MUSIC
Teachers: Mrs. M. Davies & Mrs. N. Roberts
All KS3 children get the opportunity to read and write music at their level. Progression is important in our Music Department and lessons are designed to allow each individual to improve in their performing, composing and appraising skills every half-term, every year!
They all learn treble clef notes in Year 7, as well as graphic scores, the musical elements e.g. pitch and tempo, the orchestral instruments and music from around the world.
All children learn the bass clef notes in Year 8 and are then able to play more advanced keyboard pieces, they also learn about chords and how to compose instrumental compositions using chords, they can then look at songwriting and songwriters too.
Music in Year 9 is designed to inspire children to enjoy all kinds of music for the rest of their life. They study how their favourite pieces of music contain specific devices and structures, they learn about Film Music and Musical Theatre. They also piece together their skills and understand how music evolution has brought us to the music that we listen to today.
As well as these topics children are also given opportunities to study for the ABRSM theory examinations and can be prepared and entered externally for these examinations through the Music Teacher in their normal school lessons.
Music broadens the mind and develops your brain to help to prepare you for your future career. Your career may not be related to Music but the following skills learnt will support you:
Language and memory.
Recalling rhythmic patterns
Improving and refining work
Co-ordination skills
Creative skills
Team work
Self Confidence
Why Choose Music?
If children make the wonderful decision to take Music for GCSE they will prepare a solo performance and an ensemble performance, compose two contrasting compositions and complete a listening examination consisting of eight questions.
The course will focus on four areas of study: Musical Forms and Devices, Music for Ensemble, Film Music and Popular Music.
We also have a School Choir and Orchestra that rehearse every week and perform throughout the year at various events and services. We also take part in the Urdd Eisteddfod every year.
Most people turn to music in times of crisis; it soothes anxiety and brings people together. All children have the opportunity to come together in our extra curricular music groups and they thoroughly enjoy performing in our school community as well as out in our local community too.
We also employ our own Peripatetic Music Teachers to teach 30 minute lessons in singing, piano, musical theatre, harp, woodwind, brass, drums, guitar and strings. These teachers can also enter children for external performance examinations.
Where can I progress with Music?
If children choose to enjoy a career in Music they may think about the following jobs:
Music Producer
Music Therapist
Musician
Private/Peripatetic Music Teacher
School Music Teacher
Sound Designer
Sound Engineer
Sound Technician/Broadcasting/Film
A career on the West End and beyond!
Music qualifications may also be useful in the following jobs:
Arts Administrator
Broadcast Engineer
Choreographer
Community Arts Worker
Event Manager
Marketing Executive
Private Tutor
Radio Broadcast Assistant
Radio Producer
Talent Agent
Theatre Stage Manager
Famous Quotes
‘I would rather write 10,000 notes than a single letter of the alphabet.’
Ludwig van Beethoven
‘Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.’
Maria Augusta Von Trapp
‘Where words fail, music speaks.’
Hans Christian Andersen