Music

The music curriculum intent is designed to engage and inspire students to develop a love and appreciation of music and an understanding of its place and importance within society, as well as develop students’ talents as musicians. Its aim is to increase students’ self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. Develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, perform and listen with discrimination.

The Tiverton Community is one of the most vibrant, creative communities within the South West. The Music Department exists within The Performing Arts faculty with close links to TCAT, and aims to develop the skills, understanding and knowledge of all performing arts to enable students to fully engage in life-long learning within the community and beyond.

The music curriculum is seen holistically as the Classroom curriculum, Extra-curricular clubs, collaborative events such as musicals and public concerts as well as instrumental and vocal tuition for individuals and small groups.

Trinity Graded exams are often offered to students learning instruments at the High School and are run within the familiar surroundings of the music department.

The music curriculum is designed to meet the aims of the National Curriculum; Seven ‘Key Constructs’ have been identified as the most important knowledge, skills and understanding that students need in order to make progress in music. To support the delivery of Key Constructs the curriculum if focused on teaching component knowledge, referred to as ‘Inter-related dimensions’ within the National Curriculum or commonly as Musical Elements. For example; Pitch, Melody, Dynamics etc. Component knowledge is taught through engaging topics building in challenge and detail through the years within a spiral curriculum.

The Year 7 music curriculum is designed to provide a firm foundation for all students, regardless of their prior learning. Students are introduced to valuable ensemble and performance skills, including singing, through the curriculum. The Key Constructs and component knowledge are introduced in the Autumn term and interleaved throughout the KS3 and 4 Music Learning Journey. In line with the National Curriculum, Model Music Curriculum and The National Plan for Music Education, singing is introduced in Year 7, building on prior learning and primary school experiences.

The Year 8 music curriculum delivers engaging topics that further develop students’ skills and knowledge of Key Constructs and component knowledge first introduced in Year 7.

Students are further supported with their skill levels in performing, principally on classroom

Music is an optional pathway for students in Year 9. It is presented as an important transitional year between KS3 and 4, designed to guide students from a more collaborative to a more independent style of working required at KS4.

Relevant knowledge and skills are delivered through topic-based composition and performance-based schemes of learning. The curriculum focuses on listening, contextual understanding, vocabulary development along with more advanced Musical Theory, ensuring students are equipped to engage fully with the Listening and Appraising component of KS4. Students are also introduced to two types of music software, to help facilitate the composition demands of the GCSE.

Within year 10 students are taught the 4 Areas of Study from the AQA GCSE specification; Western Classical 1650-1910, Popular Music, Traditional Music and Western Classical since 1910. Within these 4 Areas of Study students are able to further develop their understanding of component knowledge through related composing, performing and analytical and listening activities and associated vocabulary of up to 4 sub genres in each Area of Study.

During Year 11 students interleave all Areas of Study and set works taught in year 10, aurally and contextually, linking specific and genre specific vocabulary through associated listening and extended writing activities.

More curriculum time is allocated to the completion of the NEA elements of the course in Year 11.