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Music
The Music Department
The Music departments vision is to ensure that all students can access music, in a way they feel comfortable and be encouraged to make the progress they are capable, each lesson.
We don’t just sit at keyboards and play songs – we have a wide selection of percussive instruments (including a Samba kit), whole class sets of acoustic guitars and ukuleles, and we sing too!
Facilities
Facilities
Housed in 3 separate teaching rooms, with a host of practice rooms, the music department have 2 traditional classrooms and 1 music technology studio with recording studio.
Our traditional classrooms house 20 Yamaha PSR-E343 keyboards, a Yamaha Clavinova, and class sets of acoustic guitars and ukuleles.
Our practice rooms also contain Yamaha Clavinova’s as well as Yamaha PSR-E343 keyboards. We also have a dedicated Drum Room which houses a Yamaha kit and amplifiers for electric guitars and basses.
Our Music Technology studio has 16 iMacs running MacOS Sierra, Logic Pro X and Sibelius 8.
At our Sixth Form site on Rouncil Lane, we have a further 10 iMacs with running the same MacOS and software.
Keystage 3
Key Stage 3 Curriculum
Each topic runs for 1 term and is substantial musical project that focuses on the key musical skills of performing, composing and appraising music. We believe that this allows for deeper and more meaningful music tuition to take place. During each termly project, each student will be taught and tested on the musical theory concepts of the project; they will take part in self and peer assessment, as well as being formally assessed by their teacher.
Students are encouraged to bring and use their own instruments as well as being encouraged to use the wider classroom instruments too.
We operate a rooming rotation system where each Key Stage 3 class has 1 full term of Music Technology. The other 2 terms as taught in one of our other teaching rooms.
In Year 7, our projects are: Baseline Testing (theory and performance); Introduction to Music Technology; Pitch and Rhythm and; Ukulele Mash Up.
In Year 8, our projects are: Song Composition; Theme and Variations (using Music Technology); and The Americas.
In Year 9, our projects are: Song Composition; Music for Film (using Music Technology) and Ensemble Performance.
Keystage 4
Key Stage 4
We follow the GCSE syllabus from the Eduqas. The course is broken down into 3 components. Performing (30%), Composing (30%) and a listening exam (40%).
Composing: Two compositions with a combined duration of between 3 – 5 minutes. One composition is a ‘free’ composition. The second is in response to an Eduqas set composition brief. The brief is released by the exam board in the September of the academic year of examination.
Performing: Candidates need to compile a portfolio of performances of between 4 minutes and 30 seconds and 6 minutes. Performances should be of Grade 3 standard. Included in the duration of the portfolio, there needs to be an ensemble performance of at least 1 minute.
Listening Exam: There is a 75-minute listening exam where candidates will be tested on their aural discrimination skills. As part of the examination, there are 2 set works (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 3rd Movement by Mozart and Since You’ve Been Gone by Rainbow).
From September 2020, the set-works will be Badinerie from J.S. Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor and Africa by Toto).
Further course information can be found using the hyperlink below:
https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/music/gcse/eduqas-gcse-music-spec-from-2016-d.pdf
Revision Guides and Course Materials
To purchase revision guides, please follow the hyperlinks below:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/WJEC-Eduqas-Music-Revision-Guide/dp/1911208411
Keystage 5
Music Our Music students follow the two-year Eduqas
symphonic set works that are
(Haydn 104 and Mendelssohn 4), as well as units in Musical Theatre, 21st Century Music and a musical overview of the Development of the Symphony from 1750 – 1900., as well as units in Musical Theatre, 21st Century Music and a musical overview of the Development of the Symphony from 1750 – 1900.
Further course information can be found using the hyperlink below:
https://www.eduqas.co.uk/en/qualifications/music-as-a-level/#tab_overview
Revision Guides and Course Materials
To purchase revision guides, please follow the hyperlink below:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eduqas-Level-Music-Study-Guide/dp/1785583476/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=a+level+educas+music+study+guide&qid=1583684603&s=books&sr=1-1
Music Technology
Music Technology
Our Music Technology students follow the two-year Edexcel BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Sound Engineering, which is equivalent to 1 A Level. There is a combination of internal and externally marked components. In total, there are 5 units to complete, 2 of which are compulsory. The remaining 3 selected in line with the musical interest of the cohort.
We work with the BSc Music Technology course at Coventry University to build a stong musical partnerships.
Further course information can be found using the hyperlink below:
Extra Curricular
Extra Curricular.
We provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities within the department.
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Registration Time |
Lunchtime |
After School |
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Monday |
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Music GCSE Coursework in U13 |
Nota Bella Girls’ Choir. Lower School Hal at 3.45pm – 4.45pm
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Tuesday |
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Music GCSE coursework in U13 |
String Orchestra* in Upper School Hall 3.45pm - 4.45pm
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Wednesday |
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Symphony Orchestra Upper School Hall at 3.45pm - 4.45pm*
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Thursday |
Key Stage 4 Male Vocal Group |
Brass Ensemble in U14 |
Concert Band* Upper 13 at 3.45pm – 4.45pm
School Musical Band *** Upper 13 3.45pm - 5pm |
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Friday |
Sixth Form Mixed Vocals
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Junior Orchestra in U13 |
Music GCSE coursework 3.30pm - 4.45pm |
*Winter and Spring Term only.
** Spring and Summer Term only.
*** Summer Term only.
Instrumental Tuition
Our instrumental music tuition is provided by Warwickshire Music Hub (formally known as the Warwickshire County Music Service). We have 9 specialist instrumental teachers who visit the school on a weekly basis and provide tuition for Brass, Woodwind, Strings, Percussion and Voice. As the host school for the Central Warwickshire Music Centre, we offer a strong working partnership with Warwickshire Music Hub and as a department we look forward to continuing this partnership into the future.
For further information on the Warwickshire Music Hub, where you can find information about the hire of musical instruments, as well as their ensembles (which a large number of students are members) please go to:
https://www.warwickshiremusichub.org
Performances
The Music department prides itself on the quality of our performances. We perform an Annual Christmas Concert, a Spring Concert and a Summer Chamber Music concert.
In addition to this, we are regularly asked to perform at public events including the Mayor’s Civic Service, Carols at the (Kenilworth) Castle as well as performances in association with Kenilworth Lions. We are developing our community links with performances at local residential homes too.
In June 2019 we performed at many venues in Salzbergerland, Austria. Performances were warmly received, and planning is already underway for our 2021 tour to Prague.
