Key Stage 3

Key Stage 3 Music prepares students to work independently on skills development while allowing them to learn to collaborate in music making as an ensemble. It provides a broad experience base to build on should students choose to continue their studies into music GCSE, but for those who do not it equips them with a skills base to continue their enjoyment of music and support their own wellbeing.

Course information:

Year 7:

Students begin Year 7 by looking at the interrelated elements of music; tonality, pitch,  dynamics, harmony, rhythm, tempo, form and texture; and developing their singing skills through whole class singing moving towards maintaining their own parts in harmonies. They then delve further into the element of rhythm through practical work on drumming. This includes basic drum kit patterns and learning to play as a samba band. Students study melody writing using different pitches and tonalities and are introduced to playing a keyboard instrument. This unit introduces keyboard technique alongside the application of the skills learnt in previous units. At the end of the year, students investigate hooks and riffs and decide what makes a good riff. The experiment with writing and playing their own hooks and riffs.

Year 8:

Students begin Year 8 by gaining a deeper understanding of tonality and structure through investigating a variety of genres and writing their own examples. They then spend a significant amount of time developing their ensemble skills, rehearsing and performing with other people. They have the opportunity to bring their own specialist instrument skills to bear on a creative project, culminating in a student led performance. At the end of the year, students will undertake a Music Technology project using Soundtrap to compose their own original music.

Year 9:

In Year 9, the focus narrows in preparation for GCSE Music. Students investigate song writing and what makes a good song and in doing so, create their own original song in their chosen style. They also look at Film Music and how composers must write to reflect the mood of the film. They create their own film composition to a set extract from a film.

Students finish the year working on a terminal task that brings all of their musical skills together, either rounding of their statutory musical education or preparing them to take their studies further.

Homework:

Homework is not regularly set for Music. When it is, it takes the form of research or independent practise.

Assessment:

Lessons include knowledge retrieval questions to assess prior learning. During practical sessions, teachers circulate, identifying where guidance and support is needed and delivering rapid intervention. End of unit practical assessments are carried out with students understanding success criteria. Students will sit a short mid-year test in January and an end-of-year test in the summer term.

Contact:

For further information/clarification about KS3 Music please contact gillian.dunphy@nuneatonacademy.org.uk