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St Cuthbert Mayne School Curriculum Map 2020-2021   Department: Music   Department Intent and overview  

To build on any previous knowledge and skills through performing, composing and listening. St Cuthbert Mayne Music Department follows a  highly practical approach to lessons and our students begin performing from their very first lesson in Year 7. Theory is used to support practical  learning. Students learn how to play various instruments and use these skills to play together in ensemble settings. They will develop the  confidence to perform, resilience as well as self-discipline and teamwork. In addition to classroom lessons, students have the opportunity to  further study an instrument of their choice with our peripatetic teachers. Currently we offer lessons in singing, piano, drums and guitar  (including bass and ukulele).    

Key skills & concepts of learning:   

– Develop knowledge and understanding  – Perform, compose and listen to music  – Develop instrumental and vocal skills  – Explore cultures, musical styles and traditions  – Play with accuracy & expression  – Develop confidence, resilience, self-discipline and teamwork  

 The national curriculum for music aims to ensure that all students:   

❏ perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the  great composers and musicians  

❏ learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical  instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence  

❏ understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch,  duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.  

 

 

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Key Stage 3 Curriculum Summary  

Year 7:  - Graphic Scores  - Elements of Music  

 Year 7 begin their musical journey looking at various ways to write music down. Composition and performance are at the heart of these units  and we concentrate on learning to read basic forms of notation.   

Year 8:  - Blues Music  - Nightmare Before Christmas  

 Year 8 are given the opportunity to build on their performing and composing skills and continue to write down music using various notations.  They will explore features of music in more detail looking at structure and melodic/rhythmic features.   

Year 9:  - Music for Advertising  - Covers and Arrangements  

 Year 9 students will hone in on their performance and composing skills which will continue being featured regularly in lessons. Students will call  upon their own tastes and arrangement skills to create a more personalised approach to their music learning.  

 How will my child be assessed?   Students will mainly be assessed on their performance skills. They will have to show accuracy, timing and fluency. Where appropriate, they will  be assessed on their composition skills. They will have to communicate an understanding of the style/genre of music and demonstrate  imagination and creativity.   

   

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How can I support my child at home?   Encourage your child to watch video clips on Youtube of performances of the piece or style/genre they are learning in class. Help them to  memorise lyrics to the song. If you have a keyboard or piano at home or are able to download a keyboard app onto a smartphone or tablet,  encourage them to practice their part at home. If you have any of the other instruments they are learning practice can be done on these too.  Short bursts of 10-20 minutes a day supports and sustains rapid progress.  

   

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Year 7 Autumn Term 1 - Graphic Scores  

Lesson   1   2   3   4   5   6  

Knowledge   (Content covered)  

Introduction to  Graphic Scores  and composers  who use them.  

Writing their  own graphic  scores for vocals  and developing  group  performance  skills.  

Composing  graphic scores  using ostinatos,  pitch, tempo and  dynamics.  

Composing  music for a  haunted house  using  compositional  devices.  

Developing  compositions by  adding texture.  

Completing  compositions  and developing  performance  techniques.  

Skills   Performing  Composing  Listening & Appraising  Responding to verbal and written feedback using key musical vocabulary  

Assessment    Paired  composing and  performance  

Vocal  composing and  group  performance  

Group  Performance  

Paired  composing and  performance &  Self Assessment  

Paired  performance  

Final  assessment -  performance of  composition and  self-assessment  (with teacher  comments)  

Gatsby 4 (Linking curriculum  learning to careers)  GATSBY BENCHMARK 4  

Musician  Composer  Music Therapist  Conductor  Concert Promoter  Designer  Choreographer  

   

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Year 7 Autumn Term 2 - Elements of Music  

Lesson   1   2   3   4   5   6   7  

Knowledge   (Content  covered)  

Understandin g pitch and  learning to  read basic  stave  notation  using the  treble clef.  

Understanding  dynamics and  developing  keyboard skills  as a soloist and  duet.  

Developing  keyboard skills  focusing on  right hand  technique,  sharps and  rhythms.  

Developing  keyboard skills  focusing on left  hand technique,  sharps and  timing.  

Developing  keyboard skills  focusing on right  AND left hand  technique  together  focusing on  timing, pitch,  rhythms and  sharps.  

Composing  music for a still  image and  understanding  texture and  how to use it  when  composing.  

Developing  composition  using elements  of music ready  for final  performance.  

Skills   Performing  Composing  Listening & Appraising  Responding to verbal and written feedback using key musical vocabulary  

Assessment    Staff notation  quiz  

Elements of  Music quiz  

Solo/paired  performance  

Solo/paired  performance  

Solo/paired  performance &  Self-Assessment  

Paired/group  performance  

Final  assessment -  solo/paired/gro up performance  and  self-assessment  (with teacher  comments)   

Gatsby 4  (Linking  curriculum  learning to  careers)  GATSBY  BENCHMARK 4  

Musician  Composer  Video Game designer  Software creator  Music Technology Specialist  Film Composer  

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Year 8 Autumn Term 1 - Blues Music  

Lesson   1   2   3   4   5   6  

Knowledge   (Content covered)  

Understanding the  main  characteristics of  Blues music as well  as how lyrics are  constructed.  Knowing what 12  Bar Blues is.  

Writing lyrics  using Blues  structure and  playing  individual  instrumental  parts.  

Understanding  how to create a  Blues  composition and  how to develop  instrumental  parts to make  them more  interesting.  

Continuing to  compose their  Blues piece and  also looking at  improvising  using Blues  scales and  ‘hooks’.  

Understanding  ways of  developing  instrumental  parts using  improvisation  while adding a  coherent  structure to  their songs.  

Understanding  what makes a  good musical  performance and  offering effective  peer feedback.  

Skills   Composing  Performing  Listening and Appraising  Responding to verbal and written feedback using key musical vocabulary  

Assessment    Group  Performance  

Solo/Paired  Performance &  Self Assessment  

Solo/Paired  Performance  

Solo/Paired  Performance &  Self Assessment  

Group  Performance  

Final assessment  solo/paired/group  performance and  self-assessment  (with teacher  feedback)   

Gatsby 4 (Linking  curriculum learning to  careers)  GATSBY BENCHMARK 4  

Musician  Composer  Songwriter  Music Librarian  Lyricist  Music Teacher  Ethnomusicologist  Instrument Repair and Restoration Specialist  Instrumental Teacher  

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Year 8 Autumn Term 2 - Nightmare Before Christmas  

Lesson   1   2   3   4   5   6  

Knowledge   (Content covered)  

Identifying  ‘scary’ themes in  music and  describing them  using musical  vocabulary.  

Identifying and  playing triad  chords with a  melody.  

Arranging intro  and verse and  compose a  melody using  minor  pentatonic.  

Understand  what a  motif/hook is  and create one  in composition.  

Understand how  music conveys  meanings/feelin gs and create a  musical idea in  composition that  conveys a  specific emotion.  

Play effectively  as part of a  group including a  solo part within  composition.  

Skills   Performing  Composing  Listening & Appraising  Responding to verbal and written feedback using key musical vocabulary  

Assessment    Solo/Paired  Performance  

Solo/Paired  Performance &  Self Assessment  

Solo/Paired  Performance &  Composition  

Solo/Paired  Composition &  Self Assessment  

Solo/Paired/Gro up Composition  

Final  assessment -  solo/paired/grou p performance  and  self-assessment  (with teacher  feedback)   

Gatsby 4 (Linking curriculum  learning to careers)  GATSBY BENCHMARK 4  

Musician  Singer  Composer  Arranger  Producer  Lyricist  Sound Technician  Publicist  Designer  Film Maker  

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Year 9 Autumn Term 1 - Music for Advertising  

Lesson   1   2   3   4   5   6  

Knowledge   (Content covered)  

Developing  knowledge of  what makes an  effective advert  and  understanding  how music is  used in the  media and  advertising.  

Developing  knowledge of  tag lines, why  companies use  them and how  they are  effective.  

Developing  knowledge of  different types  of music that are  appropriate to  use in a  jingle/advert  and learning  about the  impact of  effective  advertising and  target  audiences.  

Writing short  scripts for  adverts and  developing  composing skills  by creating an  effective jingle.  

Developing  musical ideas  and keyboard  skills by timing  music to cue  points.  Understand  about chords  and how to use  them in  different ways.  

Developing  practicing and  performance skills  and playing jingles  to the class.    

Skills   Composing  Performing  Listening and Appraising  Responding to verbal and written feedback using key musical vocabulary  

Assessment    Paired  performance  

Paired  Performance &  Self Assessment  

Solo/Paired  Performance  

Paired  Performance &  Self Assessment  

Paired  Performance  

Final assessment -  solo/paired/group  performance and  self-assessment  (with teacher  feedback)   

Gatsby 4 (Linking curriculum  learning to careers)  GATSBY BENCHMARK 4  

Musician  Licensing Representative  Mastering Engineer  A & R Coordinator  Teacher  Jingle Writer  

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Music Publisher  Video Game Composer  Artist Relations and Development Representative  Background Singer  DJ  

   

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Year 9 Autumn Term 2 - Covers and Arrangements  

Lesson   1   2   3   4   5   6  

Knowledge   (Content covered)  

Learning how  different types  of songs are  used in many  different  cultures and  how they can be  played in  different styles  to create  different effects.    

Learn about the  structure and  textural layers  of songs.  Develop  performing as a  group with an  awareness of  structure,  texture and  timing.  

Performing  an  arrangement  of a popular  song and  evaluating  own and  others  arrangement s.  

Deepen  understanding of  hooks and riffs  and how these  have been used  in popular songs.  Listen to and  perform a  number of  popular hooks  and riffs.  

Rehearse a popular  song as either a  soloist, duet or  group, creating own  arrangement.   

Rehearse and  perform own  arrangement of a  popular song as a  soloist, duet or  group focusing on  song structure  and textural  layers.  

Skills   Performing  Composing  Listening & Appraising  Responding to verbal and written feedback using key musical vocabulary  

Assessment    Group  Performance  

Solo  Performance &  Self Assessment  

Solo/Paired  Performance  

Paired  Performance &  Self Assessment  

Solo/Paired/ Group  performance  

Final assessment  -  solo/paired/group  performance and  self-assessment  (with teacher  feedback)          

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Gatsby 4 (Linking curriculum  learning to careers)  GATSBY BENCHMARK 4  

Musician  Radio/TV Presenter  Composer  Music Critic  Choir Director  Choreographer  Festival Director  Music Blogger  Music Editor  Voice Therapist  Accompanist  Album Cover Designer  

   

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Key Stage 4 Curriculum Summary  

What will my child learn?  

 Students will gain a practical introduction into life and work in the music industry whilst developing key skills such as teamwork, leadership and  communication. Students will plan and put on their own concert or create a CD/music website in school and will have the opportunity to choose  an additional 2 units including both performance, composition and music technology.   

➔ Unit 1- Music Industry:  In this unit, students will explore all aspects of the music industry including job roles, venues, health and safety and all of the organisations that  work behind the scenes in the music industry. Assessment for this unit will be an exam.   

➔ Unit 2- Managing a Music Product:  Students will choose whether to perform or work behind the scenes to put on a school concert in response to a brief. They will need to consider  time frames, target audiences, genres and technical implications to make their concert a success. They will be required to work as a team but will  be assessed individually through their planning, marketing and evaluation of their concert.     Students will then select 2 of the following optional units:   

➔ Unit 4: Introducing Music composition:  Students will explore a variety of different musical starting points and develop their final composition in response to a brief. This can be in any  style the student chooses.   

➔ Unit 5: Introducing Music Performance:  Students will rehearse and manage their own time to work towards the performance of two contrasting pieces of music. They could use the  same instrument or 2 different instruments. It is expected that students can already play an instrument/vocals to access this unit or be learning  through our peri system in school.   

➔ Unit 7: Introducing Music Sequencing:  Students will take a piece of music and input each individual part into Logic Pro X using a variety of different techniques. They will then apply  final touches to ensure their piece of work sounds like the original.   

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What type of home learning will be set?   Students will be required to practice their skills weekly either at home or in school. Additional home learning will be set when appropriate to  complete written coursework tasks for their final assessment. These could be in the form of research or completing a progress log/skills audit.   

How will my child be assessed?   Students will be assessed on a series of practical performance tasks and coursework based activities for each unit. This could be instrumental  performance or demonstrating music production skills. The grades will be awarded for being able to confidently apply a variety of skills during a  various projects and tracking their own progress throughout the unit. Students will also be required to fully participate in rehearsals and set  regular targets to improve their work.   Unit 1 is assessed by a 1hr written exam paper which will be sat in the may of Year 10. The exam is worth 50 marks.    Four units will be completed in total. One will be externally assessed and three will be internally assessed but externally moderated.   The marks awarded will equate to a Pass, Merit or Distinction. If a student achieves a distinction in all 4 units then a Distinction* will be awarded.   

What can my child move onto with Music?   Universities and employers recognise the vast range of transferable skills that musicians develop: working as an individual and contributing as  part of a team; working to meet deadlines and planning for long-term goals, to name just a few.   The career progression choices are vast and cover a wide range of musical skills and career paths. Careers in the music industry include music  performance, music producer, songwriter, composer (of traditional pieces or video game/TV background music), band management, tour  managers, roadie, publicist, music marketing, booking agent, concert promoters as well as many more.   If you are looking outside the music industry, there are also many more career options such as music teacher, music therapist, radio DJ,  journalist, author and some music specialists deliver music workshops all over the world.  

 

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Year 10 Autumn Term 1  

Topic/Unit   Unit 1 - The Music Industry Exam (25%)   Unit 7 - Music Sequencing (25%)  

Knowledge   (Content covered)  

In this unit students will:  ● Understand different types of organisations  

that make up the music industry  ● Understand job roles in the music industry  

In this unit students will:  ● Explore music sequencing techniques  ● Use music sequencing software to create music  

Skills   Exam skills and techniques alongside an understanding  of different sectors and business practices in the music  industry. Students will gain awareness and the  underpinning knowledge of the structure of the music  industry, its working practices and opportunities.  

● Note input and editing  ● Using effects to enhance their music  ● Recording and editing  ● Mixing  

Assessment    Mock exams and preparation for Summer exam   A screencast presentation explaining students’ own  sequenced examples OR a written report with  annotated screenshots.  A short piece of music showing sufficient evidence of  sequencing techniques/effects and a written diary/log  with screenshots.  

Gatsby 4 (Linking curriculum  learning to careers)  GATSBY BENCHMARK 4  

Musician  Composer/Songwriter  Musical Director/Conductor  Live Sound Technician  Roadie  Instrument Technician/Support  Artist Manager  Venue Manager  Studio Manager  Promoter   A & R  Sound Engineer  Session Musician  Mastering Engineer  Manufacturer  

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Music Journalist  Music Blogger  Broadcaster  Software Programmer  App Developer  DJ  Retailer / Distributor  Hire Company  

   

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Year 11 Autumn Term 1  

Topic/Unit   Unit 1 - The Music Industry Exam (25%)   Unit 5 - Music Performance (25%)  

Knowledge   (Content covered)  

In this unit students will:  ● Understand different types of organisations  

that make up the music industry  ● Understand job roles in the music industry  

In this unit students will:  ● Develop their music performances skills and  

review their own practice  ● Use their music performance skills within  

rehearsals and performances  

Skills   Exam skills and techniques alongside an understanding  of different sectors and business practices in the music  industry. Students will gain awareness and the  underpinning knowledge of the structure of the music  industry, its working practices and opportunities.  

● Instrumental techniques and skills  ● Performance techniques and skills  ● Interpretive skills and stylistic qualities  ● Music rehearsal skills  ● Personal management skills  

Assessment    Mock exams & 1hr written exam in January 2021  (50marks)  

Video recordings of performances (2 x contrasting  pieces) and rehearsals, teacher observations, ongoing  written logs, including baseline skills and target  setting, audio /video diary  

Gatsby 4 (Linking curriculum  learning to careers)  GATSBY BENCHMARK 4  

Musician  Composer/Songwriter  Musical Director/Conductor  Live Sound Technician  Roadie  Instrument Technician/Support  Artist Manager  Venue Manager  Studio Manager  Promoter   A & R  Sound Engineer  Session Musician  Mastering Engineer  Manufacturer  Music Journalist  

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Music Blogger  Broadcaster  Software Programmer  App Developer  DJ  Retailer / Distributor  Hire Company