Music

Each division has a weekly (years 4 and 5 have two lessons) timetabled music lesson. The boys are exposed to a diverse range of musical styles, from plainsong to gamelan, polyphony to pop. Composition is an important part of the curriculum and is undertaken in projects. Performance, both as a group and individually, also plays a significant part in class music lessons.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

“Music is a powerful, unique form of communication that can change the way pupils feel, think and act. It brings together intellect and feeling and enables personal expression, reflection and emotional development. It also increases self-discipline and creativity, aesthetic sensitivity and fulfillment”
The National Curriculum, QCA 1999

Aims of the Music Department:
To stimulate and maintain lasting pupil enjoyment, interest and curiosity in Music. To create an atmosphere where pupils wish to learn, so that they come to enjoy music, and that they may give of their best. This will enable each pupil to achieve his potential in a variety of situations.
By exposing pupils to a wide range of material, we aim to enable pupils to see music as a major cultural feature and part of a wider body of knowledge and skills.
To develop musical creativity through performance and composition.
To develop skills required for all performing situations, eg: solo, group.
To value each individual and so encourage each pupil to feel the value and worth of others.
To allow pupils to develop informed opinions and to be able to support them.
To encourage pupils to consider critically the way music is used and to develop the ability to analyse accordingly.
Our schemes of work have been devised with the requirements of the National Curriculum in mind. They are intended to provide opportunity to demonstrate the key skills of performing, listening and appraising. Singing is seen as an extremely important role of the course, not only for its own sake, but also as it helps to develop a good musical ear. It is an integral part of all projects in all five years.

Wherever possible, skills will be taught in projects, not only to achieve continuous variety, but also to draw skills and experiences together. Assessment is based on four main attainment targets: Performance, Composition, Listening and Appraisal & Improvisation.

Class Music Schemes of Work 2010-2011

Year 4 (Vis) have two class music lessons per week.

Michaelmas Term:
1 lesson per week is dedicated to singing. As well as building up a ''"Ludgrove Song Book'" we sing a wide range of cross-curricular songs.
Lesson 2: Recorder & Clarineo (a basic plastic clarinet) course: basic skills & ensemble playing.

Lent Term:
Lesson 1: Listening project: Saint Saens, Carnival of the Animals & Peter and the Wolf. Listening project and group compositions based on an Animal Story.
Lesson 2: Keyboard course: learning notes of keyboard, basic skills & tunes.

Summer Term:
Lesson 1: Introduction to Theory - working towards Grade 1 ABRSM theory & certificate of achievement in Theory.
Lesson 2: Group cello work: basic skills, ensemble playing & work towards a performance at the end of term.

Year 5(IVs) have two class music lessons per week

Michaelmas Term:
Lesson 1: Singing.
Lesson 2: Popular styles at the Keyboard: exploring the keyboard, rock n' roll bass pattern, performing "Rock Around the Clock", Introduction to Blues and improvising around the Blues Scale.

Lent Term:
Lesson 1: Creation of a Rap & introduction to Beat Boxing
Lesson 2: Music Theory: an extension of the course followed in year 4.

Summer Term:
Lesson 1: Singing
Lesson 2: Instruments of the Orchestra: A listening project based on "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra". Group assessed performance.

Year 6 (IIIs) have one class music lesson per week

Michaelmas Term:
Pictures at an Exhibition: History, listening, performance on keyboard of main themes. Composition of a piece using a work of art as an inspiration

Lent Term:
The Blues and Rap: Listening, performance and composition of a 12 bar blues song. Beat boxing workshop at the end of term.

Summer Term:
Rhythm & African Drumming: Re-cap of note values & rhythms, ensemble playing, introduction to African Drumming, performance and composition using Djembe drums.

Year 7 (IIs) have one class music lesson per week

Michaelmas Term:
Structure and Form: Question & Answer, Binary, Ternary & Rondo forms. Form based composition

Lent Term:
Music and Words: Major and Minor, listening, composition of music to be set to a poem of pupil'''s choice

Summer Term:
Voices in layers & African drumming: Music of Africa listening and history, African Drumming.

In addition to this the year 7s will be assessed in an instrumental or singing performance.

Year 8 (Is) have one class music lesson per week

Michaelmas Term:
20th Century Art Form and Minimalism: Context, Listening, composition of clapping music, performance of "Tubular Bells" & composition using music notation and audio editing software.

Lent Term:
Music and the Media: introduction to Film music, Music for Advertising & creation of an advert for radio

Summer Term:
Intranet project: Research and creation of a music website.

In addition to this the year 8s will be assessed in an instrumental or singing performance. They will also complete the ISEB certificate of Achievement in the Lent Term.