What is Music?
Music is essentially the study of organising sounds in time. Music is also a powerful image, a unique form of communication that can change the way people feel, think and act. It brings together intellect, feeling, personal expression, reflection and emotional development.

The music department at Friends’ is committed to making music an accessible and enjoyable subject for pupils of all abilities. Pupils are taught the key skills of composing, performing, listening and appraising with the emphasis on keeping the approach as practical as possible.

The end result is an ability not only to sing and play from different forms of notation, but also to understand how music is put together and how it is an important emotional and creative vehicle.

What will your child study?
The basic curriculum is organised into projects, each of which usually runs for half a term. Students are taught to control their voice (sing!), explore a range of acoustic and electronic sound sources/instruments and develop their independent and group skills. Students are strongly encouraged to attend extra-curricular music groups (for current list see below) in addition to classroom music and bring their instruments to lessons.

Year 7
Students investigate the elements of music where they explore the building blocks of any music. Students will also investigate the instruments of the orchestra via professional and peer demonstration. Composition work through percussion instruments, voice and keyboards will be used to consolidate key concepts concerning pitch, melody, rhythm, basic harmony and texture. All Year 7 students will also be involved in the Christmas Words and Music Performance of a large scale vocal cantata and given the opportunity to attend a Concert at a major venue in London.

Year 8
Recapping the students’ previous work, we study Jazz/Blues to introduce the concepts of scales (pentatonic and blues) and harmony. Looking at typical chord progressions used in such music to provide structure and also looking at appropriate instrumental combinations.

Year 8 also develop their performance skills via the Christmas Words and Music Event and by taking part in a variety of concerts performing opportunities both inside and outside school. In addition, pupils develop their listening, aural and appraising skills through discrete discussion of audio and visual examples. We continue to work on vocal skills, in this year and base our repertoire around pentatonic spirituals, jazz, blues, popular and musical theatre. Pupils are introduced to technology via the iBook G4 Mac in term 3 and learn simple sequencing and producing skills in preparation for Year 9.

Year 9
Students recap previous work and develop their skills in the main areas of composing, performing, listening and appraising. Topics include revision of the key areas of harmony, rhythm, melody, timbre and texture. In addition, pupils are encouraged to embrace technology through learning sequencing, producing and arranging skills on the department’s iBook Laptops and ozonic keyboards.

Pupils are encouraged to recognise and appreciate world film music as well as developing their skills as performers in both solo and ensemble contexts. Pupils learn about composition technique and typical structural forms and conventions. Finally we will be focusing on Western Classical Music and preparing skills for potential GCSE study.

How will your child be assessed?
Your child’s work will be regularly assessed and recorded via feedback g iven to class assessments, interim grades and reports.
Your child will be made aware of the criteria for success against which such assessments will be made.
Use of praise and constructive comment is at the heart of the music department’s assessment policy.

How do we achieve differentiation?
By providing extension work for the gifted and talented pupils
By using a variety of teaching methods, reviewed as appropriate.
Using LSA support where appropriate.
Using open-ended and differentiated tasks to allow progression of individual students.

Extra-Curricular Music
The Music Department has a very strong tradition in extra-curricular music provision. This ranges from an excellent number of visiting instrumental and vocal teachers covering most ensembles that meet each week to rehearse for a variety of “in-house” and outside musical engagements.

Pupils who take instrumental/vocal lessons in school are expected to make a strong contribution to at least one ensemble offered during the course of the week. All pupils taking singing lessons are expected to sing in the Senior Choir.

Recent highlights have included the Girls' Choir and Concert Band tour to Paris, the Senior Choir performing Verdi's Requiem at Reading University as part of the triennial Joint Quaker Choirs' Festival, our annual Summer Soiree, and the joint Drama/Music deaptment production of Joseph.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities include:
Junior Choir, Junior Percussion Ensemble, Senior Choir, Senior Percussion Ensemble, Girls’ Choir, Senior Chamber Ensemble, Middle School Band Senior String Ensemble, Senior Concert Band, Junior Brass Group, Jazz/Dance Band, Senior Brass Group and the Junior Flute Group.

GCSE Music

Specification: AQA Music 4272

Click here to download the current specification for this GCSE course.

This course is clearly a must for anyone hoping to pursue a career in music. However, it also caters for those students who simply enjoy music making. All students can expect to develop skills such as aural perception, self-discipline, music appreciation and teamwork. Most importantly, music GCSE provides ample opportunity to be ‘creative’.

The GCSE in music may complement and enhance other areas of the curriculum, as well as providing a useful preparation for a wide range of careers (e.g. teaching, television production, theatre and publishing). Furthermore, this course may also help cultivate a hobby, a source of pleasure to last a lifetime.

The specification offered is the AQA GCSE in music providing our students with innovation, variety and depth.

Advantages of this specification include:

An emphasis on practical activities (80% of the examination).
Interesting areas of study, catering for all tastes.
The areas of study are balanced and provide opportunities to develop students’ individual interests.

Assessment Structure:

There are four components that make up the specification:

Unit 1: Listening to and Appraising Music 42701. Written Paper – 1 hour – 80 marks – 20%

This unit consists of Areas of Study based on the following Musical Elements;

AoS1 Rhythm and Metre
AoS2 Harmony and Tonality
A0S3 Texture and Melody
AoS4 Timbre and Dynamics
AoS5 Structure and Form

Unit 2: Composing and Appraising Music 42702. Extermally assessed – 40 marks – 20%

Students are required to submit one composition for Unit 2. Music technology may be used to assist in the production and realisation of the piece.

Unit 3: Performing Music 42703. Controlled Assessment – 60 marks – 40%

The practical element of the course consists of two prepared performances: A – Individual Performance or Technology-based Performance. B – Group/Ensemble Performance. This element of the course is internally assessed and moderated by an external examiner.

Unit 4: Composing Music 42704. Controlled Assessment – 30 marks – 20%

This unit involves students in composing one piece of music which explores two or more of the five areas of study. This may be in the style of the candidates choosing and is completed under controlled conditions (25 hours).

Areas of study:

The Western Classical Tradition.
Popular Music of the 20th and 21st centuries.
World Music.

Extra-Curricular Music:

The Music Department offers an eclectic mix of high quality extra-curricular activities ranging from the Concert Band, Senior School Choir, Girls’ Choir, Folk Ensemble, Brass, String, Percussion and Woodwind ensembles to contemporary Rock, Pop and Jazz based opportunities. The expectation is that all GCSE students participate in the Senior Choir and at least one other group.

What next?

Students can continue to study AS and A2 Music. It is also proposed to introduce AS Music Technology in the future and students will need GCSE Music as a good foundation for study.

AS and A Level

Music has become an increasingly popular subject at Sixth Form level and provides great opportunities for self-expression and development in many areas, not just the intellectual. Music is an important area of study for anyone considering a career in the arts and particularly for stage work. It can also lead to other career opportunities in broadcasting, recording and teaching. In general the specification provides considerable choice and enables candidates to demonstrate their abilities to perform, compose and appreciate a variety of musical styles.

This specification has been designed to:
Encourage candidates to draw on their experiences at GCSE and recognise the interdependence of musical skills, knowledge and understanding and the links between the activities of performing/realising, composing and appraising

Offer a meaningful foundation for the study of Music beyond A-level.

AS outline

MUSC1: Influences on Music
Written paper 1 hour 45 minutes.
Section A contains structured listening questions using a CD of musical excerpts. Candidates then answer two essay questions, one based on the set work from the compulsory Area of Study, The Western Classical Tradition, and one based on a second Area of Study chosen from:

Choral Music in the Baroque Period
Music Theatre: a study of the musical from 1940 to 1980
British Popular Music from 1960 to the Present Day

MUSC2: Composing: Creating Musical Ideas
Externally assessed coursework completed in controlled time.
Candidates respond to one brief from a choice of three:

Compositional techniques
Free composition or pastiche
Arranging

MUSC3: Performing: Interpreting Musical Ideas
Internally assessed coursework.
Candidates offer two performances from a choice of six, including opportunities for solo, ensemble and/or technology-based performance.

A2 outline

MUSC4: Music in Context
Written paper 2 hour 15 minutes.
Section A contains structured listening questions using a CD of musical excerpts. Candidates then answer two essay questions, one based on the chosen set work from the compulsory Area of Study, The Western Classical Tradition, and one based on a second Area of Study chosen from:

English Choral Music in the 20th century
Chamber Music from Mendelssohn to Debussy
Four decades of Jazz and Blues 1910 to 1950

MUSC5: Composing: Developing Musical Ideas
Externally assessed coursework completed in controlled time.
Candidates respond to one brief from a choice of three:

Compositional techniques
Free composition or pastiche
Arranging

MUSC6: Performing: A Musical Performance
Externally assessed.
Candidates will offer two (or more) contrasting pieces to form a short programme for either solo acoustic performance and/or performance via music technology.

Specification: AQA Music AS 1271 A 2271
Click here to download the current specification for this A level course.