The vision for music is to foster creativity, self-expression and confidence; encouraging students to explore the richness of musical expression and embrace its inherent diversity. Rooted in Christian values, music promotes personal, cultural and spiritual growth while broadening musical horizons and deepening appreciation for music’s beauty and impact. Through music we encourage young people from all backgrounds to flourish and expand their imagination, celebrating the effect music can have on us.
Students will develop the skills to appraise, perform and compose music as they grow in their understanding and application of the elements of music. Students will develop their understanding of a range of styles and genres throughout key stage 3, with topics that explore folk music from the British Isles, Jamaican music, Indian Hindustani, and Chinese and West African musical cultures. Students will experience music that is over 300 years old from the Western Classical tradition, as well as popular music that has been produced in the last decade. Students will also explore techniques used in programme music, film music and music for games. Students will develop awareness of a variety of instruments, along with different approaches to performing and composing.
Students will develop knowledge, understanding and skills needed to communicate effectively as musicians, through exploratory talk in group discussion, through giving and receiving feedback, and through self-reflection.
Students will explore how to communicate musically by reading and writing notation, as well as using software to capture and modify ideas.
Musical study at Abbey Grange encourages students to expand their experience and give them the tools to explore creativity in the subject. Practical tasks give students the opportunity to flourish and develop their skills.
The curriculum allows for peer assessment of skills where students are guided to give constructive feedback that praises achievements and gives clear supportive comments that lead to progress.
Students are encouraged to challenge themselves, to persevere to develop their skills further and grow as musicians. Opportunities for class performance build confidence in their skills and allow students to develop their experience of performance environments.
The curriculum exposes students to a range of musical styles that are chosen to broaden horizons and give examples of excellence that can be emulated. Students reflect on progress and set targets on how they can improve.
Music gives opportunities for developing leadership skills in collaborative tasks. This allows students to support each other as they develop their musical skills and helps all students to flourish in the subject.
Progress in Music is evaluated in each topic through a practical task, and a listening and appraising assessment. The practical task could be a performance on a keyboard or a composition using software depending on the topic being explored. The listening and appraising assessment for each unit will use short excerpts of music and students will recognise and analyse the use of features.
GCSE Music allows students to further develop their understanding of how music works and how it can be used as a creative and rewarding artform. The course supports students in developing skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, academic analysis, creativity, and expression. GCSE Music helps students continue in their journey of cultural appreciation alongside exploring the uses of music throughout its history.
The AQA A level Music course enables students to develop their understanding of how music works through detailed analysis of a range of styles that gives students the tools to evaluate and critique excerpts of music effectively. The course covers The Western Classical Tradition, with emphasis on Baroque solo concerto, Classical operas of Mozart and solo piano pieces from the Romantic era of music. The course also focuses on Popular music, with the music of set artists, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Muse, Beyonce, Labrinth and Daft Punk analysed in detail. Musical theatre is also explored so students can evaluate about music is used to support productions, convey narratives and inform the audience about characters.
A level Music at Abbey Grange continues to encourage students to expand their experience and give them the tools to explore creativity in the subject, particularly through analysis of set works and then using techniques found in their own work. Practical tasks give students the opportunity to further develop their skills and flourish as musicians.
The course allows for peer assessment of skills where students are guided to give constructive feedback that praises achievements and gives clear supportive and insightful comments that lead to progress.
Students are encouraged to challenge themselves, to persevere to develop their skills further and grow as musicians. Opportunities for group and solo performance build confidence in their skills and allow students to develop their experience of performance environments as well as prepare them for assessments.
The course continues to expose students to a range of musical styles and gives students the tools to fully analyse and critique the music they study. The musical pieces chosen are examples of excellence that students should emulate in their own work. Students reflect on progress and set targets on how they can improve.
Music gives opportunities for developing leadership skills in collaborative tasks. This allows students to support each other as they develop their musical skills and helps all students to flourish in the subject. A level students are strongly encouraged to get involved in extra curricular activities and use their deeper understanding to support the musical progress of others.
Students will develop their essay writing skills through Apply and Demonstrate tasks in lessons and homework tasks outside the classroom. Self, peer and teacher assessment of these tasks will generate feedback and next steps on how to improve. In class listening and appraising assessments will also help to measure progress. Progress in instrumental and/or vocal performance skills will be supported and feedback given to help students develop into accomplished performers. Composition skills will be developed through detailed analysis of a range of composers’ works, and then students using the techniques they have found in their own work, with feedback given to prepare them for their final submission portfolio.
The skills developed in GCSE Music are directly transferable to A level Music study where appraising, performing and composition are all components of the final grade. The deeper understanding of how the elements of music are deployed and explored in different styles of music will be invaluable as students move to analysing, evaluating and critiquing music in long answer form.
The AQA A level Music course enables students to develop their understanding of how music works through detailed analysis of a range of styles that gives students the tools to evaluate and critique excerpts of music effectively. The course covers The Western Classical Tradition, with emphasis on Baroque solo concerto, Classical operas of Mozart and solo piano pieces from the Romantic era of music. The course also focuses on Popular music, with the music of set artists, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Muse, Beyonce, Labrinth and Daft Punk analysed in detail. Musical theatre is also explored so students can evaluate about music is used to support productions, convey narratives and inform the audience about characters.
A level Music at Abbey Grange continues to encourage students to expand their experience and give them the tools to explore creativity in the subject, particularly through analysis of set works and then using techniques found in their own work. Practical tasks give students the opportunity to further develop their skills and flourish as musicians.
The course allows for peer assessment of skills where students are guided to give constructive feedback that praises achievements and gives clear supportive and insightful comments that lead to progress.
Students are encouraged to challenge themselves, to persevere to develop their skills further and grow as musicians. Opportunities for group and solo performance build confidence in their skills and allow students to develop their experience of performance environments as well as prepare them for assessments.
The course continues to expose students to a range of musical styles and gives students the tools to fully analyse and critique the music they study. The musical pieces chosen are examples of excellence that students should emulate in their own work. Students reflect on progress and set targets on how they can improve.
Music gives opportunities for developing leadership skills in collaborative tasks. This allows students to support each other as they develop their musical skills and helps all students to flourish in the subject. A level students are strongly encouraged to get involved in extra curricular activities and use their deeper understanding to support the musical progress of others.
Students will develop their essay writing skills through Apply and Demonstrate tasks in lessons and homework tasks outside the classroom. Self, peer and teacher assessment of these tasks will generate feedback and next steps on how to improve. In class listening and appraising assessments will also help to measure progress. Progress in instrumental and/or vocal performance skills will be supported and feedback given to help students develop into accomplished performers. Composition skills will be developed through detailed analysis of a range of composers’ works, and then students using the techniques they have found in their own work, with feedback given to prepare them for their final submission portfolio.
The A level music qualification is excellent preparation for a range of Music based University degree courses due to the board range of styles explored. Students have gone on to performance or composition courses at Conservatoire as well as degrees courses on popular music, music technology, musical theatre, and music journalism.
