THE CURRICULUM - MUSIC

The music department at Shorefields is an active part of the school life. The Head of music is Mr Carmichael, and Mr Noyce is a part time teacher, teaching instrument skills and ICT skills. There are two classrooms, one with a suite of computers configured for the latest music software, three practice rooms, and a music office.
We provide instrumental tuition on a range of instruments, currently violin, viola, drum kit, flute, sax, clarinet, piano, keyboards, classical guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, trumpet, trombone and tenor horn lessons are provided. Lessons are held during the school day and are rotated so that students do not attend at the same time each week. They are taken by very experienced teachers and are held in one of the three practice rooms. Instrument exams are arranged through the school and are entered via one of the music exam boards.

There are a number of extracurricular groups. We have a School Band on Mondays, Steel band on Tuesdays, and on Wednesdays we have Session Club where students can book out practice rooms and equipment, or use the computers. On Thursdays there is Gospel Choir and on Fridays we have Rock School. These groups provide entertainment for various in school and out of school events throughout the school year.

Whatever genre of music students like, we can usually cater for it!

Music at KS3

Students follow a broad syllabus arranged into modules.

Year 7

This starts off with a module on Gamelan music which we perform using the large selection of pitched percussion instruments. We follow this with an introduction to rhythm and the production of a Rhythm piece on the computers. The term ends with a look at the Orchestra and its sections.

The students start the next term with keyboard skills and then compose a fanfare, continue to develop their listening skills, and then work on O-Generator learning to produce modern styles of music on the computers. They end with Keyboard skills level 2.

In term 3 we look at Graphic Scores, composing, performing and recording them. We then continue on O- Generator producing a showcase piece, check out the cover version and finish by producing a poster on an artist who has influenced the students using the computers for research.

Year 8

We start the year with a module on how music changes the way we view images. This is followed by Keyboard skills, and then advanced use of O-Generator. The next subject is the blues, and each class also builds up a blues recording. A module on “Funk” and James Brown follows, leading into a listening section, where we compare completely different styles of music. The next section looks at composing a classical piece of music followed by composing a dance piece of music using Reason. We then start to complete the year with the history of Rap, and a practical section where students compose and record their own rap piece. Finally we use Reason again to compose a final showcase piece.

Year 9 and KS4

Year 9

Students at Shorefields take their first option choice after year 8. Pupils opting for music take the BTEC first certificate in music. This exciting course involves 3 units.

1. Students study composition which is unit 4. This unit can be produced with some of the ICT software, acoustic instruments or a combination of both of these.
2. Students opt for either Unit 14 Researching an area of music, or Unit 3 Solo Musical Performance using either their chosen instrument, or voice.
3. The course ends with Unit 1, Planning and Creating a Music Product, which produces a product, in this case a showcase album on CD of work that they have produces, as well as re-mastering some of the music from previous years.

This course gives a well rounded and balanced view of music which develops skills useful in the industry, and also in other fields. The skills gained are valuable in any career path the students choose for themselves when they move on from Shorefields.

Our Student's Work