of musical genres.

Students are encouraged to listen widely and experiment creatively with musical ideas, performing to a high standard in every lesson.

The Music Department is proud to support and extend the emerging skills and talents of our students through a broad extra-curricular programme and provision of peripatetic instrumental lessons.

We offer the following instrumental lessons in school:

• Upper strings (violin and viola)
• Classical/electric/acoustic guitar
• Singing
• Piano/keyboard
• Drums
• Woodwind
• Brass
• Theory/composition

Please read the letter here with further information about instrumental/singing lessons, which includes a link to the sign-up form. For any further information, please contact Mr Mellors directly by emailing MellorsA@fulford.york.sch.uk.

The Music Department fosters a sense of community cohesion through school concerts, extra-curricular activities and events with the wider community.

Extra-Curricular Music Opportunities

Students have a range of exciting opportunities to develop their musical skills beyond the classroom through our extra-curricular ensembles. These include Orchestra, Swing Band, Choir, and the School Production Band, providing opportunities for students of all abilities to perform, collaborate, and build confidence as musicians. Dates and rehearsal times will be confirmed at the start of the academic year.

Throughout Year 7, 8 and 9 students develop their performing, composing and listening skills through a range of musical genres. Students have the opportunity to work independently, in groups and as pairs, with the opportunity to explore a range of instruments. The KS3 curriculum is designed to encourage students to develop a passion for music while preparing them for Eduqas GCSE Music should they wish to continue with their musical studies at this level.

Year 7

During Year 7 students will explore the following projects.

• Find Your Voice – In this performance-focused unit, students develop their vocal technique and confidence as singers through a range of ensemble activities. They learn how to sing accurately, with good posture, breathing, and expression, while exploring the importance of teamwork and communication in group performances.
• Rhythm and Pulse – developing ensemble skills, rhythm reading and rhythmic composition using djembe drums.
• Keyboard Skills – students develop their keyboard-playing and note-reading skills through a range of engaging activities and repertoire. They learn to read and interpret standard musical notation, apply correct keyboard technique, and build fluency in performance.
• Carnival of the Animals – students draw on the musical skills they have developed throughout the year to compose an original piece inspired by an animal of their choice. Using triads as the foundation for melody writing, students explore how musical elements can be used to represent different animal characteristics and behaviours while developing their ideas into a fully notated composition.
• Ukulele Skills – In this unit, students will be introduced to ukulele chords, will develop tablature reading and will be encouraged to draw upon their ensemble skills to present a group performance.

Year 8

During Year 8 students will explore the following projects.

• Band Skills – developing ensemble performance skills to create an effective band performance.
• Programme Music – exploring how music can be used descriptively, and developing the reading of treble and bass clef. Exploring the instruments of the orchestra.
• Film Music – developing composition skills. Students will explore how to create a piece of music to fit with a given film clip, exploring the techniques used by film and video game composers. Students will explore music technology and instrumental techniques to create compositions for a film trailer.
• The Blues – exploring the roots of Jazz, Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll music; developing performance, listening and improvisation skills.
• Theme and Variations – exploring composition techniques to develop a melody; developing performance, listening and composition skills.

Year 9

During Year 9 students will explore the following projects.

• Band Skills – Hooks and Riffs – Students will develop their ensemble performing skills to create an effective band performance, while learning about the importance of hooks and riffs in popular music.
• Video game music – using instruments and music technology to compose a video game soundtrack.
• Folk Music – listening to and performing a range of folk melodies, and exploring how these are often fused with other musical styles.
• Reggae – developing performing, composing and listening skills, leading to the creation of a Reggae song while exploring lyric writing.

Eduqas GCSE Music:

Aim

Students will develop their knowledge and skills in three areas of study;

• Composing
• Performing
• Listening and appraising

Type of Work:

Composition : You will build on the composition skills learned in KS3 to create music for your chosen instrument/s. You will explore how to write a detailed score using computer software, as well as how to develop ideas practically.

Performance: You will complete two assessed performances. You can either perform two ensemble pieces, or one solo and one ensemble. You should aim to perform a piece at ABRSM/Rock School (or other exam boards) at Grade 3 standard or above. Pieces of grade 4 standard and above will enable you to access the higher marks more securely.

Listening: Preparation for the Listening paper will involve learning about, and responding to, a wide variety of styles of music. There are two set pieces of music which you will study in detail for the final exam. The remainder of the exam involves responding to unfamiliar pieces and applying your understanding of musical elements.

Eduqas Syllabus and Assessment

1. Composition (30%): 2 pieces of music (combined duration recommended as 3-6 minutes). One is a free choice composition; the second is a choice of four briefs set by the exam board.
2. Performance (30%): One solo piece and one ensemble performance OR two ensemble pieces. The total combined performance time must be at least four minutes, with at least one minute of ensemble playing.
3. Listening (40%): Based around 4 Areas of Study.

• AOS1: Musical Forms and Devices
• AOS2: Music for Ensemble
• AOS3: Film Music
• AOS4: Popular Music

Link to specification: https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/music-gcse/#tab_overview