INTRODUCTION

The Department aims to make music accessible to all by developing existing talent and encouraging pupils to be creative whatever their level of achievement. Pupils are introduced to all areas of music and learn to develop their skills through listening, appraising, composing and performing.

STAFFING

The Department has two specialist classroom teachers:

Head of Department Mrs R Boyd
BA(Hons)Music, MA Music Psychology

Mr A D Brown

BA Salford

There are also four visiting peripatetic staff all highly qualified three of whom have degrees from the Royal Northern College of Music.

ACCOMMODATION

The Music Department is situated in Fernlea, the old Victorian Mansion at the heart of the school, and features a large teaching room equipped with keyboards, percussion instruments, a selection of world music instruments as well as a high quality sound system. There is also a Rock Room equipped with electric and acoustic guitars, an acoustic drum kit and a set of V Drums and a Rehearsal Room with two pianos, keyboards and a variety of orchestral instruments. The department also has a Music Technology suite which is well resourced with seven high quality computers all running Sibelius Software and the professional sequencing software Cubase SL. These machines are linked to MIDI keyboards and have the ability to record live instruments. The Music Technology Suite is also home to two 16 track digital recording stations with a variety of effects processors and a selection of studio standard microphones.

CURRICULUM

In Year 7, pupils have one 50 minute lesson per week of classroom tuition as well as a 50 minute lesson devoted to choir rehearsal. In Years 8 and 9, pupils have two 50 minute classroom tuition lessons. At GCSE pupils who opt to take music have four timetabled lessons per week, as follows:-one 50 minute listening and appraising session, one 50 minute Theory lesson where pupils are trained in order to sit Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examinations and two 50 minute composing/music technology sessions. In the Sixth Form, this is increased to five periods per week.

Outside the Classroom
The Department also organises out trips out of school to enhance learning. Included in these trips are visits to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, cinema trips, and theatre musicals trips most recently to London. This year we are taking pupils to New York to experience Broadway Musicals.

Extra Curricular activities within the Department include ensembles, MTT Friday (a Music Technology session for junior pupils), rock band rehearsals and coursework sessions for examination pupils. We also offer instrumental tuition on a variety of instruments.

Key Stage Three topics:
Rhythm and Notation, Instruments of the Orchestra, World Music, Classical music from 1600’s to present day,l Blues, Jazz, Rock, Dance/electronic music, Heavy Metal, Film Music, Reggae, rap and r ’n’ b.

EXAMINATIONS

GCSE Curriculum
Areas of Study include Music from 1600 – 1899, Twentieth Century Music, Popular Song in context and Rhythms, modes and scales from around the world
The examination consists of 30% Composition, 30% Performance and 40% Listening and Appraising

A Level Music Technology
70% Coursework and 30% Examination
All Key Stage Four and Five Pupils are entered for ABRSM Theory Examinations