Music

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Music is a universal language that anyone can speak, this embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. Music looks to increase students’ self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement, develop a love of music and talent as musicians. Our curriculum allows all students to have access to all strands of music, including singing, playing musical instruments, composing, listening and music technology. It allows students to develop their strengths and passions, together with the aim to build upon key musical skills that can draw on music lesson experiences and also beyond school life.

There is a wide range of extra-curricular activities available to all students ensuring that there are multiple opportunities for music making. Students can choose to join one of the two choirs, play in the mixed instrumental ensemble, create their own music in the Music Technology club or form their own band and book one of the rehearsal spaces available. There are multiple public performance opportunities throughout the school year ranging from the annual Christmas Carol Concert to the exciting Battle of the Bands.

We offer peripatetic instrumental music lessons on numerous instruments delivered by specialist instrumental teachers from Cornwall Music Service Trust, designed to enhance students’ musical education through individualised instruction. This offer provides opportunities for students to receive tuition, fostering a diverse and enriching learning environment on a group or one-to-one basis. Sign up for instrumental music lessons at www.cmst.co.uk
Musical Instruments can also be hired through ASONE Music Hub. https://asoneperform.com/page/asone-hub

Intent

The Music curriculum aims to enable all students:

• to take part in practical music making opportunities which develop their performing, composing and listening skills
• to develop their vocal and instrumental fluency, accuracy and expressiveness through sequenced learning topics.
• to develop the ability to play a variety of musical instruments throughout their KS3 journey
• to develop social and communication skills through group music making activities
• to widen students’ understanding of other countries culture and traditions and to enhance their cultural capital
• to have the opportunity to take part in enriching extra-curricular experiences within school and the wider community

Implementation

The Music curriculum is implemented collaboratively via:

• two one hour Music lessons every fortnight at KS3 where students explore a wide variety of topics:
o Year 7: Find Your Voice, Rhythm & Ostinato, Musical Notation & Keyboard skills, Whole class Ukulele project, Introduction to Music Technology with BandLab DAW, Soundscapes composing project.
o Year 8: Whole class Brass Instrument project (learn to play Trumpet, Cornet, Euphonium & Trombone), Contrasts in music via Theme & Variation, Gamelan Music of Indonesia, Music Technology audio editing project developing skills with BandLab online DAW, Whole class Guitar project and The Blues.
o Year 9: Reggae Music, Musical Futures In at the Deep End and Band Project (development of instrumental skills on Keyboard, Bass Guitar, Guitar, Drum Kit and the Voice), Music Technology Film Music project using Garageband DAW on Apple Macs.
• five one hour Music lessons (two double lessons and one single lesson) every fortnight at KS4. Students have the opportunity to study either GCSE Music (OCR) or BTEC Tech Award in Music Practice.
o Development of knowledge and understanding of a range of musical genres including the ability to analyse key pieces and discuss common features.
o Development of performance skills as a solo and ensemble performer
o Development of composing/creating skills
o Development of production skills (use of Music Technology)
• the delivery of high-quality lessons, placing learning outcomes at the forefront of planning
• ambitious and aspirational schemes of learning, building on development of the core skills of performing and composing
• the development of key concepts and core vocabulary through focused listening activities
• the completion of assessments for each topic which are recorded through the use of video and audio devices in order to provide opportunity for self-reflection and peer assessment
• the regular review and evaluation of the Music curriculum to ensure maximum impact for all learners

Impact

What our students achieve can be seen through:

• high levels of engagement in lessons

Formative assessment
• to help the teacher to gain an understanding of the student and the student to gain an understanding of themselves as a musical learner.
• Formative assessment strategies include:
o low stakes testing and quizzing
o Practical assessments- group and individual
o Entry and exit questions to re-call and summarise what pupils have learnt
o Extended written evaluation of practical work
• Formative assessment is used to monitor student learning style and ability (metacognition) and to provide on-going feedback for student development.
• Planning and teaching methods are adapted to aid students to improve their learning rapidly.
Progress
• The quality of teaching and learning is monitored through lesson visits by the Head of Department and by senior leaders.
• Visits are recorded using Sisra Observe, where follow up action points are actioned as necessary.
• Teaching and Learning is a standard agenda item and where any necessary action is discussed and agreed.
Summative Assessment
• Summative assessments are used to evaluate student learning and academic achievement at the end of each topic at KS3 and Component at KS4. This is to give opportunities to aid retrieval of prior knowledge and for interleaving.

From critical thinking to decoding, those who study music gain a wide range of skills which are transferable to a wide range of careers. People often think the music industry is confined to singers and musicians. It is a dynamic and fast-moving industry that carves paths for people in performance, recruitment, education, marketing and PR, management and music journalism just to name a few. There are a range of courses at local colleges for post 16 study that include Stage Management, Music Technology, Music Performance and A level Music.