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Music

Music

The study of music allows students to express themselves creatively. It engages, inspires and challenges students, immersing them in an incredibly wide range of music as performers, composers and appraisers. They will explore music from across the world with an appreciation of their own culture and heritage as well as the numerous influences that have shaped music across place and time.  

Music at Bedlington Academy leads students on a journey of creativity and self-expression through the exploration of core knowledge and skills.    

Students are encouraged to develop their skills through the use of both traditional and non-traditional instruments as well as the use of music technology to both perform and compose their musical ideas. Musical notation is discovered in its many forms and is applied to the abundance of practical opportunities that the music curriculum demands.   

Students enjoy music because it is varied, fast-paced and fun. Every student is inspired to believe in their potential and to aim high. Throughout their musical career, students develop the ability to perform with accuracy, fluency and expression. They compose music for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences and appraise familiar and unfamiliar pieces of music evaluating their impact, musical quality and purpose.  

Across the key stages students explore and manipulate the use of musical elements to produce desired outcomes, perform from a range of notation developing both solo and ensemble performing skills and appraise a diverse range of music of increasing complexity.  

Music is a valuable subject for all to study whether you are a gifted musician or have never engaged in music outside of school.  

The music department offers a wide array of extra-curricular opportunities including concert band, choir, rock band, Theory club, open mic and our annual whole school musical production.

Students are invited to take part in performances both inside and outside of school including at The Sage, Gateshead as well as in the local community. 

Curriculum information

  

Year  

Autumn  

Spring  

Summer  

7  

Musical Elements  

  • Perform using your voice and instruments  

  • Explore graphic score notation.  

  • Programme music  

Solo performing 

  • Treble clef notation  

  • Perform a melody 

  • Compose music using treble clef notation 

Musicals 

  • History of musicals 

  • Performing as part of an ensemble 

8  

Blues music 

  • Bass clef 

  • Chords 

  • Improvisation 

Music through time 

  • Performing using treble and bass clef notation 

  • Composing to make musical contrasts  

Loops and Samples  

  • Using a DAW  

  • Music FX 

  • Musical structure  

 

9  

Film Music  

  • music to create atmosphere and mood 

  • Video game music   

  • Leitmotifs 

 

Musical Fusions  

  • Samba 

  • Bhangra 

  • Reggae 

 

Popular Song  

  • Melody and accompaniment 

  • Composing using a popular song structure.  

 

10  

Forms and Devices in Western Classical Music  

  •  Set work Badinerie by J.S. Bach.  

  • Composing in different musical forms including binary, ternary and theme and variation.  

  • Developing accuracy, fluency and expression in performance. 

 

Ensembles  

  • Texture and sonority 

  • Composing for different ensembles including blues and jazz ensembles.  

  • Developing accuracy, fluency and expression in performance. 

   

Film Music  

  • Mood and atmosphere 

  • Leitmotif  

  • Composing music for film to represent character and mood 

  • Developing accuracy, fluency and expression in performance. 

   

11  

Popular song  

Explore different styles of popular song including the set work of Toto by Africa.  

  • Develop composing skills manipulating musical elements to respond to a choice of briefs   

  • Developing accuracy, fluency and expression in performance. 

  

Revision of Forms and Devices, Ensembles, Film Music and Popular Song  

  • Develop your composing skills manipulating musical elements to respond to a choice of briefs   

  • Developing accuracy, fluency and expression in performance. 

  

12 

Western Classical Tradition (AOA) 

  • Development of the Symphony 

  • Symphony No. 104 in D major ‘London’: Haydn 

  • Symphony No. 4 in A major ’Italian’: Mendelssohn 

  • Composing to a brief 

  • Performing on chosen instrument 

Musical Theatre (AOC) 

  • Lyrics and music 

  • Music for characters  

  • Types of song and genres 

  • Purpose and intention of composer 

  • Composing to a brief 

  • Performing on chosen instrument 

Into the Twentieth Century (AOE) 

  • Impressionism 

  • Expressionism 

  • Neo-Classicism 

  • Composing to a brief 

  • Performing on chosen instrument 

 

13 

Into the Twentieth Century (AOE) 

  • Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano, Movement II: Poulenc 

  • Three Nocturns, Number 1, Nuages: Debussy 

  • Composing to a brief 

  • Performing on chosen instrument 

 

Revision  

Revision of AOA, AOC and AOE 

Completion of NEA