Music
Miss H Anderson- Head of Music
Miss L Maltby.
At Key Stage 3, students investigate musical topics which aim to help develop the following musical skills:
- Understanding
- Performance
- Improvisation
- Group compositions
- Composition skills
- Vocabulary
- Singing.
The specific topics covered in each year of key stage 3 are listed below.
The specific topics covered in each year of key stage 3 are listed below.
Autumn Term (1st Half) |
Unit: The Elements of Music To understand the meaning of pitch, duration, speed, timbre and volume and how they are used in the creation of music and create mood. |
Autumn Term (2nd Half) |
Unit: Graphic Scores Prior Learning - Students will have experienced before the commencement of this scheme of work: - Singing techniques and skills, including that of part singing in harmony and intonation practice.
- Basic keyboard performance skills
- Analysis of instrumental timbres
- Basic rudiments of staff notation reading
Future Learning – Students will go on to learn: - More complex keyboard performance
- Ensemble performance
- More in depth knowledge of instrumental timbres
- Improvisational work involving ‘the blues’
- More complex reading of staff notation.
Enrichment – Learning can be enriched through: · Participation in the keyboard club to compose · Listening to and observing GCSE & A Level students’ compositions to look at the structures. · Participation in the music theory club · Attending concerts that include differing styles and therefore forms and structures · Listening to various pieces of music to identify what kinds of structures are used. |
Spring Term |
Unit: Harry Potter Prior Learning - Students will have experienced before the commencement of this scheme of work: · Two hands simple keyboard performance · Playing by ear and improvising · Identification and analysis of different orchestral instruments Future Learning – Students will go on to learn: · More in ensemble performance skills · Aural recognition skills · World Music · Minimalism · Playing by ear (at a higher level). Enrichment – Learning can be enriched through: · Participation in the keyboard club · Observing GCSE and A level students composing film music. · Watching different types of film to listen to the varying styles of music to accompany. · Using the internet to: Research film composers · Practice a repertoire of film music in peripatetic lessons. |
Summer Term (1st Half) |
Unit: High School Musical To become aware of the development of a musical show. To understand the components that makes a musical. To identify songs from popular Musicals and to become familiar with a musical of their choice. To identify the ingredients of a musical. To understand the role and importance of a production team. To focus on the set work: High School Musical with all musical numbers. To extend the topic into create own composition of “Bushey Academy” Songs. |
Summer Term (2nd Half) |
Keyboard Skills: Oh When the Saints Prior Learning - Students will have experienced before the commencement of this scheme of work: - Singing within an ensemble
- Instrumental timbres and structures.
An introduction to keyboard performance. Future Learning – Students will go on to learn: - More complex staff notation reading
- Composition and performance of an arrangement
- Singing harmony and more complex vocal skills.
Performance and improvisation using chords and melody line. Enrichment – Learning can be enriched through: · Participation in the keyboard club to compose · Listening to GCSE & A Level students’ keyboard performances · Participation in the music theory club · Practicing the SoW performance material during peripatetic tuition. |
Year 8 (Performing Arts; combining Music with Drama)
Autumn Term (1st Half) |
Unit: The Elements of Music To understand the meaning of pitch, duration, speed, timbre and volume and how they are used in the creation of music and create mood. |
Autumn Term (2nd Half) |
Unit: Graphic Scores Prior Learning - Students will have experienced before the commencement of this scheme of work: - Singing techniques and skills, including that of part singing in harmony and intonation practice
- Basic keyboard performance skills
- Analysis of instrumental timbres
- Basic rudiments of staff notation reading.
Future Learning – Students will go on to learn: - More complex keyboard performance
- Ensemble performance
- More in depth knowledge of instrumental timbres
- Improvisational work involving ‘the blues’
- More complex reading of staff notation.
Enrichment – Learning can be enriched through: · Participation in the keyboard club to compose · Listening to and observing GCSE & A Level students’ compositions to look at the structures · Participation in the music theory club · Attending concerts that include differing styles and therefore forms and structures · Listening to various pieces of music to identify what kinds of structures are used. |
Spring Term |
Unit: Musicals: Set Work “West Side Story” To become aware of the development of a musical show. To understand the components that makes a musical. To identify songs from popular Musicals and to become familiar with a musical of their choice. |
Summer Term |
Unit: High School Musical To identify the ingredients of a musical. To understand the role and importance of a production team. Focus on the set work: High School Musical with all musical numbers. To extend the topic into create own composition of “Bushey Academy” Songs. |
Year 9
Autumn Term |
Unit: Puff Daddy Prior Learning - Students will have experienced before the commencement of this scheme of work: · Composition/performance with differing structures · Composition of programme music · Composition and performance based on world music and minimalism · One handed keyboard performance reading staff notation · Performed P Diddy’s I’ll be missing you, keyboard on their own, or as a pair, or with a beat. Future Learning – Students will go on to learn: - More in depth analysis of instrumental (orchestral) timbres
- Listening and composition work based on songs from the ‘musical’
- Perform cross-rhythms on the keyboard (and/or other instruments)
- How to distinguish orchestral instruments based on specific timbres.
Enrichment – Learning can be enriched through: · Participation in the keyboard club · Listening to GCSE & A Level students performing R&B music · Singing/Rapping the theme at choir / and smaller ensembles · Listening to the song at home whilst playing the keyboard part · Taking the performance piece to their keyboard lesson · Playing P Diddy in the school’s Rock School. |
Spring Term |
Unit: Minimalism and Film Studies Prior Learning - Students will have experienced before the commencement of this scheme of work: - The study of world music
- Song writing composition
- Keyboard performance using various types of notation including that of staff notation.
Orchestral instrumental timbres. Future Learning – Students will go on to learn: - More complex staff notation reading
- Two hands keyboard performance
- Cross rhythms in performance
- Composing music to a theme (programme music
- More complex instrumental timbre analysis.
Enrichment – Learning can be enriched through: · Participation in the keyboard club to compose · Listening to GCSE & A Level students song compositions · Participation in the music theory club · Listening to minimalist composers so as to choose a style for composition. Practice group improvisation to create interweaving melody lines [that is minimalism. |
Summer Term |
Unit: Musical Futures This module specifically focuses on students recreating their own versions of music they like in band set up groups. This project allows students to organise and direct their own work. Prior Learning - Students will have experienced before the commencement of this scheme of work: - Singing individually, in groups and as a class
- Keyboard performance with two hands
- Film composition and performance
- The study of world music
- Jazz keyboard performance.
Introduction to musical futures project Future Learning – Students will go on to learn: - More advanced aural response performance projects
- Band skills, gaining independence with a musical role
- Knowledge of chords and bass lines
- More advanced performance skills on various instruments.
Music reading within performance tasks Enrichment – Learning can be enriched through: · Booking up the practice rooms at break times, lunchtimes and after school to carry out extra practice sessions within the bands · Watching GCSE and A Level students perform · Attending (or observing) Rock School, Soul Band and choir to gain a higher level of banding skills · Attending music theory club to further develop music reading skills · Observing live bands to gain knowledge with performance. |
THE BUSHEY ACADEMY MUSIC DEPARTMENT WEBSITE UPDATE
One of the biggest changes is that we have combined both Music and Drama in Years 7 and 8 to form ‘Performing Arts’ although this is not to dissimilar to what you will have been used to before, it is allowing the two departments to work together more and combine the idea of performance. The student’s have been working on the topics of Harry Potter in Year 7 and have been studying West Side Story in Year 8.
The Drama and the Music Department are currently working towards a professional production of “High School Musical.” This will take place on July 14th ,15th ,16th 2010. The first House Music Competition is planned for next year, so watch this space for the date, which is yet to be confirmed. This competition is run by students, directed by students and organised by the Heads of House.
CURRICULAR (Six achievements)
- In addition to the Head of Music, Miss Anderson, Miss Wilding joined the department as Part-Time Teacher as of September 2009, contributing expertise to the department in performing, composing and ensemble practice.
- New schemes of work in place for KS3, to meet the challenges and needs of the Academy. For instance, Year Nine “Film Composing” course.
- Independent Learning: New initiatives include Independent Learning Booklets for all Key Stages, as well as student-led Power-Point Presentations for Key Stage 5. New resources for Key Stages 4 and 5 include guidance booklets for coursework completion.
- Assessment: Existing assessment strategies and rewards for across the Key Stages. Extra Mentoring Sessions for Key Stage Four and Individual Progress Sessions for Key Stage Five have all been introduced from September 2009 onwards.
- Music and Drama now combine for Years Seven and Eight to offer Performing Arts courses, with new schemes of work in place.
- Brand new iMac suite with 16 work stations to accommodate high quality, compositional work.
ENRICHMENT (Nine achievements) - Rock Schools continue to flourish within the Academy.
- September 2009: the Bushey Academy Soul Sound, aka Soul Band, was founded. BASS is a student-led activity that is working towards flagship status for the Academy, with the long-term objective of performing at the Academy and at local events.
- September 2009 – Miss Anderson joined the acclaimed Bushey Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of George Vass. She made her debut with the BSO on the 14 November 2009.
- November 2009 – Taster Sessions in Woodwind, conducted by Woodwind Peripatetic Teacher Richard Palman.
- 16 December 2009 – The Academy held its first student-led Carol Concert at St James Church, Bushey. This traditional concert featured soloists, ensembles, student conductors and staff chamber duo, among other items.
- Students have performed at various events within the Academy, including the Open Evening (September 2009), Prize Giving Evening (October 2009) and the Celebration of Success Evening (December 2009).
- February 2010 - March 2010: Rock Schools and BASS performed at student-led fundraisers for Haiti: Ace of Hearts Valentine Ball and Young Enterprise Bluetique Fashion Show.
- 30th March 2010 – The AS Band, the new Language & Literature Choir and the Staff/Student Chamber Group performed French songs and classical works by French composers at the inaugural Language and Literature House Event.
- 8th July 2010 – A Level Trip to the Royal Opera House to see “La Traviata”. The first of many visits in our new Live Music Enrichment activity.
FUTURE PLANS (Four aims):
- Summer Term 2010: Performing Arts, i.e. Music and Drama, will be offering the initial Academy Musical
- 2010/2011: House Music Competition
- Autumn 2010: Conductors Workshop with George Vass, Conductor of Bushey Academy Symphony
- Summer 2011: Bushey Symphony Orchestra and the Music Department will team up to debut works written by GCSE and A Level Students.
- Summer 2011: Summer Music Showcase
- Summer 2011: Miss Wilding will be debuting at the Academy as vocal jazz soloist. This will mark the initial event for the newly formed Parent Teacher Association.