Music @ The Streetly School
Welcome to the Music Department page!
The Music Department Staff are:
• Mr A Webster – Head of Music
• Mr I Room – Teacher of Music
• Mr C Cumming – Teacher of Music/Head of House
What can students expect from the Music Department at The Streetly School?
• First and foremost enthusiastic and dynamic staff who are committed to bringing music alive!
• A diverse curriculum encompassing projects based upon keyboards, guitars, vocal work and samba drumming.
- A practical, hands on approach to music, with performing, composing, listening and appraising
- A Department that is further supported by 9 specialist visiting instrumental teachers
- Opportunities outside the classroom include becoming a member of one of our 12 extra-curricular ensembles (including Big Band, Classical Guitar, Rock Guitar, Clarinet group, Flute group, Saxophone ensemble, Senior String group, Choir or one of our several supported Rock/Pop groups)
The courses we follow currently…
At Key Stage 3…
Year 7 Projects:
- Elements of Music
- Rhythm and Pulse
- Theme and Variations
- Chinese Music
- Improvising with the Pentatonic Scale
- Ostinato
Year 8 Projects:
- Riffs
- Melody and Harmony (using guitars)
- Improvising with the Dorian Mode
- Ragtime Music
- Indian Music
- Ground Bass
Year 9 Projects:
- Two Blues projects, 1 using guitars and 1 using keyboards
- Samba Drumming
- Song Writing
- Film Music
- Gymnopedie
- Popular Song Arranging
At key stage 4…
Pupils will follow the syllabus for the Edexcel Course. There are 4 Areas of Study for pupils to develop their performing, composing, listening and appraising skills.
Area of Study 1 Repetition and contrast in western classical music 1600-1899 incorporating:
- Ground Bass and variations
- Rondo form
- Ternary form
Area of Study 2 New directions in western classical music 1900 to the present day
- Experimental and electronic music
- Minimalism
- Serialism and expessionism
Area of Study 3 Popular song in context
- Britpop
- Songs from musicals
- Dance music 1985-present day
Area of Study 4 Indian raga, African music and fusions
- Fusions
- Indian music
- African music
At key stage 5…
Pupils will also follow the syllabus for the Edexcel Course. There are 6 Areas of Study:
- Unit 1: Performing
- Unit 2: Composing
- Unit 3: Developing Musical Understanding
- Unit 4: Specialist Options
- Unit 5: Performing and composing
- Unit 6: Analysing music
AS units
Unit 1 Performing: During the course
Students will perform as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble in any style of music. Any instrument(s) and or voice(s) are acceptable as part of a five-six minute assessed performance.
Unit 2 Composing:
Students will develop composition skills leading to the creation of a three- minute piece in response to a chosen brief. Students also write a CD sleeve note to describe aspects of their final composition and explain how other pieces of music have influenced it.
Unit 3 Developing Musical Understanding:
Students will sit a 2-hour exam listening paper where they will respond to structured questions through listening and studying scores. Students also use a score to identify harmonic and tonal features, and then apply this knowledge in the completion of a short and simple passage for SATB.
A2 units
Unit 4: Extended Performance
Students will extend their performance skills in any style. A 12-15 minute recital of a balanced programme of music is required for assessment, either as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble.
Unit 5: Composition and Technical Study
This unit has two sections; composition and technical study. A three- minute piece should be completed in response to a chosen brief. The technical study builds on the knowledge and awareness of harmony gained in unit 3. Students must complete two tasks in this unit choosing from either one composition and one technical study or two compositions or two technical studies.
Unit 6: Further Musical Understanding
Assessment is through a 2 hour examination paper set and marked by Edexcel. There are three sections: Section A: Aural analysis, Section B: Music in context and Section C: Continuity and change in instrumental music.
