Curriculum

Music

Curriculum Intent

Our motto for Music is “Music for All” as music should be accessible for all students, regardless of their background.  We want our musicians at Cirencester Kingshill to be able to express themselves musically.  They will be able to play a variety of instruments from a different musical family, they will be able to use Music Technology to access music making and arranging.  They will also be able to listen to and comment on music using appropriate musical language.

How knowledge and skills build through Key Stage 3

Our curriculum is skills based. Enabling students to access a wide variety of instruments so they can find a method of expressing themselves musically that suits them.  The sequencing builds up as the years go on.  This allows students to build up on the skills that they have previously learnt but apply it differently to further help them to embed the knowledge and to allow them to express themselves.  This also allows them to have a greater understanding of a wide variety of instruments and technology, should they choose to take Music or Music Technology at Key Stage 4.

How it builds on the Key Stage 2 primary curriculum

Keys Stage 2 varies depending on which Primary School students have come from so in music we use opportunities to check students previous learning at the starts of units of work.  This allows those who have experience with certain topics to be “class experts” and encourages leadership skills.

Link to Key Stage 4 GCSE/Technical Award curriculum
  1. GCSE Music | Eduqas
  2. NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Music Technology | NCFE
Beyond Kingshill – Post 16 and careers

GCSE Music and Music Technology both offer different routes in to the music industry and therefore the relevant courses. 

Students taking the Vocational Music Technology route would find themselves looking towards a BTEC or T Level in Music technology with possible links to apprenticeships.

Students taking GCSE Music will find themselves looking more towards A level music, or BTEC Music with a possible specialism in Performance or Composition.

Useful links/resources
What topics will my child study? 
  • Percussion – Stomp and African Drumming
  • Keyboard – How to play songs on Keyboards using guides.
  • Music Technology – How to use Bandlab to create your own music.
  • Ukuleles – Reading Tab and Chord Diagrams
  • Guitars – Building on Ukulele knowledge and learning to play songs.
What knowledge will they have and what will they be able to do by the end of the year?
  • Performance – Students will be able to play a variety of instruments either solo or in groups.
  • Composition – Students will understand how music is structured across a variety of genres.  They will be able to use music technology to make this more accessible.
  • Analyses – Students will learn about different cultures of music and understand the context behind them.  Students will learn about different musical vocabulary to help them describe and discuss music verbally and written.
How will they be assessed in Music?
  • Performances will either be performed or recorded and then reflected on, either by the performers, in small groups or as a class.
  • Compositions will be played out anonymously and then discussed as a class.
As a parent, how can I help my child in this subject?
  • If they play or want to play an instrument, they need to practice. Little and often is always the best - 20 minutes every day/every other day.
  • Encourage them to use Bandlab at home, it comes as an app on phones and as a browser application.
  • Encourage them to listen to a wide variety of music.
What other opportunities do they have outside of the classroom?
  • Choir
  • Concert Band
  • Musical Production
  • Music Tech Club
  • Lunch Time Concert
  • Christmas Concert
  • Kingshill’s Got Talent - Talent Show
What topics will my child study?
  • Lyrics – Creating Rap lyrics as well as a backing beat to rap them to.
  • Song Writing – Creating whole songs using instruments and technology
  • Keyboard Skills – Learning to read sheet music to play songs.
  • Music Technology – Creating whole songs using Bandlab
  • Kingshill School Song Competition – Students will have 4 weeks to create a piece of music competing with the rest of the Year group.  Fabulous prizes to be won!
What knowledge will they have and what will they be able to do by the end of the year?
  • Performance – Students will be able to play a variety of instruments either solo or in groups.
  • Composition – Students will understand how music is structured across a variety of genres.  They will be able to use music technology to make this more accessible.
  • Analyses – Students will learn about different cultures of music and understand the context behind them.  Students will learn about different musical vocabulary to help them describe and discuss music verbally and written.
How will they be assessed in Music?
  • Performances will either be performed or recorded and then reflected on, either by the performers, in small groups or as a class.
  • Compositions will be played out anonymously and then discussed as a class.
As a parent, how can I help my child in this subject?
  • If they play or want to play an instrument, they need to practice. Little and often is always the best - 20 minutes every day/every other day.
  • Encourage them to use Bandlab at home, it comes as an app on phones and as a browser application.
  • Encourage them to listen to a wide variety of music.
What other opportunities do they have outside of the classroom?
  • Choir
  • Concert Band
  • Musical Production
  • Music Tech Club
  • Lunch Time Concert
  • Christmas Concert
  • Kingshill’s Got Talent - Talent Show
What topics will my child study? 
  • Musical Theatre – Students will learn about different productions of Musical Theatre and create their own songs.
  • 4 Chord Songs – Students will learn how to make 4-Chord songs and get in groups to try and make one, using the lyrics made from the previous term.
  • Film and Game Music – Students will study and create a piece of music to suit a film/game scene.
  • Kingshill School Song Competition – Students will have 4 weeks to create a piece of music competing with the rest of the Year group.  Fabulous prizes to be won!
What knowledge will they have and what will they be able to do by the end of the year?
  • Performance – Students will be able to play a variety of instruments either solo or in groups.
  • Composition – Students will understand how music is structured across a variety of genres.  They will be able to use music technology to make this more accessible.
  • Analyses – Students will learn about different cultures of music and understand the context behind them.  Students will learn about different musical vocabulary to help them describe and discuss music verbally and written.
How will they be assessed in Music?
  • Performances will either be performed or recorded and then reflected on, either by the performers, in small groups or as a class.
  • Compositions will be played out anonymously and then discussed as a class.
As a parent, how can I help my child in this subject?
  • If they play or want to play an instrument, they need to practice. Little and often is always the best - 20 minutes every day/every other day.
  • Encourage them to use Bandlab at home, it comes as an app on phones and as a browser application.
  • Encourage them to listen to a wide variety of music.
What other opportunities do they have outside of the classroom?
  • Choir
  • Concert Band
  • Musical Production
  • Music Tech Club
  • Lunch Time Concert
  • Christmas Concert
  • Kingshill’s Got Talent - Talent Show
Music GCSE

The Music GCSE is split into 3 areas:

  1. Performing
  2. Composing
  3. Appraising
Performing
  • Students need to perform 2 pieces of music in Year 11. A solo and an ensemble.  These need to be of Grade 3 standard, though students do not need to have taken these exams.
  • The minimum required length is 4 minutes for both performances combined.
Composing
  • Students need to compose 2 pieces of music in year 11. One is a free composition, so they can create whatever they like, the other is set by a brief from the exam board.
  • Students will need to understand different structures as well as control the various musical elements to demonstrate their composition skills.
Analyses
  • Students will sit a listening exam in year 11.  For this they will listen to pieces of music and must answer questions about them.
  • We teach students the MAD TSHIRT method of music analyses with each letter standing for a different musical element. 
  • There are questions about music notation on this exam as well.
Year 10
  1. Solo performance MAD TSHIRT - Dynamic, Texture, Tempo, Melody
  2. Ensemble Performance MAD TSHIRT - Time Sigs, Articulation, Instrumentation
  3. Composing - How to - MAD THIRT - Harmony, Structure,
  4. Composing - Binary form - MAD TSHIRT
  5. Composing - Verse Chorus - Set works
  6. Solos performance - Set works/MAD TSHIRT
Year 11
  1. Composing - Free Brief - MAD TSHIRT
  2. Composing - Set Brief - MAD TSHIRT - Set works
  3. Performance day/Coursework catch up - MAD TSHIRT - Set works
  4. Exam Prep - final coursework catch up
  5. Exam prep
  6. n/a

 

NCFE Music Technology

The course is assessed by a synoptic piece of coursework that combines all the areas of study together. This is completed in Terms 3 and 4 of Year 11.  This is worth 60% of the overall course.

The other 40% is an exam take in Year 11 which tests students’ knowledge on the areas of study.

The course is graded using the BTEC grading system (Pass, Merrit, Distinction)

The course is split into 5 different areas of study.

  1. Music Business and Music Technology
  2. The DAW
  3. Music Listening
  4. Sound Creation
  5. Multi-Track Recording
Music Business and Music Technology
  • Students learn about the development of music technology, all the way from Vinyl through to Streaming Services.
  • Students also learn about the different business roles within the industry as well as their responsibilities.
  • Students learn about marketing and the release cycle of a song.
The Daw
  • Students learn how to use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
  • We use Cakewalk as our DAW
  • Students learn how to use the different shortcuts, record VST instruments, import/export audio, recording techniques and much more.
Music Listening
  • Students learn how to write about music.  They will learn about the various different musical elements and how to use them appropriately.
Sound Creation
  • Students learn how to make music, sound effects, foley sounds, ambient sounds and much more. 
  • Students will use a variety of microphone and playing techniques for this.
Multi-Track Recording
  • Students will learn how to safely set up a studio.
  • Students will learn how to record other performers.
  • Students will learn how to layer up recordings.
  • Students will learn how to edit recordings to make them sound professional.
Year 10
  1. Unit 1 – History of Music tech and the business – Cakewalk introduction
  2. Unit 2 – The DAW
  3. Unit 4 –Sound Creation
  4. Unit 3 – Listening to Music
  5. Unit 5 – Multitrack recording
  6. Composing to a brief.
Year 11
  1. Composing – 4 Chord Songs - Unit 1 refresher
  2. Composing to a brief – Unit 3 refresher
  3. Non Examined Assessment
  4. Non Examined Assessment
  5. Exam prep
  6. n/a
Admissions
Letters to Parents
Newsletters
Term Dates