Who we are

Mr L. Wickenden
 
About Music
At Kings the Performing Arts department are passionate about making the Arts accessible for all and passing on not only our passion for our individual art forms but also the transferable skills so desired by employers and universities.  We encourage and model creative thinking, the pushing of boundaries and originality - mirrored in our student and devised school productions.  We create space for our young people to explore and improvise in a safe, enjoyable and creative environment.

KS3
In Year 7 students will complete the following units of work:
Building Blocks
Indian Music
The Beatles and Guitar
Music Technology
African Music
Reggae

In Year 8 students will complete the following units of work:
Riffs
The Blues
Decades
World Music
The Orchestra and Film Music

In Year 9 students will complete the following units of work:
Rock Music
20th Century Music
The Romantics
Dance Music
Final Independent Project Composing (Student Choice)

GCSE
 
Examination Board: WJEC
 
Specification Code: C660QS
 
Course Outline:
The GCSE course in music is designed to allow development in the understanding and appreciation of a range of different kinds of music, extending your own interests and increasing your ability to make judgments about music quality.
 
By studying music, development of broader life-skills and attributes including critical and creative thinking, aesthetic sensitivity and emotional and cultural development will be achieved.
 
In order to be able to study GCSE music you need to be competent in at least one instrument (that includes voice) up to grade 2 (or equivalent) or have already demonstrated commitment to spending extra time developing vocal and/or instrumental skill.  In order to achieve in music you must begin the course with some musical skills beyond that which you have gained in your school music lessons.
 
The WJEC specification caters for all types of musicians such as the classical string player, singers, the rock guitarist or even the DJ (providing that they have their own DJ equipment.)
 
The course is broken into three areas which will have elements of the following areas of study:
 
Areas of Study
 
Unit 1: Performing Music (30%)

• Students produce both a solo and an ensemble performance recorded at any time during the

       course. Performances may be on any instrument and in any style, with the centre choosing the               music to be performed by each student.

• Controlled assessment conditions will apply to this unit, which is assessed by the teacher and

            moderated by Edexcel.
 
Unit 2: Composing Music (30%)

• Students produce: two compositions, one from a brief set by the exam board and one based on a brief set by the student.
• The combined length of the two pieces should be at least three minutes.
• Controlled assessment conditions will apply to this unit, which is assessed by the teacher and

            moderated by Edexcel.
 
Unit 3: Music – Listening and Appraising (40%)

• 1-hour 30-minute examination externally set and marked by Edexcel.

Students respond to questions based around the set works for the unit which consist of:- S Bach: 3rd Movement from Brandenburg Concerto no. 5 in D major, L van Beethoven: 1st Movement from Piano Sonata no. 8 in C minor ‘Pathétique’, H Purcell: Music for a While, Queen: Killer Queen, S Schwartz: Defying Gravity (from the album of the cast recording of Wicked), J Williams: Main title/Rebel Blockade Runner (from the soundtrack to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope), Afro Celt Sound System: Release, Esperanza Spalding: Samba Em Preludio (from the album ‘Esperanza’)

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