Music

Key Contacts:
Val Mizen (Head of Department)  val.mizen@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk
Adam McDonald (Music Teacher) adam.mcdonald@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

We believe that Music is a universal language that is a vital part of providing a broad and rounded education – a belief firmly rooted in our collective ethos of providing students with opportunities to experience life in all its fullness (John 10:10).

The Music Curriculum at the Gryphon School has been specifically designed and differentiated to provide every student with regular meaningful learning opportunities across the key stage to incrementally develop their musical knowledge, understanding, practical and music technology skills through the inter-related disciplines of playing, singing, composing and listening & appraising music so that they may become increasingly ‘musical’, confident, fluent, able to maintain an independent part, and resilient over time.  Additionally, the Music Curriculum introduces students to different musical notations and covers a broad range of musical styles, genres and world music traditions to help broaden and deepen students’ cultural awareness, musical experiences and interests within a range of carefully selected topics and related class, group and paired tasks.

KS3 Course Overview

Year 7

Students tend to come to us having had widely varying prior musical experiences, so following an initial Baseline Test to gauge students starting point of general musical knowledge & understanding, we focus on the ‘Building Bricks of Music’, introduce students to using music technology, which we integrate into most aspects of the music curriculum, and develop students’ initial keyboard-playing technique whilst at the same time encouraging students to play on their own instruments where relevant.

• Autumn Term 1:  The ‘Building Bricks of Music’:  The ‘Dimensions of Music’, The Instruments of the Orchestra, Creating Mood & Atmosphere in Music
• Autumn Term 2:  The ‘Musical Devices’ & Atmospheric Soundtrack Composition
• Spring Term 1:  Samba Music from Brazil, Main Groove Performance, Rhythm Grid Notation, Composing a Rhythm, Samba Listening & Appraising Exercise
• Spring Term 2:  Rapping & Stave Notation of Rhythm, Hogwart’s Ostinato Performance, Ostinato Listening & Appraising Exercise
• Summer Term 1:  Graphic Score Notation & Interpret the Graphic Score Performance.  Rock Music Riffs Performance & Treble Clef Stave Notation
• Summer Term 2:  The ‘Classical’ Music Period & the Composer Joseph Haydn.  Haydn’s ‘Surprise Symphony’ (2nd Movement) Performance & Revise Stave Notation of Pitch & Rhythm

Year 8

Students continue to build on the musical knowledge, understanding and practical performance, composition, music technology, and listening and appraising skills acquired in year 7, developing their confidence, accuracy, fluency and ability to maintain an independent part to a higher level.

• Autumn Term 1:  Film, TV & Gaming Music, Character Leitmotif Composition, TV Theme Tunes Listening & Appraising Exercise
• Autumn Term 2:  Film Music Soundtrack Composition, Revise Stave Notation , ‘Titanic’ Theme Tune Performance
• Spring Term 1:  North Indian Classical Music, Hindu Story of Rama & Sita, Raga & Improvisation, Structured Improvised Performance with Drone.  Tala Rhythm Cycle Composition & Performance, Rhythm Sequencing using Music Technology
• Spring Term 2:  Stylistic Fusions & Bhangra-style Composition using Samples & Loops, Melodic Hooks, Bhangra Listening & Appraising
• Summer Term 1:  Folk Music,  the Major Pentatonic Scale, Revise Treble Clef Stave Notation, ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’ Performance
• Summer Term 2:  Calypso music from Trinidad & Tobago, Context of the Slave Trade, Syncopated Rhythms.  End of Year 8 PPE Exam.  Syncopated Rhythm Composition & Performance, Calypso-style Pentatonic Radio ‘Jingle’ Composition

Year 9

Students continue to build on the musical knowledge, understanding and practical performance, composition, music technology, and  listening and appraising skills previously developed in years 7 and 8 through tasks which focus more on the development of music technology skills whilst offering further opportunities for students to play on their own instruments. Selected practical tasks not only continue to keep students engaged post-GCSE options selection, but continue to prepare those who do choose to take GCSE Music with the knowledge, understanding and skills required for further music-related studies.

• Autumn Term 1:  Ragtime Music – the origins of ‘Popular Music’ & American Blues – the Foundation of Popular Music, Context of the Slave Trade.  Primary / Major Triads, 12 bar Blues Chord Pattern & Walking Bass Line Performance
• Autumn Term 2:  The Minor Pentatonic ‘Blues’ Scale, ‘Mama Don’t Allow’ Performance & Blues ‘Calls’  Composition.  Revise Improvisation, Improvised ‘Responses’ Performance.  Blues-related Pop Music Styles (Jazz, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Rock, Pop, Soul, Funk & Hip-Hop)
• Spring Term 1:  Reggae from Jamaica, Context of the Slave Trade, Bass Riff & Skank Rhythm, Secondary / Minor Triads,  ‘Walking on the Moon’  by The Police Performance
• Spring Term 2:  Reggae-style Chord pattern & Bass Riff Composition & Performance
• Summer Term 1:  Pop Songs, Verse & Chorus Structure, Hooks & Hooklines, ‘ Shotgun’ by George Ezra Performance.  End of Year 9 PPE Exam
• Summer Term 2:  The 1960’s Pop and The Beatles, The 1967 Sergeant Pepper Album & invention of Sampling & Overdubbing Music Technology Techniques.  The evolution of the ‘Modern’ Popular Music: Electronic music, Synthesizers, Sampling & Found Sounds, Looping, Rapping, Beatboxing, DJ-ing & Turntablism, culminating in Music Technology Collage Composition & Presentation

Homework

• At Key Stage 3 students will be set a minimum of one piece of music homework per half-term.
• Homework tasks will include: Formative Consolidation or Revision Listening Exercises or Research Tasks in preparation for Summative Listening Exercises.
• All homework tasks will need to be completed on Microsoft Quiz.
• Each task consists of Differentiated core tasks to enable everyone to access & complete the work but those who have time or who would like to can also choose to complete the optional additional Extension task.
• Students will have two weeks to complete each music homework task
• All homework tasks will be set via Teams.

Assessment

• At Key Stage 3 Music, students are awarded one Summative level at the end of each term (Autumn, Spring, Summer)
• Levels will range from Emerging & Developing to Securing & Mastering
• These end of term levels are a cumulative average based on that term’s completed assessments related to the three musical disciplines of: Performing, Composing and Listening & Appraising.
• The expected minimum level of attainment in music by the end of year 7 is Emerging
• The expected minimum level of attainment in music by the end of years 8 & 9 is Developing.
• Students are expected to have achieved at least their benchmark target level by the end of Key Stage 3
• As per Homework tasks, each practical task is fully Differentiated to enable everyone to access & complete the work set with the inclusion of additional Extension tasks.

Year 7 Assessment:

• Initial Baseline Test = Stand alone level for initial Listening & Appraising Exercise
• Mark 1 Assessment = Atmospheric Soundtrack Composition & Dimensions of Music Listening / Appraising Exercise
• Mark 2 Assessment = Samba & Ostinato Performances & Samba Music Listening / Appraising Exercise
• Mark 3 Assessment = Rock Riffs & Classical Music Performances & Ostinato Listening / Appraising Exercise

Year 8 Assessment:

• Mark 1 Assessment = Film Soundtrack Composition & TV Theme Tunes Listening / Appraising Exercise
• Mark 2 Assessment = Indian Classical Music Structured Improvised Performance & Bhangra Fusions Listening / Appraising Exercise
• Mark 3 Assessment = Folk Music Performance, Calypso Jingle Composition & End of Year 8 PPE Listening / Appraising Exam

Year 9 Assessment:

• Mark 1 Assessment = 12 bar Blues Composition & Performance & Blues Listening / Appraising Exercise
• Mark 2 Assessment = Reggae Composition & Performance & Reggae Listening / Appraising Exercise
• Mark 3 Assessment = Pop Song Chorus Performance & End of Year PPE Listening / Appraising Exam

Useful information & resources links

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zmsvr82
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/articles/z4r78xs

KS4 Course Overview

Syllabus Information:  Examination Board = EDUQAS (WJEC)

GCSE Music studies build on the musical skills, knowledge and understanding already introduced at Key Stage 3.  Music GCSE course contains 3 Components:

• Coursework Performing (30%) (a Solo Performance & an Ensemble Performance)
• Coursework Composition (30%) (a Free Choice Composition & an Exam Board Set Brief Composition)
• Final Appraising Music Examination (40%)

In preparation for the Appraising Examination, there are:

• 2 ‘Set Works’ studied: JS Bach’s ‘Badinerie’ & Toto’s ‘Africa’
• 4 ‘Areas of Study’: Popular Music, Film Music, Music for Ensemble, Forms & Devices

Year 10:

Students build on the musical knowledge and understanding of the Dimensions and Devices of Music of Music and of the practical performance, composition, music technology, and listening and appraising skills previously introduced and developed at Key Stage 3 through a careful and in-depth study of the musical features and stylistic conventions of the four prescribed Areas of Study and two specific Set Works that incrementally develop students’ score-reading, music theory and analysis abilities as well as providing students with opportunities for greater creative freedom within the practical initial composition and performance coursework.

Autumn Term 1:

• VJM: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Tonality & Harmony: Keys, Chords, Cadences & Modulations
• AMM 1: Area of Study 4: Popular Music Set Work 2: ‘Africa’ by Toto

Autumn Term 2:

• VJM 1:  Area of Study 2: Music for Ensemble:  Blues & Jazz & Blues-related Styles (Rhythm ‘n’ Blues / Rock ‘n’ Roll / Soul / Funk / R ‘n’ B).
• VJM 2:  Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Melody, Motifs & Melodic Development
• AMM:  Area of Study 2: Music for Ensemble:  Sonorities, Ensembles, Dynamics & Articulation
• Coursework: Free Brief Composition (both)

Spring Term 1:

• VJM 1: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Set Work 1: ‘Badinerie’ by JS Bach & Key Stylistic Conventions of the Baroque Period
• VJM 2: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Aural Dictation & Stave Notation of Rhythm & Melody
• AMM 1: Area of Study 3: Film Music Key Stylistic Conventions & related Genres
• AMM 2: Area of Study 4: Popular Music: Stylistic Fusions & Bhangra Key Stylistic Conventions
• Coursework: Free Brief Composition (both)

Spring Term 2:

• VJM 1: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Aural Dictation & Stave Notation of Rhythm & Melody
• VJM 2: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Texture
• AMM: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Rhythm, Metre & Tempo
• Pre-PPE Set Works & Areas of Study Revision Exercises (both)
• Coursework: Free Brief Composition (both)

Summer Term 1:

• Year 10 PPE Mock Appraising Music Exam Paper
• VJM 1: Area of Study 2: Music for Ensemble: The Classical & Romantic Periods & Key Stylistic Conventions
• VJM 2: Free Composition Draft Evaluation Log
• AMM: Area of Study 2: Music for Ensemble: Musical Theatre Key Stylistic Conventions
• Coursework: Free Brief Composition (both)

Summer Term 2:

• VJM 1:  Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Structure & Form
• VJM 2: Free Composition Scores & Final Evaluation Log
• AMM 1: Coursework: Mock Solo Performance Exams & Ensemble Performance Preparation
• AMM 2: Free Composition Audio Automation
• Coursework: Free Brief Composition (both)

Year 11:

Students revise and consolidate the musical knowledge and understanding of the musical features and stylistic conventions of the prescribed Areas of Study and Set Works initially studied in year 10, they continue to develop the music technology, score-reading, music theory and music analysis skills already explored in year 10 as well as further developing, refining then completing the prescribed practical composition and performance coursework components, all of which helps prepare those who opt to take A level Music with the knowledge, understanding and skills required for further music-related studies.

Autumn Term 1:

• VJM 1: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Set Work 1: Revise ‘Badinerie’ by JS Bach & Baroque Period Key Stylistic Conventions
• VJM 2: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Revise The Classical & Romantic Periods Key Stylistic Conventions
• VJM 3: Area of Study 2: Music for Ensemble: Revise Jazz Key Stylistic Conventions
• VJM 4: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Revise Keys, Chords, Cadences, Textures & Melodic Devices
• AMM 1: Area of Study 4: Popular Music: Revise Set Work 2: ‘Africa’ by Toto & Key Stylistic Conventions
• AMM 2: Coursework: Solo Performance Exams
• AMM 3: Area of Study 3: Film Music revise Key Stylistic Conventions & Techniques
• Pre-PPE 1 Set Works & Areas of Study Revision Exercises (both)
• Coursework: Set Brief Composition (both)

Autumn Term 2:

• Year 11 PPE1 Mock Appraising Music Exam Paper
• VJM 1: Revise Aural Dictation Notation of Rhythm & Melody
• VJM 2: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Revise Melody & Texture
• VJM 3: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Structure & Form
• AMM 1: Area of Study 4: Popular Music: Rock and Pop music revise Key Stylistic Conventions
• AMM 2: Coursework: Ensemble Performance Exams
• Coursework: Set Brief Composition (both)

Spring Term 1:

• VJM 1: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Set Work 1: ‘Badinerie’ by JS Bach Revision & Consolidation
• VJM 2: Area of Study 2: Music for Ensemble:  Baroque, Classical & Romantic Periods Revision & Consolidation
• VJM 3: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Revise Keys, Chords, Cadences, Textures & Melodic Devices
• AMM 1: Area of Study 3: Film Music: Revision & Consolidation
• AMM 2: Area of Study 4: Popular Music: Revision & Consolidation
• AMM 3: Area of Study 1: Rhythm & Metre, Tempo, Dynamics & Sonorities Revision & Consolidation
• AMM 3: Technical Solos Performance Exams
• pre-PPE 1 Set Works & Areas of Study Revision Exercises (both)
• Coursework: Set Brief Composition (both)

Spring Term 2:

• Year 11 PPE2 Mock Appraising Music Exam Paper
• VJM: Coursework Composition: Set Brief Draft Evaluation Logs
• AMM 1: Coursework Performances: complete any remaining Exam Re-Dos
• AMM 2: Coursework Composition:  Set Brief Audio Automation & Scores
• Coursework: Set Brief Composition (both)

Summer Term 1:

• VJM 1: Coursework Composition: Final Evaluation Logs & Scores, Final Scores to PDF format
• VJM 2: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Revision of Set Work 1 ‘Badinerie’ + General Concepts & Devices
• VJM 3: Area of Study 2: Music for Ensemble: Revision of Concepts & Devices
• AMM 1: Coursework Compositions: Final Audio Automation & Final Mixdowns to mp3 Format
• AMM 2: Area of Study 3: Film Music: Revision of Concepts & Devices
• AMM 3: Area of Study 4: Popular Music: Revision of Set Work 2 ‘Africa’ + General Concepts & Devices

KS4 Homework

• At Key Stage 4 students will be set a minimum of one piece of music homework per 2-week cycle by either Mr Mizen or Mr McDonald
• Homework tasks will include: Formative Listening Exercises on Microsoft Quiz, Consolidation and Revision Listening or Research Tasks in preparation for, Summative Listening Exercises.
• Each task consists of Differentiated core tasks to enable everyone to access & complete the work but those who have time or who would like to can also choose to complete the optional additional Extension task.
• Students will have one week to complete each music homework task
• In Year 11, students will each be given a Music homework booklet each term. These booklets will each contain respectively, the three pre-PPE1 and three pre-PPE2 homework tasks for students to complete independently each week for either Mr Mizen or Mr McDonald. Students will also require the related mp3 tracks accessible via Teams.
• All homework tasks will be set via Teams.

KS4 Assessment

• At Key Stage 4 Music, students are awarded one Summative level at the end of each half-term
• Year 10 Music students will assessed on ‘Mark 12’ with two levelled assessments in each half-term for work completed (i.e. four per term)
• Year 11 students will be assessed on ‘Mark 10’ with five levelled assessments in each of the Autumn & Spring Terms
• Levels will range from 9 to 1 and are based on students’ current, cumulative & projected attainment within completed course-related practical coursework or practice preparation exercises to date related to the three musical disciplines of:  coursework Performing, coursework Composing & Areas of Study-related Listening & Appraising Exercises.
• The expected minimum average attainment in Music GCSE by the end of year 11 is a level 3.
• Students are expected to achieve at least their benchmark target by the end of the two-year course.

Year 10 Assessment Overview:

Autumn Term:

• Mark 1 Assessment = VJM – Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Tonality & Harmony: Keys, Chords, Cadences & Modulations
• Mark 2 Assessment = AMM – Area of Study 4: Popular Music  – Set Work 2: ‘Africa’ by Toto
• Mark 3 Assessment = VJM –  Area of Study 2: Music for Ensemble – Blues & Jazz
• Mark 4 Assessment = AMM – Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices – Sonority, Dynamics & Articulation

Spring Term:

• Mark 5 Assessment = VJM – Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices: Set Work 1: ‘Badinerie’ by JS Bach
• Mark 6 Assessment = AMM – Area of Study 4: Rock & Pop Music
• Mark 7 Assessment = AMM – Area of Study 3: Film Music
• Mark 8 Assessment = VJM – Area of Study 2: Music for Ensemble – Classical and Romantic Music

Summer Term:

• Mark 9 Assessment = VJM – Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices  – Aural Dictation & Stave Notation of Pitch & Rhythm
• Mark 10 Assessment VJM & AMM = Year 10 PPE Appraisal Paper Exam Result
• Mark 11 Assessment = Mock Coursework Solo Performance internal Assessment
• Mark 12 Assessment = Initial Internal Assessment of ‘Free’ Coursework Composition

Year 11 Assessment Overview:

Autumn Term:

• Mark 1 Assessment = VJM pre-PPE1 Task 1: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices – Set Work 1: ‘Badinerie’ by JS Bach
• Mark 2 Assessment = AMM pre-PPE 1 Task 2: Set Work 2: ‘Africa’ by Toto
• Mark 3 Assessment = VJM pre-PPE1 Task 3: Area of Study 2: Music for Ensemble – Jazz, Classical & Romantic Music
• Mark 4 Assessment = VJM & AMM PPE1 Appraisal Paper Exam Result

Spring Term:

• Mark 5 Assessment = VJM pre-PPE 2 Task 1: Area of Study 1: Forms & Devices – Set Work 1: ‘Badinerie’ by JS Bach
• Mark 6 Assessment = AMM pre-PPE 2 Task 2: Area of Study 3: Film Music
• Mark 7 Assessment = AMM pre-PPE 2 Task 3: Area of Study 4: Popular Music – Set Work 2: ‘Africa’ by Toto
• Mark 8 Assessment = VJM & AMM PPE 2 Appraisal Paper Exam Result

Summer Term:

• Mark 9 Assessment    = Internally Moderated Combined Coursework Performances Result
• Mark 10 Assessment = Internally Moderated Combined Coursework Compositions Result

Useful information & resources links

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zbmct39
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zkty4wx
• https://resources.eduqas.co.uk/Pages/ResourceByArgs.aspx?subId=21&lvlId=2
• https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/music-gcse/#tab_keydocuments
• https://www.chamberlainmusic.com/products/rhg438?variant=40281508085865
• https://www.illuminatepublishing.com/product/wjec-eduqas-gcse-music-revision-guide-revised-edition-boost-ebook

Music Key Stage 4 Curriculum OverviewDownload

Music Key Stage 4 OverviewDownload

GCSE Music Appraisal Paper OverviewDownload

GCSE Music assessment datesDownload