"Students respond well to the good teaching in the school." OFSTED

Music Department

Introduction

Our purpose built building was opened by the Princess Royal in 1998. We have two teaching areas, each fully equipped with classroom instruments, and the main classroom also has a dedicated ICT suite running Sibelius 5 and Cubase. There is a suite of practice rooms in which Berkshire Maestros provide lessons in a wide variety of instruments.

The Department also has a recording studio, running the industry standard ProTools which is used mainly by BTEC and GCSE students.

Key Stage 3

In Years 7-9 all students have class music lessons each week. In these lessons students will learn about music from a variety of cultures and styles. They will compose and perform music with tasks designed to help them understand many common musical devices and use this knowledge to understand music that is both familiar and alien to them. KS3 Units are as follows

	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
Year 7	Elements of Music Vocal Music	Vocal Music	Ostinato – patterns in Music	Caribbean Music	Music through History	African Music
Year 8	Jazz and Blues	20th century Music	Chinese and Japanese Music	Samba	Indian Music	Rap
Year 9	Gamelan Ground Bass	Ground Bass	Musical Futures	Structure	Music and Media (how music is used in film, TV and advertising), Music and Structures

GCSE

The department has chosen to follow the EDEXCEL syllabus and so it is recommended (but not compulsory) that pupils are able to play an instrument as the exam board expects Grade 3 standard as 'average'. The course requires students to compose (30%), perform (30%) and sit a listening paper (40%). The listening and composition are based on four Areas of Study of which set works are learnt.

Western classical music 1600-1899	Music in the 20th century	Popular music in context	World music
G F Handel: Chorus: And The Glory of The Lord from Messiah, HWV 56	A Schoenberg: Peripetie from Five Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16	M Davis: All Blues from the album Kind of Blue	Capercaillie: Chuir M’Athair Mise Dhan Taigh Charraideach (Skye Waulking Song) from the album Nàdurra
W A Mozart:1st Movement from Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550	L Bernstein: Something’s Coming from West Side Story	J Buckley: Grace from the album Grace	Rag Desh Suggested listening: A Shankar: Rag Desh from the album Live at Carnegie Hall S D Dhandhada and H Dhandhada: Rag Desh from the album Mewar Re Mira B Wertheimer and S Gorn: Rag Desh Parts 1-3 from the album Priyagitah: The Nightingale
F Chopin: Prelude No 15 in D flat major, Op. 28	S Reich: 3rd Movement (fast) from Electric Counterpoint	Moby: Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? from the album Play	Koko: Yiri

 

Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level

Course Aims

The course aims to develop further the areas of performing, composing and listening. In addition students will undertake historical and analytical studies of music from key points in musical history. The course aims to develop the skills of all different styles of musicians; it is for those interested in classical or pop music.

Entry Requirements

Although preferable, it is not essential to have had experience of music at GCSE level. However, students must be competent performers on at least one instrument and have some music theory qualifications instread.

Course Content

The course consists of six modules. Modules 1, 2 and 3 are taken for ‘AS’ level. Modules 4, 5 and 6 are taken in the second year to gain the ‘A’ level.

1. Performing solo recital lasting 5-6 minutes performing during the course (at least four occasions during the year)
2. Composing compositional techniques/harmony exercises
   free composition (using set stimuli)
3. Historical study of set works in a variety of styles from the western ‘classical’ repertoire
4. Specialist option choice of solo recital or free composition
5. Performing and compositional techniques/harmony exercises
   composing performing during the course
6. Analysing music in depth study of set works

Assessment

The student is assessed by coursework, written examination and by a visiting examiner. Each module can be retaken once before a final ‘A’ level grade is awarded.

Career and Higher Education Opportunities

There are now many degree courses which enable further study of music, performing arts and music technology. Music ‘A’ level is often important for students who wish to enter the teaching profession, whether for primary or secondary schools. There are also many other careers associated with music for which ‘A’ level is useful, for example recording engineer, publishing, music librarian and, of course, careers in performing and accompanying.

Extra Curricular Activities
The department runs a variety of musical activities during morning registration and lunchtimes for pupils of all standards and experience.

Day	Time	Ensemble	Room
Monday	Lunchtime	School Choir (Year 9 and above)	MU2
	Lunchtime	Show Band	Practice room
Tuesday	Lunchtime	Concert Band	MU1
Wednesday	Lunchtime	String Group	MU1
	Lunchtime	Clarinet Group	Practice room
Thursday	Lunchtime	Yr 13 and Staff Chamber Choir	MU1
	After school (provisional)	Senior level Jazz Band	Practice room
Friday	Lunchtime	Year 7 and 8 Choir	MU1
	Lunchtime	Classical Guitar Group	Practice room

Concerts
The department aims to create a range of regular performance opportunities for pupils at the school. There are large Christmas and Summer concerts involving all the ensembles the department runs and smaller recitals for exam classes to perform. There is also an annual House Music competition which is run by the students. We invite a visiting adjudicator each year to join the panel of judges.

The School Musical
Each year the Drama and Music Departments combine to put on a musical. Past performances have included Grease, Bugsy Malone, The Sound of Music, We Will Rock You and our most recent production Our House. Other Departments also get involved and help with set design and other essential projects. The Musical is open to all age groups to audition and we usually have a mix of students in years 7-13.

Instrumental lessons
Pupils are able to take instrumental lessons through the Berkshire Maestros in a wide variety of instruments. Currently pupils are able to study cello, clarinet, drum kit, flute, guitar, horn, keyboard, percussion, piano, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, violin and voice. These lessons take place during the normal school day. The cost for lessons and an application form can be obtained direct from Berkshire Maestros web site which includes details of lessons and other activities they and Berkshire as a whole organise.