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 are a suite of practice rooms in which Berkshire Maestros provide lessons in a wide variety of instruments.

The Department also has two recording studios which are used mainly by A level Technology students, but also 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.

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

• Repetition and Contrast in Western Classical Music
• New directions in Western Classical Music
• Popular song
• Rhythms, scales and modes in music from around the world

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 can be 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 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.

Music Technology Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level

Course Aims

The course aims to use technology to further develop students’ musical creativity. It encourages the use of music technology as a tool for composing, arranging and score writing by providing a thorough grounding in sequencing and recording skills. Music Technology is studied within the context of its influence on the way music is produced and listened to through practical and theoretical means.

Entry Requirements

Although preferable, it is not essential to have had experience of music at GCSE level. The course is however aimed at musicians. It is essential that students are practical musicians and are prepared to use their instruments in lessons. Students will find that some keyboard skills will greatly ease the work load for the sequencing elements of the course.

Course Content

Unit 1: AS Level
Part (a) Practical Work

1. Sequencing or Recording -you will either learn how to produce accomplished musical performances in a range of musical styles using sequencing software or you will learn how to make high quality recordings of musical performances.
2. Arranging and improvising using technology - you will be required to focus on the option omitted in Unit 1.1. In this practical section you will make an arrangement of two short pieces of music.

Part (b) Written Work

You will sit a paper related to ‘The Development of Technology in Music’ and ‘Popular Music and Jazz’. You will be required to demonstrate your ability to listen to unfamiliar music and analyse musical, technical and stylistic features.

Unit 2: A2 Level
Part (a) Practical Work

1. Sequencing, recording and producing - you will create two pieces of work combining the skills of sequencing and recording learnt in Unit 1.
2. Composing using technology - you will compose two pieces using sequencing and/or recording technologies.

Part (b) Written Work

This section of the unit involves tasks that test the knowledge, understanding and skills developed across the whole qualification. You will answer questions related to an audio and MIDI file and will be asked to recognise features of unfamiliar music, to comment upon the corrections that could be made to a sequenced version of the music and to compare a recorded performance with a score.

Assessment

The course is 60% coursework which is marked by external examiners. In each unit there is a written examination lasting two hours.

Career and Higher Education Opportunities

There is a steadily growing number of courses in music technology up to degree level mainly in the ‘new’ universities. The ‘A’ level is useful for those considering careers with music, for example recording engineer, publishing and composing for the media. It also demonstrates an ability to cope with a wide range of technologies suitable perhaps for a computer programmer.

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 and Return to the Forbidden Planet. 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.

Extra Curricular activities

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

	Lunchtime	Afterschool
Monday	Chamber Choir
Tuesday		Jazz Band and Junior Band
Wednesday		School Choir
Thursday	Orchestra
Friday

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. 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.