General Skills Developed
- Analysis
- Appraising
- Interpretation
- Collaboration
- Creativity
- Engagement
- Perseverance
- Time-management
- Self-evaluation
- Goal-setting – improving personal practise
Engagement & Extension
- The Stephen Oliver Music Society – The school’s student run music society
- Regular trips to concerts and musicals
- Regular participation in the school‘s programme of concerts throughout the year
- CD recordings
- Music tours
- Wide-ranging co-curricular music provision: Orchestra, Concert Band, Chamber Music, Jazz Band, Rock Bands, School Choir, Schola Cantorum, Music Production, Composition and Arranging
Progression Beyond School
- Excellent choice when applying to universities and further education – shows creativity, resilience and self-development
- Music at University
- Further education at conservatoires/colleges of music - On an instrument/voice or as composer
- Involvement in musical ensembles – professional or amateur
- Choral scholarships to cathedrals or universities
- Involvement in county/national musical ensembles eg. NYO, NYCGB
- Career in Music Education
- Music Production and the Music Industry
Introduction
This is a practical introduction to the appreciation of music, both in words and through composition. Pupils explore our topics through listening, appraising and then reacting via a practical task. This year, they will be composing music to a short film or exploring music production in the final term as their practical project. Sets are split in half, better facilitating composition in our Mac suite.
Course Content
Topics:
- What is Music?
- Minimalism
- Pop Music
- Film Music
- Musical Theatre
- Practical Project
Composition tasks:
- Music for film
- Pop songs (the four-chord trick)
- Sampling and Music Production
- Arranging music from the Great American Songbook
- Loops and minimalist music
Assessment
Internal Assessments in Michaelmas, Lent and Trinity terms.
Introduction
This course supports students in forming personal and meaningful relationships with music through the development of musical knowledge, understanding and skills including performing, composing and appraising. The course encourages students to engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music and musical contexts, develop an understanding of the place of music in different cultures and contexts, and reflect on how music is used in the expression of personal and collective identities.
Course Content
Areas of Study: Appraising Music
- Instrumental Music: Bach and Beethoven
- Vocal Music: Purcell and Queen
- Music for Stage and Screen: Wicked and Star Wars
- Fusions: Esperanza Spalding and Afrocelt Soundsystem
Composition: minimum 3 minutes in total
- Free composition
- Composition to a brief
Performance: minimum 4 minutes in total
- Solo performance
- Ensemble performance
Assessment
Coursework (Composition)
Coursework (Performance)
Examination
Introduction
Developing and applying the musical knowledge, understanding and skills set out in this course ensures that students form a personal and meaningful relationship with music. They will be encouraged to engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music and musical contexts, and reflect on how music is used in the expression of personal and collective identities. The course allows students to develop particular strengths and interests, encourage lifelong learning and provides access to higher education and university degree courses in music and music-related subjects as well as music-related and other careers.
Course Content
Areas of Study: Appraising Music
- The Baroque Concerto
- The Operas of Mozart
- The Romantic Piano Music of Chopin, Brahms and Grieg
- Music for Media and Film
- Musical Theatre
Composition:
- Free Composition in any style
- Stylistic Composition – Chorale harmonisations in the style of JS Bach
Performance:
- 10 Minute programme of music for solo instrument/voice or ensemble
Exam Board - AQA
Coursework (Composition)
Coursework (Performance)
Examination
Introduction
The Diploma Programme Music course has been designed to prepare the 21st Century music student for a world in which global musical cultures and industries are rapidly changing.
The course is grounded in the knowledge, skills and processes associated with the study of music, offering a strengthened approach to student creativity through practical, informed and purposeful explorations of diverse musical forms, practices and contexts.
Course Content
Areas of Inquiry: Appraising Music
- Music for sociocultural and political expression
- Absolute music
- Music for dramatic impact
- Music technology and the digital age
Higher-Level only: The Contemporary Music-Maker – an inter-disciplinary project.
Portfolio of 2,400 words: Exploring and engaging with diverse musical material.
Presenting music through performance.
Experimenting with music through composition exercises and an experimentation report.