At St Mary’s, it is paramount that all our pupils are engaged and motivated by the subject. It is believed in the department that pupils should enjoy participating in practical music activities, allowing their own light to shine. As well as this each individual’s creativeness should be fully stretched and challenged, through a range of topics and units. Pupils will be supported to achieve high levels of progress in their learning as young musicians in a safe, caring and enthusiastic environment.
Staffing
Mrs Watson – Curriculum Leader for Music
All pupils study Music until the end of Year 8 for 1 period per week.
In year 9 it is part of a group of options.
In Year 9 all pupils have the opportunity to opt to study AQA Music GCSE in KS4.
The following topics are studied at KS3.
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Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
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Year 7 |
Elements of Music; Rhythm and Pulse |
Form and structure; instruments of the orchestra |
Scales; Voiceworks |
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Year 8 |
African music; film music |
Chinese music; music and art |
Gamelon music; Indian music |
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Year 9 |
Musicals; popular song |
Rock ‘n Roll; Reggae |
Jazz improvisation; Samba |
The following units are studied at KS4.
Pupils have 2 lessons per week in year 10 and 3 lessons per week in year 11.
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Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
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Year 10 |
Beatles and music theory; Unfamiliar music 1990s + and performance skills |
Composition and listening skills; Unfamiliar music Blues and Jazz |
Unfamiliar music classical Performance skills – solo and ensemble; Composition and performance skills |
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Year 11 |
Beatles set work and performance skills; Haydn set work and unfamiliar music – traditional music |
Controlled assessment – composition and unfamiliar music 1-4; Controlled assessment – composition and recap Haydn set work |
Revision and listening skills; exams |
Extra-curricular activities and visits
As a department there is an array of extracurricular activities on offer. There are many ways to get involved in music making outside of lessons at St Mary’s.
St Mary’s Singers - Choir
Enjoying singing? Join our choir, open to anyone from all year groups.
Every Monday after school – 3.15-4.15pm
Every Wednesday lunchtime – 1.30pm
Watch our Choir performing at the 2017 Schools' Gotta Sing Competition here:
Keyboard Club
Come and learn to play the keyboard, or to extend your piano playing skills!
Every Monday & Tuesday lunchtime – 1:30pm
Theory Club
Refresh your knowledge of music theory and revise reading and writing music. Great for GCSE prep or if you’re considering Music GCSE.
Every Thursday lunchtime – 1:30pm
Performance opportunities
Each year we have numerous concerts and a bi-annual production combined with the Dance and Drama Department, which feature the choir as well as smaller ensembles and soloists. Standards are always exceptionally high and are another indication of the wealth of talent we have. Under the new leadership of Mr. McMahon in September 2015 the department has expanded and seen the new initiative of ‘Choir Person of the Year’ awards, both picked by the members of the respective ensemble and awarded at the summer concert, where we also say farewell and thank you to our year 11’s. As well as the main concerts there are also other opportunities to perform throughout the year whether it be externally or at school events such as awards evening and the numerous masses held in school and at our associated church, St Mary’s. We also have a worship group who perform and lead singing in year group worship on a regular basis. Pupils can also perform in a more informal setting during our performances in the reception area around Christmas and the end of term at lunchtime.
