Music
The Music department provides students with relevant and challenging musical activities to develop curious and industrious learners. Students will become aware of the Elements of music, and study performance, listening and composition using musical examples from different cultures and parts of the world, so that they develop an understanding and ability to perform and analyse music competently and with confidence.
A wide range of teaching and learning strategies ensure all types of learners’ needs are met. Students will be given opportunities to rehearse and analyse Music both individually and in groups developing their resilience, perseverance and curiosity. Students will be consistently challenged through performance activities and musical analysis to make sure they reach their true potential as young musicians.
We have facilities within Music to enable full band Musical rehearsal, Music recording and production. We also have a full set of keyboards for class work and offer Individual music lessons on Guitar, Flute, trumpet and trombone.
Key Stage 3
Throughout Key Stage 3 (Years 7 and 8), students build upon their understanding of the musical elements and their ability to perform Music. Lessons are planned to develop enthusiasm for the subject and to present as many varied quality musical experiences as possible. Here are some of the units students cover in Key stage 3;
• Elements of Music
• The Orchestra
• Samba (Music from Brazil)
• English Folk music
• African drumming
• Soundtracks (Music for Films)
Students are assessed regularly through a series of Performances, listening tests and compositions, both individually and in groups.
Key Stage 4
Students who opt to take Music study Music BTEC level 2, a vocational course with an excellent A-C equivalent pass rate year upon year. This includes projects such as recording and marketing your own CD, studying the music industry, setting up an event with live sound and lights and lots of opportunities to perform solo and group performances both in school and out in the community.
The course consists of the following units;
- The Music Industry
- Managing a Music Product
- Introducing Live Sound
- Introducing Music Performance
Throughout the year we perform 2 school variety shows one at Christmas and one in summer, we often record our students performing and professionally with our apple mac studio and we have a vocal group ‘vocalise’ that runs as part of the schools enhancement program.
To find out more please get in touch with the Head of Music, Paul Wilson on Paul.Wilson@northgosforth.co.uk