Bobmore Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1JE
Telephone - 01628 483 752
Company Registration No.07690054

Music

ABOUT MUSIC

“My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require.” Sir Edward Elgar – English Composer (1857-1934)

Music is all around us, from the radio to films and advertising.

Learning music not only improves the musical skills of performing on a range of instruments; composing music in different styles; and listening to and learning about many different styles of music, but also helps development in many other ways, too. “The benefits of a quality music education are those of increased self-esteem and aspirations; improved behaviour and social skills; and improved academic attainment in areas such as numeracy, literacy and language.” Government Review of Music Education 2011.

MUSIC AT GREAT MARLOW SCHOOL

The Music Department at Great Marlow has purpose built music classrooms with a suite of computers and musical keyboards. Lessons involve singing, as well as a wide variety of classroom percussion, guitars and other instruments. The practice rooms, situated close to the music classrooms are used during music lessons, also it is here that individual instrumental lessons are taught.

Staff aim, in this academic and practical subject, to apply learning in a practical and supportive environment. This is achieved through individual, pair, and group work, which builds confidence and aids social development. ICT is used in music lessons, including using Sibelius, O Generator, Cubase, Pro Tools, Logic and Garage Band software.

Instrumental lessons are available in the Music Department on the following instruments: brass, woodwind, violin, guitar, piano, voice and drums.

KEY STAGE 3 MUSIC

1 hour per week

Students follow a broad and balanced curriculum looking at music of different styles and cultures. Below is an outline of the teaching scheme of work.

Year 7

Term 1	Find Your Voice	Performance Project Singing as a Class an in Small Groups Building Confidence to Perform with and in Front of Others Ensemble Skills (and team building) GCSE Skills: Performance Skills
Term 1	Harry Potter	Rhythmic devices Basic music theory
Term 2	Hall Of The Mountain King – Grieg	Performance skills Piano technique Music theory
Term 2	Samba Music	World music Rhythm and metre Rhythmic devices
Term 3	Making Connections	World music Drawing similarities Performance skills
Term 3	X Factor	Performance skills Responsibility Resilience Independent learning

Year 8

Term 1	Reggae	Composition Project The Importance of Reggae Music Composing a Melody to fit with Chords Composing Stylistically Ensemble Skills GCSE Skills: Composing, Harmony, Melody
Term 1	Musicals	Composing skills Performing skills Song types
Term 2	Blues and Jazz	World music/Ethnomusicology Improvisation
Term 2	Classical Arrangements	Arranging music Fusion Performance skills
Term 3	Stomp	Rhythmic devices Creating instruments Recycling Rhythm and metre
Term 3	Song Writing	Composing Lyric writing Structure

Year 9

Term 1	Film Music	Composition Project Composing Leitmotifs for a Hero and Villain Composing Music to Enhance a Scene from a Piece of Film Composing Music to Fit a Brief GCSE Skills: Composing, Harmony, Melody, Structure
Term 2	Music Technology/Film Music	Midi sequencers Emotion in music Composing skills
Term 2	Bach to Bhangra	World music Fusion Improvisation Comparing styles
Term 3	Hip Hop	World music Music technology Rhythm Independent learning Popular culture

KEY STAGE 4 MUSIC

Board WJEC Eduqas – 3 hours per week

Component 1: Rhythm and Metre

Note values and rests
Time signatures: simple v compound
Rhythmic dictation
Performing rhythms
Setting rhythms to text

Component 2: Composing

Total duration of compositions: 3-6 minutes
Non-exam assessment: internally assessed, externally moderated 30% of qualification
Two compositions, one of which must be in response to a brief set by WJEC.
Learners will choose one brief from a choice of four, each one linked to a different area of study. The briefs will be released during the first week of September in the academic year in which the assessment is to be taken.
The second composition is a free composition for which learners set their own brief.

Component 3: Appraising

Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes (approximately)
40% of qualification
Assessment against Grade 3 standard
This component is assessed via a listening examination
Eight questions in total, two on each of the four areas of study

Area of study 1: Musical Forms and Devices
- One question on set work
- Mozart – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik ^3rd Movement – Minuet and Trio

Area of study 2: Music for Ensemble
Area of study 3: Film Music
- Note values and rests
- Time signatures: simple v compound
- Rhythmic dictation
- Performing rhythms
- Setting rhythms to text

Area of study 4: Popular Music
- One question on set work
- Since You’ve Been Gone – Rainbow

KEY STAGE 5 MUSIC

Music A-level Equqas – Full A-level 2 Year course

Course Outline

1. PERFORMANCE 35% of the qualification. Assessed by external examiner.

Students give a performance consisting of a minimum of three pieces. At least one of these pieces must be as a soloist. The other pieces may be either as a soloist or as part of an ensemble or a combination of both.

One piece must reflect the musical characteristics of one area of study. At least one other piece must reflect the musical characteristics of one other, different area of study.

Duration 10-12 minutes.

2.COMPOSITION 25% of the qualification.

Two compositions, one of which must reflect the musical techniques and conventions associated with the Western Classical Tradition and be in response to a brief set by WJEC.

Candidates will have a choice of four set briefs, released during the first week of September in the academic year in which the assessment is to be taken. The second composition is a free composition.

3. APPRAISING Written Examination 40% of the qualification.

The written exam is based around three areas of study:

Area of Study A: The Western Classical Tradition (The Development of the Symphony 1750-1900)

which includes two set works.

Symphony No. 104 in D major, ‘London’: Haydn
Symphony No. 4 in A major, ‘Italian’: Mendelssohn

Area of study B: Rock and Pop

Area of study E: Into the Twentieth Century

which including two set works:

Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano, Movement II: Poulenc
Three Nocturnes, Number 1, Nuages: Debussy

Questions set:

analysis of the set work with a score
an extended response on a wider context
extracts of unprepared music with and without a score
comparison questions – this component includes a listening examination

Duration of written examination 2 hours 15 minutes.

Entry Requirements

Students should have achieved at least a Grade 6 in GCSE Music and be able to play pieces of the equivalent standard of Grade 6.

Students who received a Grade 5 at GCSE may also be permitted after a discussion with the Head of Music.

A minimum of four and a half minutes of music in total is required.