Our curriculum in Key Stage Three aims to build on the three strands of learning set out in the Model Music Curriculum; performing, composing and listening & appraising. During the three years students will explore music from around the world as well as looking at how music has developed over time. They will learn about how music can be a form of expression. Throughout a variety of projects students are encouraged to work both independently and as part of a team to share in music making.

Year 7

Year 7 Music begins with ‘The Elements of Music’. This topic is a whistle stop tour of the interrelated dimensions of music during which students listen and analyse music from a variety of styles. They will focus on two main projects; a performance of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and a composition project based around programme music. From here students then delve deeper into the correct techniques for playing the keyboard in the topic ‘Keyboard Skills’ whilst beginning to explore notation.

The Spring term builds upon this learning with a more in depth look at ‘Rhythm and Pulse’ and ‘Structure and Form’. During these topics students explore note values, time signatures, and develop an understanding of how music can be organised. They have opportunities to perform and compose in distinctive styles.

Finally, in the Summer term students explore ‘Music History’ and ‘World Music’. Using the BBC 10 Pieces project as a starting point, students will look at music from the Baroque period right through to modern day whilst also learning about instruments of the orchestra. Learning opportunities include creating a remix of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor and delving into music and storytelling with Edward Greig’s In the Hall of the Mountain King. Finally, students will learn about musical heritages from around the world by visiting a new country each week whilst completing a world music passport.

Year 8

Year 8 begins by exploring reggae music and students build on learning at the end of Year 7 by returning to music from the Caribbean. Students learn about the different textural layers of a reggae piece and work together as a group to perform ‘Three Little Birds’. Continuing this exploration of chords and chord patterns students then go on to learn a variety of pieces in the ‘Ukulele’ topic. Here they explore different playing techniques, develop ensemble skills, and expand their knowledge of notation.

‘Folk Music’ allows students to learn about traditional music and instruments and allows students to explore several types of accompaniments in more detail with their own arrangement of Scarborough Fair. From here students discover how music and history intertwine with a topic on ‘Blues and Jazz’. Building again on their knowledge of chords we look at the 12-bar blues chord pattern as well as learning about walking basslines and the blues scale.

In the Summer term students begin by looking at ‘Musical Patterns’ and how these have been used throughout music history in pieces such as Pachelbel’s Canon right through to exploring hooks and riffs in modern music. Students finish the year by examining ‘Computer Game Music’, learning about how it has developed over time and exploring conventions through performing and composing tasks.

Year 9

Year 9 begins by revisiting ‘Samba’ music during which students have the chance to workshop different instruments and perform as a whole class ensemble. In the Autumn term students also consider how ‘Popular Music’ developed through the decades and how particular chord patterns can be used with an exploration of four chord songs.

The Spring term sees students focus on composing during the topic on ‘Minimalism’. Here they make links with the learning at the end of Year 8 with the ideas of motifs and repeated musical patterns. This then progresses to a topic on ‘Film Music’ where students build on the idea of a leitmotif whilst exploring different genres of film. The final project in this topic gives students the opportunity to compose music for a film scene whilst working from a cue sheet.

The final two topics in Key Stage Three see students exploring the idea of ‘Theme and Variation’ with an in-depth look at Elgar’s Enigma Variations before completing their own variations on a given theme. In the final topic of Year 9, ‘Band Skills’, students build upon prior learning by using keyboards, ukuleles, and drum machines to create their own group arrangement of a piece.

For further information about our Music curriculum, please contact Mrs H Whittle, Head of Creative and Vocational, by emailing h.whittle@westcraven.co.uk or phoning the main office to arrange a call back