Music
subject overview
Starting with the use of music in different film and stage Genres and progressing through to the historic and contemporary use of the djembe in African culture, the music curriculum at Harrow High embraces and celebrates the history and diversity of music. Theory lessons are integrated into practical studies, with the opportunity to learn about the Baroque, Classical and Modern eras. Students benefit from a specialist music teacher in weekly lessons in year 7 and, in years 8 and 9, a double weekly lesson for 11 weeks where they will compose, perform and analyse in several genres.
We are delighted to also have specialist instrumental tutors and four dedicated practice studios for those students who wish to focus on taking their national grades. We work closely with Harrow Music services to ensure that instruments are available for long term loan and that peripatetic staff are available to accommodate growing demand.
unit Overview
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Skills |
● Methods of notating composition scores ● develop performing skills individually and in groups ● develop composing skills to organise musical ideas ● recognise links between the integrated activities of performing, composing and appraising ● broaden musical experience and interests ● develop knowledge, understanding and skills needed to communicate effectively as musicians ● develop awareness of a variety of instruments, styles and approaches to performing ● recognise contrasting genres, styles and traditions of music ● develop as effective and independent learners with enquiring minds ● reflect on and evaluate their own and others’ music |
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Knowledge |
● Developing musical ideas ● Compositional techniques and strategies ● Ensuring technical control and coherence Key learning areas ● organisation of pitch ● tonality ● structure ● sonority ● texture ● tempo, metre and rhythm ● dynamics. |
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Rationale |
Overview Starting with the use of music in different film and stage Genres and progressing through to the historic and contemporary use of the djembe in African culture, the music curriculum at Harrow High embraces and celebrates the history and diversity of music. Theory lessons are integrated into practical studies, with the opportunity to learn about the Baroque, Classical and Modern eras. Students benefit from a specialist music teacher in weekly lessons in year 7 and, in years 8 and 9, a double weekly lesson for 11 weeks where they will compose, perform and analyse in several genres. We encourage all learners to engage with and appreciate the diverse heritage of music, in order to promote personal, social, intellectual and cultural development. Extra-Curricular Music Offer We are delighted to also have specialist instrumental tutors and four dedicated practice studios for those students who wish to focus on taking their national grades. We work closely with Harrow Music services to ensure that instruments are available for long term loan and that peripatetic staff are available to accommodate growing demand. |
knowledge Organisers
A knowledge organiser is an important document that lists the important facts that learners should know by the end of a unit of work. It is important that learners can recall these facts easily, so that when they are answering challenging questions in their assessments and GCSE and A-Level exams, they are not wasting precious time in exams focusing on remembering simple facts, but making complex arguments, and calculations.
We encourage all pupils to use them by doing the following:
- Quiz themselves at home, using the read, write, cover, check method.
- Practise spelling key vocabulary
- Further researching people, events and processes most relevant to the unit.