Curriculum Information — Stockport School

Director of Study: Mrs R Didcote email

MUSIC DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2024-2025 (document link)

The main ethos of our Music Department is to provide music for all.

At the core of our Curriculum is the aim to engage and inspire (whether that is within the classroom or outside of it).

Engaging and inspiring our students involves:

providing students with the skill set to go onto the next step by taking up a career in music or becoming a professional musician.
helping students to understand what an amazing hobby music can be for them around their chosen career pathways and the benefits music can have in mental health and well-being.
teaching our students valuable transferrable skills that can be applied to other curriculum areas or their life.

Stockport School delivers music education to all our pupils through a combination of compulsory music curriculum at Key Stage 3, providing options in both Music and Music Technology at Key Stage 4 level and providing a large variety of opportunities and musical experiences within our extra curricular provision at all age ranges.

As a department we aim to pass on our own passion for music through providing a range of performance opportunities and allowing pupils to experience a wide range of music from different cultures – past and present.

The core strands that run throughout all our curriculum are the main three skills of Performing, Composing, Listening and Understanding.

Why we need music in our lives?

As a recent BBC article by Andy Smith highlighted: Music brings people together, improves health and well-being, improves confidence and resilience, is a creative outlet and above all it is fun!

(Above photos from our Germany Music Tour (July 2024) where we performed around the Rhine and Moselle regions of Germany)

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

At Key Stage 3 we aim to engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music whilst increasing their self-confidence. The Music Curriculum at Stockport School allows pupils to explore the three main areas of the national curriculum:

Listening to and Evaluating music
Performing music
Composing music

Years 7 and 8 receive two one hour lessons a fortnight of classroom music lessons and Year 9 receive one lesson a fortnight.

Year 7 Music - Sparking Musical Curiosity through being introduced to instruments and singing

The Year 7 Music Curriculum involves bridging units to help those students that haven’t studied much music to catch up as well as activities to further extend gifted and talented musicians (allowing all students to make progress). The topics in Year 7 include ‘Finding Your Voice’, ‘It’s all about the beat’, ‘Learning the Keyboard through music of The Beatles’, ‘Learning the Ukulele’ and ‘Samba music’. Within this year, pupils are introduced to instruments including their voice and take part in a Year 7 Music Concert and House Competition in November time to help build their confidence and love for music making. Alongside the practical approaches, pupils also begin to build their music vocabulary.

Year 7 Long Term Curriculum Plan

Year 8 Music - Culture and Creativity (Composing, performing and listening within a context)

The Year 8 Music Curriculum builds on the knowledge and instrument skills developed in Year 7 by exploring five new units of work. Topics include ‘Patterns in Music’, 'Film Music', 'World Music', ‘The Blues’ and 'Song writing’. There is now a focus on composing within the first three topics where techniques are introduced within different contexts to allow them to develop confidence in creating their own music. At the same time they explore music from different cultures for example African Djembe drumming, Samba music from Brazil and Music from the Caribbean such as Calypso. Music vocabulary is further extended in year 8 with a variety of music specific terms introduced in each topic which are logged in their work booklets.

Year 8 Long Term Curriculum Plan

Year 9 Music - Collaborative music making (developing a love for creating music together)

Year 9 explores collaborative music making through engaging topics such as Reggae music before forming a class band and performing a range of popular music by artists such as Queen, Oasis, The Cranberries and many more. Due to music now being once a fortnight, lessons start to focus more on the team building, well-being, positive mental health side whilst allowing pupils wanting to further their musical skills the ability to be stretched and challenged through taking on leadership roles. Ensemble skills are very much at the heart of our lessons in Year 9 and provide students with a large variety of transferrable skills that they can take forward into whatever they go on to do next.

Year 9 Long Term Curriculum Plan

Key Stage 4 Curriculum (Two different courses)

Course 1: GCSE Music

At Key Stage 4, students have an option to study two different qualifications.

AQA GCSE Music allows learners to study a wide variety of musical genres whilst developing their practical performing and composing skills. The course allows learners to go onto study courses such as A Level Music or Music Technology, Level 3 Diplomas or other BTEC style courses. Students opting for this course will receive 5 lessons a fortnight in year 10 commencing September 2024 and 6 lessons a fortnight in year 11.

AQA GCSE Music Specification

Year 10 and 11 Long Term Curriculum Plan

Key features of the course:

Coursework forms 60% of the course.

Component 1 - Listening and Contexual Understanding (40%): Listening to familiar and unfamiliar music from a wide range of styles. At the end of the course you will be externally assessed in a 1 hour 30 minute exam (96 marks).

Component 2 - Performing Music (30%): Perform a repertoire of music lasting a minimum of four minutes. One performance must be as a soloist (36 marks) and one within an ensemble (36 marks). (Internally assessed, externally moderated)

Component 3 - Composing Music (30%): Two compositions are submitted; one in response to an externally set brief released in Year 11 (36 marks) and the other a free composition (36 marks). (Internally assessed, externally moderated). These will be completed using our computer software Sibelius or Cubase.

The Coursework element allows students to enjoy the freedom of focusing on styles or genres that are close to their heart. Unlike in years 7-9, performances now take place on a student’s own instrument/voice and with other musicians in or outside of school.

Composition is explored using specialist music software such as Sibelius and Cubase which provides students with the skills to take a variety of post-16 courses such as A Level Music, A Level Music Technology or other music BTEC style courses.

As well as gaining a highly regarded GCSE qualification, students will also develop their self-confidence, communication, creative and analytical skills. You must be able to play an instrument or sing to a good standard which means taking weekly lessons in school or with a private tutor to ensure you make good progress. To get the most out of the course you should play in one of the groups in school and appreciate music of many different genres and eras.

Course 2: Music Technology

We also offer the NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Music Technology which is a more vocational style qualification for those students who do not necessarily play an instrument but enjoy creating and editing music using specific music software.

Music Technology is an exciting qualification which will allow you to explore the technology, production and recording side of music.

It is aimed at those interested in any aspect of music technology, composing, mixing, recording, production and using a digital audio workstation. The course is suited to learners who are motivated and challenged by hands-on experiences and through content which is concrete and related directly to those experiences. It does not matter about your musical ability when doing music technology, as you will be recording most of your work into the computer where you can then edit it. You can also get other people to play for you when doing recordings.

This course can lead onto further Level 3 qualifications and A Levels in Music Technology and would also be useful for those studying for qualifications and careers in Radio, the Music Industry, Media, Music Production and Performing Arts. It may also be useful to those studying qualifications in the following sectors: Film, Computing, Economics and Business, Science and Maths.

Taken instead of a language, learners receive 7 lessons a fortnight in year 1 of the course and 6 lessons a fortnight in year 2. They will study the qualification over a two-year period between year 9 and 10 as of September 2024.

NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Music Tech Specification.

Extra-Curricular Music Opportunities

All pupils are encouraged to take part in the wide range of extra-curricular music making activities that are on offer at Stockport School. On arriving at Stockport School, all of Year 7 participate in a Year 7 Concert for parents, carers and friends in November allowing all pupils to bond with their form and grow in confidence within their year group. Throughout the year there are also performance opportunities for all year groups to be involved in which include a Musical (October), Christmas Concert (December), Performing in the Community at different Christmas functions (December), a Band Night (May) and a Summer Concert /Music Festival/Music Tour in July. We also work with the professional Northern Chamber Orchestra and Matt Sharp in the Spring Term in an inspiring collaborative project involving composing workshops with our Year 7's, GCSE students and some of our feeder primaries.

Peripatetic Lessons

Music is an important part of life at Stockport School and we have a wide range of additional one to one instrumental/vocal lessons taught by a dedicated team of peripatetic teachers. The instrumental lessons cover all levels from beginner to Grade 8. Students can opt to take formal music exams should they wish or can simply learn to play for enjoyment and to learn a new skill. The lessons last for 20 minutes and are paid for by parents at a rate of £50 per half term. Students entitled to Pupil Premium funding can access music lessons at Stockport School for free.

Music Lesson Information and Sign up Letter

If you are interested in having instrumental lessons at Stockport School then please download the letter above, fill in the form and hand it in to the finance office with the correct amount of monies. Alternatively, complete the form hand it in to finance but email Mrs Didcote to be able to access paying for lessons electronically on Wisepay.

Our team of additional teachers deliver lessons on a range of instruments which include:

TUTOR	INSTRUMENTAL LESSON	DAY
Mr Lightwing	Woodwind (Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone)	Monday
Miss McMillan	Drums/Percussion	Tuesday
Mr Luckhurst	Piano/Keyboard	Tuesday
Mrs Perry	Piano/Keyboard	Tuesday
Mrs Fallows	String (Violin, Viola)	Wednesday
Mrs Williamson	Singing	Wednesday
Mr Smith	Guitar and Bass	Wednesday and Thursday
Mr Gillbanks	Brass, Keyboard, Piano	Thursday
Mr Bell	Guitar and Bass	Thursday

We encourage as many pupils as possible to have a go at learning an instrument at Stockport School. Increasingly employers are attracted by the intellectual, practical and interpersonal skills students with music qualifications tend to foster. Employment opportunities for students with skills in music are very good and are an excellent way of supporting University applications. Students learning an instrument are seen to be capable of dedication due to the perseverance playing a musical instrument requires.

Instrument Loan

We also have a range of musical instruments in the department, and we offer a free instrument loan system to anyone needing an instrument for as long as they are a student at Stockport School and attending lessons. Therefore, all students have access to learning an additional instrument should they wish. We are currently unable to loan out keyboards and drum kits but have plenty of guitars, violins, flutes, clarinets, saxophones, cornets, tenor horns, euphoniums etc.

Our four practice rooms also provide students with the ability to practise in a quiet space at break, lunch or after school should they require.

Instrument Loan Form

Extra-Curricular Programme

All ensembles run weekly and are delivered by the two full time music teachers and external peripatetic tutors. The programme includes:

STOCKPORT SCHOOL MUSIC ENRICHMENT - CURRENT OFFER
Activity	Day	Venue	Time	Teacher
Samba Band (Year 7)	Monday	OUS	Lunch 1:20pm	Mr Rongong
GCSE Intervention	Monday	OMT	Lunch 1:20pm	Mrs Didcote
GCSE Intervention	Monday	OMT	After school 3pm	Mrs Didcote/Mr Rongong
Year 11 Rock Band Apollo	Monday	OUS	After school 3pm	Student led
Year 8 Rock Band Hallucination	Tuesday	OUS	Lunch 1:20pm	Mr Rongong
Concert Band (Yrs 7-11)	Tuesday	OUS	After school 3pm	Mrs Didcote Mr Rongong Miss McMillan Mr Luckhurst
String Group (Yrs 7-11)	Wednesday	ODS	Lunch 1:20pm	Mrs Fallows
Year 11 Rock Band – Silver Lining	Wednesday	OUS	Lunch 1:20pm	Mr Smith
Music Tech Club (yrs 7-11)	Wednesday	OMT	Lunch 1:20pm	Mr Rongong
Show Rehearsals/GCSE appointments	Wednesday	ODS	Lunch 1:20pm	Mrs Didcote
MT pop Choir (Musical Theatre and popular music) (Yrs 7-11)	Wednesday	OUS	After School 3:00pm-4pm	Mr Rongong Mrs Didcote
Year 10 Rock Band	Thursday	OUS	Lunch 1:20pm	Mr Smith
Show Rehearsals	Friday	ODS	Lunch & after school	Mrs Didcote
Year 11 Rock Band - Procrastination	Friday	OUS	After school 3pm	Mr Rongong

Music Department Aims

To offer a vibrant extra-curricular programme that encourages all types of musicians to be involved in ensemble music making.
To put on a range of enriching performance opportunities to allow pupils to develop their confidence and self-esteem.
To promote enjoyment for the subject by implementing exciting and current Schemes of Work that engages all learners across the age ranges.
To provide a caring environment where all learners are encouraged to achieve their potential in music based around their individual needs.
To offer appropriate courses at GCSE Level to help educate those pupils that would like to carry on their studies.
To promote the highest standards of education through actively implementing whole school policies within the music environment.
To encourage cross-curricular links in order to further pupils experience of music.
To provide a range of instrumental tutors in order to allow all pupils to learn a musical instrument.

Homework Policy

Music:

KS3:

Although homework will not be set regularly at KS3, students may on the odd occasion be required to revise for a test or learn lyrics for a concert to aid their learning/enjoyment of the subject.

KS4:

Students will be set compulsory homework each week which is extremely important in allowing for progress in both qualifications. They will be expected to spend an hour a week on GCSE music homework each week in both Year 10 and 11. Examples of compulsory homework may include.

Specific instrumental/vocal practise
Set lessons/quizzes on ‘Focus on Sound’.
Music theory booklet exercises
Research projects.
Revision of key terminology/facts.
Composition preparation tasks

In addition to Compulsory homework, all students will be set Extra Credit work in Music which they can opt to complete. Examples of possible extra credit work are:

Extra lessons and quizzes on ‘Focus on Sound’ (additional to those set by the class teacher).
Participating in extracurricular clubs, concerts, and projects to further develop performance and ensemble skills.
Making revision cue cards based on ‘Element’ and ‘Set Work’ independent learning packs.
Composing regularly at home using an instrument or composing software to further practise, develop and refine skills.
Exporting composed ideas as audio files to take home and build ideas around.
Additional past exam papers/questions

Music Technology Homework (Key Stage 4 only)

Students are expected to spend 40 mins a week on Music Technology homework at Key Stage 4.

Examples of Compulsory Homework in Music Technology:

Revision of terminology.
Recall quizzes.
Research tasks/projects to prepare for NEA work.
Practise questions for the exam paper.

Examples of Extra Credit work in Music Technology:

Composing musical ideas independently on free software at home such as Bandlab.
Making revision cue cards on each unit.
Past papers/exam questions.
Listening to a variety of music studied in lessons and practising identifying key terminology.
Practise answering extended writing questions.

Revision

Students will be provided with electronic worksheets to revise from within tasks at Key Stage 3 and 4.

Key Stage 4 revision resources are built into the resources section of Firefly.

Our primary electronic tool for revision at GCSE level is Focus on Sound Pro by Music First.

We subscribe as a department and all students in years 7-11 have access to the resource by using their Office 365/school log ins.

Here is the link for Focus on Sound Pro by Music First.

Click the link and you should be logged in automatically using your office 365 account that you use to get in other areas such as firefly.