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Music

Music

The study of Music allows students to express themselves creatively. It engages, inspires and challenges students, immersing them in an incredibly wide range of music as performers, composers and appraisers. They will explore music from across the world with an appreciation of their own culture and heritage as well as the numerous influences that have shaped music across place and time.  

Music at Ashington Academy leads students on a journey of creativity and self-expression through the exploration of core knowledge and skills.    

Students are encouraged to develop their skills through the use of both traditional and non-traditional instruments as well as the use of music technology to both perform and compose their musical ideas. Musical notation is discovered in its many forms and is applied to the abundance of practical opportunities that the music curriculum demands.   

Students enjoy Music because it is varied, fast-paced and fun. Every student is inspired to believe in their potential and to aim high. Throughout their musical career, students develop the ability to perform with accuracy, fluency and expression. They compose music for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences and appraise familiar and unfamiliar pieces of music evaluating their impact, musical quality and purpose.   

 Across the key stages students explore and manipulate the use of musical elements to produce desired outcomes, perform from a range of notation developing both solo and ensemble performing skills and appraise a diverse range of music of increasing complexity.  

Music is a valuable subject for all to study whether you are a gifted musician or have never engaged in music outside of school.  

Curriculum information

Year

Autumn

Spring 

Summer 

7

Musical Elements 

Perform using your voice and instruments 

Explore graphic score notation

Programme music

Treble clef notation 

Perform a melody using notation

Compose music using treble clef notation

Developing vocal skills

Musicals

Performing as part of an ensemble

8

Blues music

Bass clef

Chords (12 bar blues)

Improvisation

Loops and Samples 

Using a DAW 

Music FX

Musical structure 

Music through time

Performing using treble and bass clef notation

Composing to make musical contrasts

9

Film Music 

Music to create atmosphere and mood

Video game music 

Leitmotifs

 

Musical Fusions 

Samba

Bhangra

Reggae

 

Popular Song 

Melody and accompaniment

Composing using a popular song structure. 

 

10

Forms and Devices in Western Classical Music 

 Set work Badinerie by J.S. Bach. 

Composing in different musical forms including binary, ternary and theme and variation. 

Developing accuracy, fluency and expression in performance.

Ensembles 

Texture and sonority

Composing for different ensembles including blues and jazz ensembles. 

Developing accuracy, fluency and expression in performance.

 

Film Music 

Mood and atmosphere

Leitmotif 

Composing music for film to represent character and mood

Developing accuracy, fluency and expression in performance.

 

11

Popular song – explore different styles of popular song including the set work of Toto by Africa. 

Develop composing skills manipulating musical elements to respond to a choice of briefs  

Developing accuracy, fluency and expression in performance.

 

Revision of Forms and Devices, Ensembles, Film Music and Popular Song 

Develop composing skills manipulating musical elements to respond to a choice of briefs  

Developing accuracy, fluency and expression in performance.

 

Music is where I can be myself and perform the music I love.
Year 9 student
For me, music is the best subject in the world! You can study your hobby!
Year 12 student