Music
Head of Department: Mr D Rudd (acting)
Music plays a key role in a young person’s development. Studies in Music are not only about developing performance, composition and appraising and analysis skills. Music lessons also develop important life skills, enrich students’ cultural capital and prepares students for their futures - whatever area of study or work they choose to pursue. Claremont’s Music department aims to provide lessons and musical opportunities that build, develop and inspire an interest and appreciation of music. The department has three classrooms, each of which is fully equipped with keyboards. The school is fortunate to have a music computer suite and a recording studio which allows students to compose and record their compositions using state of the art technology.
Curriculum Intent
The Music Department aims to develop students’ confidence, stimulate their musical interest and engagement in the subject. In music lessons, we highlight the importance of respect and resilience during our activities and provide regular opportunities for students to develop their musical skills, time management skills, the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Students’ cultural awareness is developed continuously through the exploration of a wide range of different musical styles and experiences. All music lessons are catered to the specific needs of our pupils and curriculum planning is carefully considered across the different areas of teacher specialism.
Key Stage 3
Year 7
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Year 7 Music (Once a week) |
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Scheme of Learning |
Assessment |
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Baseline Assessment and Instruments of the Orchestra. |
Students are assessed through a performance of Happy Birthday on a keyboard. They learn about the different families in an orchestra and how each family and instrument has specific 'timbre' |
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Music Notation |
Students are assessed through a musical performance of a Christmas tune using keyboard (or their own instrument), and learn some basic music theory and notation to equip them for classroom performance work in Key Stage 3. |
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The Musical Elements |
Students are again assessed through a performance and also learn how to use musical words such as dynamic, pitch, melody, harmony, texture, timbre, structure. |
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Carnival of the Animals |
Students are assessed through a performance of their own composition based on a response to a given stimulus; in this case the creation and manipulation of music to describe the character of animals. |
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Pentatonic Improvisation |
Students are assessed through a musical performance of their own composition. They will use various pentatonic scales to learn how to layer and structure using keywords 'structure' and 'texture' |
Year 8
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Year 8 Music (Once a week) |
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Scheme of Learning |
Assessment |
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Baseline Assessment |
Students are assessed through a performance of 'What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor'. They are introduced to performing using chords |
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Chords Project |
Students are assessed through the performance and composition of their own chord sequence. They will explore the nature of chords and their relationships to each other, and learn how to set melodies to chords. |
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Leitmotif: Haunted House |
Students are assessed through a performance of their own composition based on an external stimulus: in this case a series of 'scary' or 'spooky' images. |
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Ostinato Project |
Students are assessed through a performance of their own or existing Ostinato piece which they have developed and extended with particular focus on layering textures, and developing structures. |
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Disney Project |
Students are assessed through a musical performance of a Disney tune. They will learn about the music industry by studying film and theatre composers. |
Year 9
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Year 9 Music (once per fortnight) |
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Scheme of Learning |
Assessment |
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Blues and Jazz. |
Students are assessed through a performance of a jazz tune plus the composition of their own 12 bar blues. They will learn about the origins and development of blues, jazz and big band, and study 12-bar chords with added 6ths and 7ths, plus the use of the blues scale. |
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Variations on a Ground Bass |
Students are assessed through a performance of a layered composition using a ground bass Chaconne or Passacaglia. |
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Musical arrangements and Rounds |
Students are assessed through the arrangement and 're-arrangement' of melodic fragments from famous 'rounds' |
Key stage 4
Year 10
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Year 10 GCSE Music (Edexcel) |
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Scheme of Learning |
Assessment |
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Component 3 (Appraising) 40%
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Students will be assessed through listening exercises, knowledge tests and written responses of GCSE set pieces and exam questions. |
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Component 2 (Composing 1) 30% |
Students will be assessed on the arrangement of their first original composition. |
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Component 1 (Performing) 30% |
Students will be assessed on a solo musical performance. |
Year 11
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Year 11 GCSE Music (AQA) |
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Scheme of Learning |
Assessment |
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Component 3 (Appraising) 40%
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Students will be assessed through listening exercises, knowledge tests and written responses of GCSE set pieces and exam question. |
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Component 2 (Composing 2) 30% |
Students will be assessed on the arrangement of their second original composition. |
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Component 1 (Performing) 30% |
Students will be assessed on a final solo musical performance. |
Key Stage 5
Enrichment
An extensive range of Co-Curricular groups take place. These groups enable students to work with other students across the year groups, dependant on musical ability, not age.
Music Co-Curricular activities have the potential to expand pupils’ self-confidence, friendship groups and time management skills. Pupils are given the chance to develop their leadership skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Please refer to the department's Co-Curricular timetable for more details.
The department also runs trips to see musicals, operas and music concerts. The department also works in close collaboration with the Drama Department on both the Annual School Production and Lower School Production.
Instrumental Lessons
We offer instrumental lessons through BMS on a very wide range of instruments and students who opt for music lessons are regularly entered for ABRSM or Trinity practical and theory examinations. All students who receive instrumental lessons are encouraged to participate in at least one ensemble.
Music events
In addition to the Co-Curricular groups, the Music Department lead calendared events across the academic year. These include:
- Autumn Concert
- Spring Concert
- Summer Concert
- Annual School Production
Next Steps
Students will form personal and meaningful relationships with music through the development of musical knowledge, understanding and skills including performing, composing and appraising. As a result, students can engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music and musical contexts, develop an understanding of the place of music in different cultures and contexts, and reflect on how music is used in the expression of personal and collective identities. You will also gain lots of transferable skills in performance, administration, teamwork, organisation and planning.