Music

Instrumental Lessons & Clubs – Download

Music Curriculum Organisation

Accommodation

The Music Department has two purpose built rooms. The Music suite has two practice rooms for instrumental lessons.

The impact of technology within the Music curriculum is well catered for at All Hallows. In addition to our keyboard facilities, we have fifteen networked computers all running Microsoft Office, Sibelius, Cubase SE, Sony Acid and Guitar Pro 5. These programmes allow students the opportunity to listen to the music they have composed and then edit and develop their musical ideas. The software also allows students to produce professional quality scores and recordings. The vast majority of our students make excellent use of the technological facilities available in the Department.

Extra Curricular Activities and Visit

It is the intention of the Music Department to expose our students to as much music as possible. Therefore concert trips, workshops and visiting performances are regularly organised to broaden students’ musical horizons.

Pupils also have the opportunity to take part in a visit to the USA

The Music Curriculum

AIMS OF THE MUSIC CURRICULUM AT ALL HALLOWS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

• All students, regardless of prior experience or capability, are engaged in active music making/performing arts and are allowed to feel a sense of achievement
• Pupils achieve levels which are in line with, or above expectation for their age. This will be reflective of prior experience and in relation to this experience, students make good progress
• The attainment of boys and girls is broadly similar
• The attainment of different ethnic groups is not significantly different from the general school population
• The music/performing arts curriculum responds to the cultural heritage of the local community, whilst addressing a range of other cultures
• The curriculum promotes the musical/performing achievement of different cultural groups and both sexes
• Good information is provided on musical /performing arts opportunities within the local and wider community
• Students have the opportunity to learn a range of musical instruments, which reflect their interests and aspirations
• Opportunities are provided for students to perform in out-of-class music activities
• The music department is well resourced and ICT is used to enable students to make progress
• Music makes a contribution to the life of the school and to the development of key skills (social, moral and spiritual development, literacy, ICT etc)

> Year 7 – 8 Table Download

Long-Term Planning – Music Key Stage 4 Curriculum Map

> Year 7 – 8 Table Download

GCSE Music at All Hallows Catholic High School (Edexcel Specification)

A Guide for Parents and Students

The Music option at GSCE is a development of the work studied at Key Stage 3 and a stepping stone for further study at AS and A Level. The course aims to develop students’ understanding of a wide range of musical genres and styles and encourages critical and creative thinking.

The course is divided into three components – performing, composing and listening – and has four Areas of Study: Western Classical Music 1600-1899; Music in the 20th century; Popular music in context; World music.

Unit 1: Performing Music

This unit covers 30% of the GCSE course and consists of two performances – a solo performance and an ensemble (group) performance. Students will be assessed continually throughout the two years in both solo and ensemble performance, with the final submissions for assessment being completed in the Spring Term of Year 11.

As a general rule, students opting to take GSCE Music must be working at Grade 3 level (or have been playing for about three years) on at least one instrument and must be receiving regular instrumental lessons either in school or privately.

Students must show that they have taken up the many performing opportunities offered at All Hallows through involvement in concerts, productions and performances in school. Every GCSE music student must be having regular instrumental lessons inside or outside school.

Unit 2: Composing Music

This unit covers 30% of the GCSE course. Students compose four compositions over the two years, of which they submit two for assessment by the Exam Board. Each composition is composed to a different Area of Study (see above). Compositions are completed termly and students are expected to compose, redraft, improve and refine their work in this time. Time management and good organisation skills as well as musical imagination are key ingredients for composition.

Unit 3: Listening and Appraising

This unit covers 40% of the GCSE course and is examined in a 1 hour 30 minute written examination set and marked by the Exam Board at the end of Year 11. In Section A of the paper, students will respond to questions based on the recorded extracts of set works. In Section B, students answer a more in-depth question on a chosen set work(s) and are assessed on Quality of Written Communication (QWC).

As well as studying the set works, students will become familiar with analysing music generally through the elements of music, i.e. texture, pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, structure and timbre. They will become familiar with the sight and sound of individual instruments and groups of instruments and understand how composers use musical devices such as imitation, sequence and pedal.

Students also study how music has developed from the early Baroque period in 1600, through the Classical and Romantic periods of the 18th and 19th Centuries and into the 20th and 21st Centuries.

Area of Study 1:

Western classical music 1600-1899

• Handel: Chorus: And the Glory of the Lord from Messiah
• Mozart: 1st Movement from Symphony No 40 in G minor
• Chopin: Prelude No 15 in D flat major

Area of Study 2:

Music in the 20th century

• Schoenberg: Peripetie from Five orchestral Pieces
• Bernstein: Something’s Coming from West Side Story
• Reich: 3rd Movement from Electric Counterpoint

Area of Study 3:

Popular music in context

• Miles Davis: All Blues from the album Kind of Blue
• J Buckley: Grace from the album Grace
• Moby: Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? From the album Play

Area of Study 4:

World Music

• Capercaillie: Chuir M’Athair Mise Dhan Taigh Charraideach (Skye Waulking Song) from the album Nàduura
• Rag Desh
• Koko: Yiri