Core Skills

This unit will develop the fundamentals of music. Through a series of practical and appraising activities, students learn about elements of music, such as pitch and rhythm. By the end of the unit, students should feel confident in playing melodies on the keyboard and being able to describe musical features of music through listening.

 

Theme and Variation

During terms 3 and 4, students will develop knowledge of music in the form of theme and variation. Through performing, composing and appraising music, students will deepen their understanding of the form and also learn about different composers from the Baroque and Classical period. 

 

Ensemble Skills

This unit will focus students learning about common ensembles in music, ranging from classical, jazz and pop music. Students will investigate the skills required to perform in an ensemble through practical exploration and appraising activities.

 

Revisit

The end of term unit is designed to revisit the work taught throughout the year to reinforce what has been taught, to address any misconceptions and prepare students for their end of year assessment.

Exploring chords

The exploring chords unit is to introduce students to harmony in music, focussing on developing students' knowledge of being able to play chords and their function in music. Throughout the term students will be developing their instrumental skills, composing and appraising music.

 

Pop chords and sequences

Following on from the unit exploring chords, students will be exploring common chord sequences in pop music and how composers use techniques to keep them sounding like new songs. Students will also look at how technology has been used to add effect to sounds and shape the music we listen to today.

 

Syncopated rhythms

Students will be learning how syncopated rhythms have become a regular musical device of music. Students will be learning music from different styles, being able to identify this musical feature in songs through practical and appraising tasks.

 

Blues and Rock’n’Roll

In term 4, students will be comparing two styles of music to develop their skills in being able to compare and evaluate music. Students will also be learning about musical features of these styles of music and how musicians shaped some of the music we listen to today.

 

Pop past and future

The pop past and future unit looks into how this style of music has changed in the last 60 years. Comparing the pop music of the 1960s and 70s to the music of today. Students will research into the culture of pop, its identity, musical features and how the recording industry grew to power.

 

Revisit

The end of term unit is designed to revisit the work taught throughout the year to reinforce what has been taught, to address any misconceptions and prepare students for their end of year assessment.

It's all about the bass

During this unit students will explore the development of bass instruments and the role they have in ensembles. Through the use of bass clef notation and bass tab, students will develop their skills in reading these forms of notation, whilst learning famous bass lines from different styles of music.

 

Homophonic music

Homophonic music is a common form of today's pop music. This term we will be investigating why this type of texture of music is popular and embedding skills pupils have learnt in reading notation through practical activities. 

 

Surf Music - America’s sound

America's response to the phenomenon of the explosive British music scene in the 1960's. Students this term will be researching what is surf music, how it was created, its unique sound and why it grew in popularity.

 

Film music and computer gaming

Film music and computer gaming is a multi-million pound industry. Students will be learning about how music was introduced to film and computer gaming, the techniques composers use to enhance images, whilst learning to compose and play music from the styles. 

 

Romantic Melodies

This unit will delve into how music is played expressively, looking at compositional devices and techniques used by composers, who have created some of the most expressive music since the 1800's.

 

My Music

Our final unit in KS3 for music, gives students the opportunity to explore music of their own, either through composition or performing. The work will be recorded and showcased as a celebration of completing KS3.