“What we play is life” – Louis Armstrong
Music is a way of life for faculty staff at Boldon School and the curriculum is designed to inspire and motivate our students to be equally excited. Music connects people and places in our ever-changing world and at Boldon School music lessons are creative, collaborative, celebratory and challenging.
The Key Stage 3 Music Curriculum will encourage students to gain a wide range of knowledge and skills in music. They will develop these skills through the shared endeavour of whole-school singing, ensemble playing, experimenting with the creative process and through the love of listening to friends and fellow pupils performing. The faculty have a modern music room and computer suite with 6 practice areas within the main classroom. There are a wide range of instruments that we ensure students have access to within the curriculum, including guitars, keyboards, ukuleles, drums, violins and various percussion instruments.
The Key Stage 4 curriculum will allow students to develop their own style of music and develop their practice on a particular chosen instrument. We have external music teachers for drums and guitar available to support the students in becoming proficient, and encourage extensive practice in and out of school. Students are supported to become confident musicians for themselves or a wider audience. Performing plays an important part of the curriculum and students have the opportunity to be part of the annual Boldon’s Got Talent Show, the main school show and various other whole school performances throughout the year.
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Term 1 | Singing – Show Tunes Singing skills through the medium of Musical Theatre | Singing – Pop Music— Further development of vocal skills, including part singing through the medium of Popular Music. | Introduction to ‘Music Skills Development’. Development of their chosen instrument through following 2 whole class band projects by ‘Musical Futures’. | Understanding different types of organisations that make up the music industry | Plan, develop, promote and deliver a music product. |
| Half Term 2 | Introduction to the Keyboard Musical theory and practical keyboard skills. | Keyboard Pop Further development of Keyboard skills through the medium of Pop Music. | Music Sequencing and Processing software. | Understanding different types of roles that make up the music industry | Promote a music product |
| Half Term 3 | Gamelan Music An exploration of the Classical ritual music of Java and Bali. | Samba A performance unit developing rhythmic skills and performance of this South American Lively Dance Music style. | Students will compose and perform using three 20th Century Pop styles (Reggae, Binary and Ternary Forms) | Plan for a live music event, demonstrate an understanding of health and safety and set up and use live music systems. | Deliver a music product |
| Half Term 4 | Introduction to The Ukulele A performance unit developing performance and music notation reading skills. | Ukulele Blues An exploration of the music and songs of the deep south of the USA. | Students will compose and perform using three different 20th Century Pop styles (Rock, Folk and Indie). | Plan for a live music event, demonstrate an understanding of health and safety and set up and use live music systems | Develop music performance skills |
| Half Term 5 | Instruments of the Orchestra / Western Art Music A Listening and historical appreciation Art Music through the Ages. | Minimalism A composition and performance project using this popular 20th Century compositional device. | Students will develop a film music composition using 20th Century Minimalist techniques. | Plan for a live music event, demonstrate an understanding of how to set up live music systems. | Review practice to improve quality of performance |
| Half Term 6 | Film Music Composition Projects centred around the creation of soundtracks and programme music from visual stimuli. | Rap/Hip-Hop Workshops centred around the five principles of Hip-Hop: Rap, MC, DJing, Beatboxing and Graffiti | Students will prepare a performance for a themed corporate function. | Complete outstanding work for current unit | Show improvement in rehearsal and performance skills |
Year 7
Half Term 1
Singing – Show Tunes
Singing skills through the medium of Musical Theatre
Half Term 2
Introduction to the Keyboard
Musical theory and practical keyboard skills.
Half Term 3
Gamelan Music
An exploration of the Classical ritual music of Java and Bali.
Half Term 4
Introduction to The Ukulele
A performance unit developing performance and music notation reading skills.
Half Term 5
Instruments of the Orchestra / Western Art Music
A Listening and historical appreciation Art Music through the Ages.
Half Term 6
Film Music
Composition Projects centred around the creation of soundtracks and programme music from visual stimuli.
Year 8
Half Term 1
Singing – Pop Music—
Further development of vocal skills, including part singing through the medium of Popular Music.
Half Term 2
Keyboard Pop
Further development of Keyboard skills through the medium of Pop Music.
Half Term 3
Samba
A performance unit developing rhythmic skills and performance of this South American Lively Dance Music style.
Half Term 4
Ukulele Blues
An exploration of the music and songs of the deep south of the USA.
Half Term 5
Minimalism
A composition and performance project using this popular 20th Century compositional device.
Half Term 6
Rap/Hip-Hop
Workshops centred around the five principles of Hip-Hop: Rap, MC, DJing, Beatboxing and Graffiti
Year 9
Half Term 1
Introduction to ‘Music Skills Development’. Development of their chosen instrument through following 2 whole class band projects by ‘Musical Futures’.
Half Term 2
Music Sequencing and Processing software.
Half Term 3
Students will compose and perform using three 20th Century Pop styles (Reggae, Binary and Ternary Forms)
Half Term 4
Students will compose and perform using three different 20th Century Pop styles (Rock, Folk and Indie).
Half Term 5
Students will develop a film music composition using 20th Century Minimalist techniques.
Half Term 6
Students will prepare a performance for a themed corporate function.
Year 10
Half Term 1
Understanding different types of organisations that make up the music industry
Half Term 2
Understanding different types of roles that make up the music industry
Half Term 3
Plan for a live music event, demonstrate an understanding of health and safety and set up and use live music systems.
Half Term 4
Plan for a live music event, demonstrate an understanding of health and safety and set up and use live music systems
Half Term 5
Plan for a live music event, demonstrate an understanding of how to set up live music systems.
Half Term 6
Complete outstanding work for current unit
Year 11
Half Term 1
Plan, develop, promote and deliver a music product.
Half Term 2
Promote a music product
Half Term 3
Deliver a music product
Half Term 4
Develop music performance skills
Half Term 5
Review practice to improve quality of performance
Half Term 6
Show improvement in rehearsal and performance skills