Term 1: Building blocks - The Elements of Music
The unit of work introduces students to the foundations of Music - The Musical Elements. Students will develop an understanding of Tempo, Dynamics, Texture, Instrumentation and Sonority throughout this module and will be able to use subject-specific vocabulary to describe these elements aurally. Students will work in groups to perform pieces of music using body and classroom percussion, and will compose to a brief, exploring programmatic music as a stimulus.
Students will be assessed through listening exercises on 'Focus On Sound' as part of ongoing homework. They will be assessed through their practical work in performance and composition against a series of success criteria. Their ability to meet a composition brief as well as using the musical elements creatively and to their full potential will be considered.
Tempo
The speed of pulse within Music
Dynamics
The control of 'louds' and 'softs' throughout Music
Instrumentation
The various instruments used to perform Music and their families - Strings, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion
Texture
The layers of sound and how they interact - 'Thick' and 'Thin'
Pitch
High and Low sounds
Ostinato
Repeated rhythm or melodic phrase
Ensemble
A group of musicians
xylophone
percussion instrument with wooden bars of differing length to create different pitches
metallophone
percussion instrument with metal bars of differing length to create different pitches
Percussion
Instruments that must be hit, scraped or shaken to produce a sound.
Develop the individual:
Social - Students will work in groups to develop, rehearse and master musical ideas collectively. They will use and develop extrinsic skills such as teamwork, communication, creativity, imagination and critical thinking.
Create a supportive community:
Term 2: Ensemble Skills - Rhythm and Pulse
The unit will explore what makes a successful ensemble. Students will learn to work together to compose and perform music for untuned percussion whilst gaining knowledge of rhythm notation and metre.
Students will be assessed on their ability to work and perform with each other in time with the beat. They will perform their own pieces accurately and fluently whilst also considering other musical elements to enhance the sound.
Rhythm
Patterns of sound created by different note lengths
Polyrhythms
Music where several different rhythms are played at the same time
Polyphonic
A texture device where there is more than two independently moving layers of sound
Bar
A measurement of time in number of beats
Time Signature
A device indicating the number of beats per bar.
Semibreve
A note lasting 4 beats (whole note)
Minim
A note lasting two beats in length (half note)
Crotchet
A note lasting for one beat (Quarter note)
Quaver
A note lasting for half a beat (Eighth note)
Semiquaver
A note lasting for a quarter of a beat (sixteenth note)
Pulse
A steady beat that runs throughout music and is controlled by Tempo
Develop the individual:
Social - extrinsic skills - teamwork, communication, listening and creativity
Create a supportive community:
Social - extrinsic skills - teamwork, communication, listening and creativity
Term 3: English Folk Music
Students will be introduced to the keyboard and will explore well-known melodies from English folk music. They will gain a knowledge of Ralph Vaughan-Williams and explore his own and other melodies in the genre, performing them on the keyboard.
Students will demonstrate their knowledge through listening activities on Focus on Sound as well as their studies of melodies through notation. They will perform in pairs on the keyboard by playing well-known folk tunes as well as their harmonies.
Melody
A sequence of notes that is musically satisfying
Treble Clef
A symbol indicating where notes are placed on the stave to the right of 'Middle C' (right hand).
Stave
The five lines and four spaces where music is written on manuscript paper
D Dorian Mode
A scale starting on D containing all white keys within the octave.
Octave
The distance between two notes of the same name
Tonic
The 'home' note and first note of the scale
Dominant
The fifth degree of the scale and the second 'strongest' note within the key and scale.
Accompaniment
Notes underneath the melody that are often harmonic in purpose.
Harmony
The use of chords
Develop the individual:
Students will work in pairs to embellish their teamwork, communication, creativity and listening skills.
Create a supportive community:
Students will work together in pairs and build their confidence through performances to each other.
Term 4: Indonesian Gamelan - Exploring Texture and Pentatonic Melodies
Students will explore Melody and Texture through the cyclic music of Indonesia. They will gain an understanding of layering and polyphony, whilst composing a melody using the pentatonic scale.
Verbal feedback of class and group performances of a Gamelan Cycle. Formative assessment of students' own composition of a Gamelan cycle demonstrating their own understanding of Pentatonics and layering along with other musical elements.
Gamelan
A group of percussion instruments originating from Bali and Java in Indonesia
Pentatonic
A scale of five notes
Cyclic
Music that repeats itself within 'cells'
Polyphonic
Multiple layers in independently moving sound / melodies
Interlocking melody
A melody that plays in between the beats to create a feeling of syncopation
Balungan
The 'core' melody from which the Gamelan cycle is constructed
Gongs
Instruments that are either suspended vertically or horizontally
Metallophones
Instruments closely related to western xylophones but are made of metal
Slendro
A tuning system used in Javanese Gamelan using notes similar to that in the western pentatonic scale
Develop the individual:
Deeper understanding of the cultures of Indonesia, and the social contexts of Gamelan performances in both Bali and Java.
Create a supportive community:
Extrinisic musical skills include listening, teamwork, communication and sharing of ideas.
Term 5: Pop Song Harmony: 3 and 4 Chord Tricks
Students will be introduced to functional Harmony through the study of Major and Minor Chords on the Acoustic Guitar. They will study a number of 3 and 4 Chord Tricks through the study of chords in A, D and G Majors.
Students will work as an ensemble to perform a pop song that employs a 3 and 4 chord trick. Students will demonstrate their new skills on Guitar as well as their ability to work as a group. Further assessments on Focus On Sound.
Harmony
The use of chords and how they're related
Triad
A chord using three notes
Dyad
A chord using two notes
Major
A chord that sounds bright and positive
Primary Triads
Chords belonging to the Tonic, Subdominant and Dominants notes in the chosen key signature
Secondary Triads
Triads belonging to the Supertonic, Mediant and Submediant notes of the scale
Minor
Chords that sound dark and mysterious
Sequence
A composed series of chords that are often repeated as a 'trick' in pop and rock music
Key Signature
A device telling us which notes are 'flat' and which ones are 'sharp'.
Sharp
Notes raised by a semitone
Flat
Notes lowered by a semitone
Develop the individual:
Awareness of popular genres in western music and the harmonic systems employed in pop and classical music.
Create a supportive community:
Perseverance and resilience in group work and whilst learning a new instrument.
Term 6: Pop Song Writing - Music Technology (1)
The unit explores the use of Harmony, Instrumentation, Structure and Melody in Pop Music. They will learn how to record, loop, layer and edit their recorded sound in Logic Pro.
Students will be assessed through ongoing listening exercises on Focus On Sound. They will be assessed through Composition, creating their own Pop song instrumental on Logic Pro, showing their knowledge of Harmony, Instruments, Rhythm and Texture.
Sequencing software
A programme where music can be recorded, layered and edited
Electric Guitar
A Guitar powered by an amplifier
Acoustic Guitar
A Guitar that creates sound without the need of an amplifier
Bass Guitar
An electric guitar that performs notes which are low in pitch.
Synthesizer
A keyboard instrument that digitally recreates the sounds of other instruments
MIDI Keyboard
'Musical Instrument Digital Interface' - a keyboard that controls sounds produced by sequencing software
Sample
A clip of recorded sound
Channel
An allocated input of sound that can be programmed to record sounds from the MIDI keyboard, or from external instruments such as an Electric Guitar or Microphone
Drum Kit
A set of percussion instruments that typically contain a bass drum, snare drum, hi-hat, toms and cymbals
Verse/Chorus Form
A structure used in pop music containing a verse, chorus, intro, outro, middle 8 and an instrumental
Layering
The process of music samples being recorded on top of each other
Looping
The method of digitally repeating a sample.
Develop the individual:
Opportunities to think about recycling so-called rubbish to create something musical and useful.
Create a supportive community:
Protecting the environment in a positive way. Thinking about looking after their community and environment for the future.