Our approach
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11

Our approach

The substantive content of the curriculum introduces pupils to a range of musical styles considering how musical patterns, devices and processes enrich music making. The seven year curriculum journey is designed to develop a coherent musical understanding that enables pupils to make connections within and between all kinds of music, enabling pupils to apply their knowledge of musical elements and devices to produce and perform music in a range of styles.

The curriculum is cumulative, with different elements of music making being considered in turn, progressing from a consideration of patterns to processes. This allows all pupils at KS3 to consider how music is made whilst a regular focus on band musicianship helps develop an understanding of why music has such an impact on societies.

Curriculum Overview

Year 7

Autumn
Stomp and Sing: what is the role of pattern in music? 
Spring
The Power of the Pentatonic: how are tonality and melody used in music? 
Summer
Band Musicianship in Four Chord Songs: what are the features pop music? 

All Year 7 subjects Next Year 7 Subject - Photography

Year 8

Autumn
What are the features of and common devices in West African Music?  
Spring
What is the role of melody, harmony and texture in classical music? 
Summer
Band Musicianship: What is the role of harmony in The Blues? 

All Year 8 subjects Next Year 8 Subject - Photography

Year 9

Autumn
What are the processes that underpin the production of Electronic Dance Music? 
Spring
What is the role of music in film? 
Summer
Band Musicianship: what is the social impact of music? 

All Year 9 subjects Next Year 9 Subject - Photography

Year 10

Autumn 

  1. Performance: Ensemble introduction and solo preparation 

  1. Composition: Keyboard skills and Free composition 

  1. Listening and Appraising: Set work (Toto’s Africa), Film Music
Spring 

  1. Performance: Ensemble development and solo development 

  1. Composition: Free composition – choosing genre, harmonic and melodic choices 

  1. Listening and Appraising: Film Music, Jazz and Blues and Set work – Badinerie Bach
Summer

  1. Performance: Ensemble and solo finalising – recording of solo. 

  1. Composition: Free composition – beats, bassline and texture 

  1. Listening and Appraising: Unfamiliar and Popular Music

All Year 10 subjects Next Year 10 Subject - Photography

Year 11

Autumn 1

  1. Performance: Prepare ensemble performance and recording of solo performance 

  1. Composition: Exploration of set briefs and first draft of brief. 

  1. Listening and Appraising: Revision of Musical elements, Killer Queen (Aut 1), Samba Em Preludio (Aut 2) 
Spring 1

  1. Performance: Refining ensemble performance. 

  1. Composition: Refining free and draft composition. 

  1. Listening and Appraising: Pathetique (Spr 1), Star Wars (recap), Review of all other set works, exam practice (Spr 2)
Summer 1

Listening and Appraising: Review all set works and exam practice. 

All Year 11 subjects Next Year 11 Subject - Photography