Music

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Introduction

Abbs Cross Academy has a vibrant Music Department that offers countless opportunities for students to develop their musical skill and ability, both inside and outside the classroom.

During lessons, students learn how to sing, play, listen, compose and sequence music through a curriculum, delivered through a ‘hands on’ approach. Beyond the classroom, there are many extracurricular activities to be a part of and build on instrumental and performance skills.

General Outcomes and Objectives of Music:

Musical training helps develop language and reasoning
Students learn to improve their work from given feedback
Matures the ability to increase co-ordination
Develops creativity, imagination and curiosity
Increased understanding of teamwork and betters self-confidence

We expect

All students to respect the music space and its equipment, ensuring that all equipment is returned to its place in the Music department, without damage
All students must respect all rehearsal processes in music, as well as performances, by showing good audience etiquette during group or solo performances
If using the rehearsal rooms, students must check availability and have a focus, whether classwork, extracurricular or skills based, leaving the rehearsal space tidy

KS3

KS3 students enjoy a broad curriculum, which covers a wide variety of music, allowing students to embed their practical and technology skills, using instruments, voice and composition through Cubase.

Students study a variety of Music genres, as well as performing live, in front of peers. All Music lessons allow for students to have musical experiences and broaden their interest and knowledge within the subject of Music.

	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Autumn Term	Samba Music	Rhythms of the world	Live Bands: Rock Anthems
Autumn Term	Keyboard Skills	Keyboard Skills	Keyboard Skills
Spring Term	Ukulele Skills	Live Bands: Pop	Live Bands: Britpop
Spring Term	Carnival of the animals	4-Chord songs	Video Game Music
Summer Term	Blues Music: Composition	Film Music	Music for change
Summer Term	Blues Music: Live Bands	Gamelan and Minimalism	Music Industry

KS4

GCSE Music will provide a contemporary, accessible and creative education in Music with an integrated approach to the three main elements – performing, composing and appraising.

The course includes an integrated performance and composition component, practical portfolio and an examined listening examination.

OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in Music will provide a contemporary, accessible and creative education in Music with an integrated approach to the three main elements – performing, composing and appraising. Learners are encouraged to be creative and to broaden their musical horizons and understanding with Areas of Study that inspire and challenge.

This specification will enable learners to explore performance and composition with a focus on their own instrument and genre choices and offer opportunity to explore new instrumental skills.

The three components of OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in Music allow an integrated approach to the teaching and learning of appraisal, performing and composing. Students will study:

An integrated performance and composition component with learner choice of instrument.
A practical portfolio that includes the board set composition task and an ensemble performance.
A listening and appraising examination at the end of year 11, focusing on the 5 areas of study.

	Year 10	Year 11
Autumn	Practical: Solo performance, an introduction to composition and set brief compositions. Theory: Elements of music and film music.	Practical: Solo performance recordings and set brief composition completion and scores. Theory: Rhythms around the world.
Spring	Practical: Ensemble skills and composition Theory: Concerto through time, instruments of the orchestra and conventions of pop.	Practical: Set and free brief compositions, ensemble performance and coursework improvements. Theory: Listening Paper exam questions and revision.
Summer	Practical: Free brief composition and solo performance Theory: Instrumental spotlight and aural dictation and revision of area of studies so far.	Theory: Listening Paper exam questions and revision.

Future careers after GCSE Music:

Conductor
Composer
Recording Engineer
Promoter
Music Publisher
Digital Marketing

GCSE Results 2022

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving 77% grades 9-4.

GCSE Results 2023

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving 60% grades 9-4.

Extra Curricular

The Music Department is open regularly over the school week, allowing students to book the space for rehearsals and studying at lunchtime and after school. The Music Department offers a variety of clubs and rehearsals:

KS4 Music Intervention: Come to the music department for help and support on theory practice, compositions or performance. Spend time perfecting your knowledge and skills linking to OCR GCSE criteria, embedding feedback and making improvements.

AX Young Voices: Join fellow vocalists to sing a variety of songs from different styles and difficulties. Learn how to sing in harmony, lead vocal warm-ups and perform in front of audiences throughout the year.

KS3 Music Rehearsal & Karaoke club: Come and use one of the music rehearsal spaces with other musicians or by yourself. Develop your instrumental skills, compositional skills on the computers or take it in turns to use the microphone and karaoke machine!

Bands Club: Come and work with other musicians to create your own ensembles. Choose your own music, learn how to play band instruments, compete in Battle of the Bands and audition to perform in front of audiences throughout the year.

Useful Links

Google classroom

This is a fantastic tool, utilised weekly by the Performing Arts faculty. The online application allows for paperless communication, between staff and students and for staff to streamline curriculum, classwork, examinations and homework.

Havering Music School

www.haveringmusicschool.org.uk/

Instrumental Tutorial On YouTube

www.youtube.co.uk

Musical Futures

www.musicalfutures.org/

OCR GCSE Music Specification

www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/music-j536-from-2016/

BBC Bitesize OCR Music