Key Stage 3

In Year 7 and 8 pupils are taught in mixed ability groups. The work that they do follows closely the QCA guidelines and as a result an integrated teaching approach is used. Hence all students complete a performance, compositional and listening task for each unit. This also includes an appraisal and evaluation of their work with a specific musical target set for improvement in each unit. At the end of year 8 our pupil's assessment marks are collated and the children are then put into sets according to their ability for their year 9 course.

NB All units are consecutively numbered to exaggerate the idea of progression and continuity between the stages.

Each unit is 'roughly' expected to last a half term, although this is not always true given the difference in term lengths. Should a unit need to over run then it will - BUT continuity is of the essence to help promote progressive learning.

We have a system that gives us 1½ lessons of music per week throughout a year in Year 7. In reality this means that half of the year group receives 2 lessons of music per week whilst the other half has one. This then changes around after the February half term holiday. With that 'extra' we make an attempt to improve basic musical literacy by focussing specifically on notation and theory. The unit modules are then taught specifically in the other lesson.

The unit titles:

Year 7

• Bridging unit - exploring musical processes.(Elements of music)
• Form and structure(Sandwiches)
• SoundscapesExploring acoustic and electric sounds and using music technology.
• Musical cycles(Raga)
• Musical clichés(Film music)
• Musical arrangements

Year 8

• Variations
• Jazz improvisation(Blues)
• Music for dance
• Hooks and riffs.(Step and leap extended to popular song writing)
• The overture and the use of themes to represent ideas.

Year 9

• Indian musical genres.
• Music and the media.
• The characteristics of a specific genre."C0NCERTO"
• Songs and the use of music technology.