Students will discover the elements of music through performance, listening and analysing. Students will perform as part of a class ensemble and develop their ability to control the elements of music to add expression to their performances
Students will explore the celebratory rhythms of African and Latin cultures. Students will develop their performance skills through participating in percussion pieces and develop their understanding of the cultures that use these rhythms.
Students will explore how leitmotifs are used in classical music, specifically Mussorgsky’s Pictures at on Exhibition. Students will then use this knowledge to create their own leitmotifs
Students will explore the use of the Garageband app by creating a remix of the song 'Rather Be' by Clean Bandit. Students will be encouraged to use functions such as Automation, Quantisation and the FX channel.
Pupils will be set a homework which reinforces learning on a regular basis. This will include:
Students will be assessed primarily through their ability to perform and compose music. There will be one formal assessment task per unit. Students will also be assessed through their ability to appraise their own and others’ work, and reflect on their learning to develop their skills further.
An encouraging atmosphere is very important in order to develop a child’s musical ability. You can extend your child’s learning by:
Students will explore the musical cultures of India, China and the USA to develop their improvisation performance skills. Students will investigate how great music can be unplanned but can have an element of risk.
Students will explore film music and then use their knowledge to interpret a film script and create their own sound track.
Students will explore the Folk music of the British Isles, particularly the use of modes. Students will then create an arrangement of a traditional folk melody.
Students will explore Minimalism in music by analysing pieces by Steve Reich, Terry Riley and then performing Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield.
Pupils will be set a homework which reinforces learning on a regular basis. This will include:
Students will be assessed primarily through their ability to perform and compose music. There will be one formal assessment task per unit. Students will also be assessed through their ability to appraise their own and others’ work, and reflect on their learning to develop their skills further.
An encouraging atmosphere is very important in order to develop a child’s musical ability. You can extend your child’s learning by:
Course title and type of qualification: Music GCSE (9 – 1)
GCSE Music is a varied course that encourages students to explore and develop their musical skills in listening, composing and performing. Lessons will cover the areas of study for the qualification, which are Musical forms and Devices, Music for ensemble, Film music, and Popular music. Students will develop listening skills to recognise key musical features and complete composition exercises to give them a range of ideas about how to create an effective piece of music. Performance is a key part of the qualification and students will be required to play as part of a group and perform as a soloist at points during the course. Involvement in extra-curricular music activities to enhance performance skills and develop musical experience is highly recommended.
Students will record two or more pieces, one of which must be performed in a group. The total duration of the performance must be between 4 and 6 minutes in length, with at least 1 minute being the group performance. Any style of performance is acceptable.
Students will compose two pieces of music, one of which is in response to a brief set by the exam board. The second composition is a free composition, so students can create their own brief and then compose in a style of their choice. The duration of the two compositions must be between 3 and 6 minutes in total.
Students will be assessed for this component with a written examination. Questions will relate to the areas of study taught throughout the course, with candidates asked to recognise and discuss musical features that they can hear in audio excerpts that will be played during the exam.
GCSE Music is really useful if you aspire to a career as a performer, producer, composer or teacher. It is also valuable for Music journalism, Musical theatre, Arts administration and to access A Levels and Higher Education courses in Music, Music Technology, Theatre Studies and/or Performing Arts. Former Abbey Grange students have gone on to study at Music Conservatoires and specialist Music & Arts Colleges, or move into careers as professional musicians, DJs, composers and actors. Universities are very interested in candidates who commit to participation in extra-curricular activities and have proved they can express themselves creatively, as well as verbally and in writing. The varied skills such as problem solving, team work, presentation, effective planning and analysis that are covered in the course will prove invaluable in all potential career paths.
