Head Of Department: Mrs. M Hicks

Overview

The study of music has many values. It is a social activity that is proven to aid learning, to improve concentration, to build confidence and team work; it encourages creativity, aids communication skills, and teaches students to appreciate beauty.

The Warlingham Music department is a busy and active place. All pupils make music in lessons and many choose to spend their own time further developing their skills. Essentially students develop skills and knowledge through performing, composing and listening. Our students learn through musical activity to participate, cooperate, and work with like minded musicians. They will learn about the European music traditions as well as the part music plays in global culture. We will explore how thoughts and feeling are expressed in music. During each year we also combine with other art forms such as drama and art. The department offers a wealth of variety through enrichment clubs which currently include three choirs, various instrumental groups, a African Drumming team, a Steel pan club, two guitar clubs, and music technology club.

KS3 Schemes of Work

During Year 7 pupils will study:

• Pulsation
• Timekeeping
• Melodic construction
• Scale movement
• The Elements of music
• Calypso

In 'Pulsation' and 'Time Keeping' they develop their rhythm skills through performance and composition using classroom percussion, electronic keyboards and the voice.

During Year 8 pupils will study:

• Parallel harmony
• Structure and form
• Rounds and Counterpoint
• Chords
• Music from other cultures

During the first term Year 8 focus on pitch potation and developing an understanding of harmony. They use different intervals to create mood in composition and will perform pieces using parallel harmony.  The second project this term looks at structures in music .  Pupils will learn about classical forms by engaging with both classical music and more up to date musical styles.

During Year 9 pupils will study:

• Blues
• Variations
• Modes
• Making an arrangement or cover version
• Film Music
• Creating a Masterpiece

In the first term Year 9 learn about the Blues and their origins. They make a study of early jazz and learn how the 12 bar blues leads on to learning about the early days of pop music with Rock'n'Roll. Pupils will improvise compositions using the blues scale and 12 bar blues sequence.  During the second half of this term year 9 pupils study variations learning to recognise a variety of techniques through the study of famous works.  They will make their own variation of a familiar tune.

GCSE Course(s) Overview

There are three papers Performing, Composing, and Listening and Appraising. Pupils can perform on any instrument or use their voice. It is very useful to have some individual tuition and also to join in one of the many extra curricular music clubs. Two compositions are made as coursework. Pupils often use the computer suite and recording studio using Cubase, to help them with this task. The Listening Paper is a terminal exam which is externally marked. Questions are based on musical examples played in the exam. They are based on four areas of study that have been studies over the previous five terms. These are: 

• Structures in Western Classical tradition
• Changing directions in Western classical music
• Popular music in context
• Indian raga, African music and fusions

GCSE Exam Boards Used

EDEXCEL MUSIC GCSE

AS/A Level Course(s) Overview

AS and A2 level music
Duration 1 -2 years
Entry: Grade B GCSE or Grade C plus instrumental skills above grade 5 

• Portfolio 1/ paper 1 Three practical Tasks     75%    

• Logbook summarising equipment and approaches to the work 
     
• Paper 2 Written Exam 1hr 45 mins long   15%      

Four questions based on extracts of music  

Two longer questions on Special Focus Styles   

AS/A Level Exam Boards Used

Board: Edexcel