![]() GCSE music provides a contemporary, accessible and creative education in Music with an integrated approach to the three main elements – performing, composing and appraising. Key Stage 4 Curriculum GCSE Music - OCR Specification The assessment cards give a clear way to track student’s progress over time. Students in Year 7 and 8 are assessed twice in a half term with clear success criteria and areas they need to improve on. Of course any student who is learning an instrument will always be encouraged to bring their instrument to classroom based lessons. Keyboards are used extensively throughout year 7 and 8 as they allow for a better overall musical understanding and application of skills and techniques. The use of sequencing software is also explored further especially within the Ground bass unit where students essentially make their own dance music track based on Pachelbel’s Canon. Students have access to different instruments within the department including guitars, drums, keyboards, glockenspiels and an array of percussion instruments. Again solo and Ensemble skills are very much encouraged. The use of the Blues scale, Walking bass and chords is explored in more detail. ![]() This allows student to explore and create within the context of the style and genre. Improvisation is encouraged as much as possible throughout the Jazz and Blues unit. Students continue to develop their performance, listening, and compositional skills throughout all units. In Year 8 topics that students study include: Film music Jazz, Blues and Swing, Popular song and Ground Bass. Musical appreciation of different types of music is very much encouraged. Singing is regularly encouraged in lesson time. Students are also introduced to Garageband which enables students to develop their compositional skills and understand the use of arranging music and using loops. Students will also develop their keyboard skills and have opportunities to perform independently and in ensembles. Throughout the different units students study the key features of each style. In Year 7 topics that students study include: The Elements of Music (Pitch, Tempo, Dynamics, Rhythm, Texture, and Timbre), Rhythm and Notation, World music-(African, Calypso, and Reggae). I enjoy sharing my love of music and the enjoyment it brings to us all." I then went on to play in a classical orchestra for a year before deciding to do a PGCE course and become a teacher. This took me onto University in Huddersfield where I studied a performing course. I loved playing throughout my school life and was part of music clubs every night after school. "Starting on the recorder, much to the annoyance of my brother, I ventured onto basic chords on the guitar, then the Double bass and finally the alto saxophone. There are also four practice rooms, a tutorial room and a recording studio which students can access. Students at the Aylesbury Vale Academy also now have use of two industry standard Apple Macintosh suites for classroom teaching, opening up the world of music technology. Students develop their musical appreciation, listening, performance, improvisation and composition skills throughout KS3, including regular singing and rhythm based activities. Lessons are very much practical based and offer many opportunities for students to access a variety of different instruments from different cultures. We offer a broad and diverse curriculum throughout KS3, GCSE, with extended learning outside school hours. ![]() The Music Department has established itself as an integral part of the Performing Arts team. It enables young minds to explore their own emotions and interpret those of others, which in turn fosters more sophisticated, empathetic minds - minds which are expanded and often more capable as a result of learning an instrument. Learning music improves teamwork, communication and builds self-esteem. For these reasons the The Aylesbury Vale Academy Music department is deeply committed to inspiring young people musically. It allows us to communicate beyond our national boundaries, through age ranges and across the divide of history. As an art form old as humankind, music represents a common bond between all cultures. DOING!" Music is a universal language, and at The Aylesbury Vale Academy we truly understand it.
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