Year 7

Protest Music – The Musical Elements

1. Develop an awareness and appreciation of music used as a form of protest in history.
2. Understand the key musical elements using MAD TSHIRTT to describe them.
3. Compose and perform their own protest song using different musical elements.

Keyboard Skill

1. Understand how to play simple chords and melodic lines.
2. Perform as a solo and in small ensembles, co-operating and being creative.

3. Understanding of different rhythms, repetition of rhythmic patterns, recognition of notated rhythms.

Singing and Performance

1. Develop an understanding about singing in different styles, genres, and contexts.
2. Perform 3 different songs in a mixture of unison and harmony.
3. Understand about different voice types and be able to identify these using listening skills.
4. Enhance their understanding of melody.

Rap

1. Understand the origins and context in which rap began as an art form and how it has developed over time.
2. Write and perform their own raps in small groups using different literary techniques such as similes, metaphors, syntax, imagery etc.
3. Develop their understanding of beat and rhythm.

Pop Music – Ukulele

1. Learn how to play four chords on the ukulele, understanding the I-V-vi-IV harmony.
2. Develop right and left-hand coordination and techniques including strumming, finger picking, and use of plectrum.
3. Performing in small ensembles and a class group, developing co-operative ability, and understanding of group dynamics.

Instruments of the Orchestra

1. Identify key instruments from the 4 orchestral families and be able to identify these using listening skills.
2. Develop their reading of basic notation including pitch and rhythm and perform a variety of classical pieces on the keyboard.
3. Explore a variety of composers throughout history with a focus on composers and performers who are female and / or people of colour.

Year 8

Blues Music

1. Understand the context and significance of blues music.
2. Identify how different musical elements are commonly used in blues music.
3. Demonstrate their understanding of these common features and develop their composition skills by composing their own blues song using Logic Pro X

 Descriptive Music

1. Understand what is meant by descriptive music and the intended impact of it.
2. Explore and develop their own version of the Dies Irae motif to compose their own piece of descriptive music suitable for a haunted house scene.

3. Develop their composition to use other musical elements to enhance the intended mood of their haunted house compositions.

 Singing and Performance

1. Develop an understanding about singing in different styles, genres and contexts.
2. Perform 3 different songs in a mixture of unison and harmony.
3. Understand about different voice types and be able to identify these using listening skills.
4. Enhance their understanding of melody.

 Minimalism

1. Understand the history and context of minimalist music and explore different examples of it.
2. Identify how different musical elements are commonly used in minimalism.
3. Perform a well-known piece of minimalist music and use this as inspiration to create their own piece of minimalist music.

 Film Music

1. Understand the impact of music in film.
2. Explore a famous example of film music and identify how suspense and tension is built using different musical features.
3. Compose their own piece of film music for a chosen film scene, using the techniques and devices explored throughout the topic.

 Reggae

1. Explore the history and context of reggae music.
2. Identify common musical features used in reggae music by exploring famous examples of it.

Year 9

Jazz

1. Develop an understanding of what jazz is and explore different styles of jazz through time.
2. Explore how different musical elements are used to create the distinct jazz style.
3. Perform these different elements and work towards a final jazz performance.

 Song Writing

1. Develop an understanding of the different layers of music needed to create a song.
2. Explore how musical elements are used to create these different layers.
3. Use this knowledge to compose their own songs on Logic Pro X software.

 Drumming Around the World

1. Explore different types of drumming in different cultures and contexts around the world.
2. Develop drumming techniques and learn rhythms used in different styles and contexts.
3. Work in groups and use their knowledge of different drumming styles to create their own drumming performance.

 Game Music

1. Understand to purpose, impact, and significance of music in games and explore how it has evolved throughout gaming history.
2. Explore how different musical elements are used to create atmosphere in games as well as used for different sound effects.
3. Compose their own piece of gaming music for a game sequence, including sound effects, using Logic Pro X

Band Project

1. Develop their ensemble performance skills by playing different layers of a song as part of a group.
2. Use a range of instruments to learn different parts of a popular song.
3. Explore different layers and textures in a song to identify how they work together to produce a whole piece.

Hip Hop Music Production

1. Understand how music needs to be produced, as well as composed and recorded.
2. Look at jobs within the music industry that work together to produce a song / album and make it successful.
3. Explore the history of hip hop music.
4. Record and produce a popular hip hop song using Logic Pro X.

In order to do well students must:

Who is this course for?
This course is designed for students who have an interest in making music through technology and wish to develop their skills further.
The course has an emphasis on practical work and will allow you to cultivate a wide range of skills, including sequencing MIDI and audio, recording live instruments,
producing and composing using music technology.
Music Technology can lead to studying engineering or audio engineering at university but has a huge benefit to any university application as it shows creativity, attention to detail, the ability to work to a deadline, teamwork, and analytical skills.

How will I be assessed and what will I be studying?
Component 1: Recording (20%)
Students will learn how to use production tools and techniques to capture, edit, process and mix an audio recording.

• One recording, chosen from a list of 10 songs provided by Pearson, consisting of a minimum of five compulsory instruments and two additional instruments.
• Keyboard tracks may be sequenced
• Total time must be between 3 minutes and 3½ minutes.
• Logbook and authentication form must be supplied

Component 2: Technology-based composition (20%)
Students will create, edit, manipulate and structure sounds to produce a technology-based composition.

• One technology-based composition chosen from three briefs set by Pearson
• Synthesis and sampling/audio manipulation and creative effects use must be included
• Total time must be 3 minutes
• Logbook and authentication form must be supplied.

Component 3: Listening and analysing (25%)
This is a written exam that tests students’ knowledge and understanding of recording and production techniques through the listening of unfamiliar commercial recording.
The paper lasts 1 hour 30 mins.

Component 4: Producing and analysing (35%)
This component is a written/practical exam that tests students’ knowledge and understanding of editing, mixing and production techniques, to be applied to unfamiliar materials.
Each student will be provided with a set of audio/MIDI materials for the practical element of the exam.
The exam lasts 2 hours 15 minutes.