Overall Curriculum Goals

Term 1
Autumn

Term 2
Spring

Term 3
Summer

Topic Title: 

Popular Music 1990-Present (AOS2)

Topic Title: 

Traditional Music (AOS3)

Topic Title: 

Western Classical Tradition 1910-2000 (AOS4)

Topic Intent:

Popular Music is music that has a wide appeal. Music that speaks to a great number of people across the world. It is not limited to “pop” music. Popular music encompasses music for the  
stage, music for film and game and recorded music that populates the charts the world over. 
Through the study of different types of popular music we want to expose our students to music from outside of their comfort zone, to spark interest and challenge their listening and creative 
skills. The exploration of different styles gives an insight into the complex musical features used. We will learn about compound time signatures, complex harmonic structures, and a range of instruments and techniques which can expand the musical language of our students and empower them to produce their own, sophisticated creative responses. 
Our students will begin to develop their performance skills through a range of solo and ensemble scenarios, using the GCSE assessment criteria to reflect on the success of their own 
performances and the performances of their peers. 
Students will be given the opportunity to compose in a much grander scale than ever before, using the Musescore software to create professional scores for their compositional responses, 
pushing themselves to reflect on and refine their work. 

Topic Intent:

Traditional music from our own, and other cultures has had a huge impact on the way music has evolved, From Blues music laying the foundation for all popular music that followed to the  
traditional folk of the British isles, the musical world would be very different without the impact of traditional music. 
Throughout this unit, our students will learn to appreciate music which may sound unlike anything they have heard before. We will explore the Origins of Blues in Slavery and its development 
alongside Jazz. Gaining an understanding of the struggles of Black people in America in the early 20th century and how this influenced their creativity. We will explore the music of Africa and the Caribbean before examining closely, 3 songs by the artist Paul Simon which are a GCSE set work. Through this we will learn about the political situation in South Africa and ask ourselves 
moral questions about Paul Simon’s breaking of the apartheid boycott. 
We will learn about traditional Latin American music before composing a piece in the style, expanding our compositional toolkit with exciting rhythms and new timbres. 
By learning about musical traditions we can follow in the footsteps of countless great musicians and use well worn techniques to push exciting new musical boundaries. 

Topic Intent:

In the 20th century, composers in the western classical tradition looked for ways to express themselves outside of the traditional rules that had bound them. 
Throughout this unit our students will learn to  appreciate and understand the work of composers such as Aaron Copland, Kodaly and Bartok and the minimalist school, gaining an understanding on how Traditional folk music influenced avant garde compositions and how composers wielded technological advancements. 
We will compose music influenced by folk melodies nd explore minimalist composition techniques expanding our compositional toolkit with interesting ways to develop ideas. By learning about these avant garde rule breakers we can find ways to push the boundaries of our own compositions as well as gaining a deeper understanding of the traditions that came before. 

Key Content / Skills:  

Key Content / Skills:  

Key Content / Skills:  

Assessment:

Students are assessed on the progress in Performance, Composition and Listening.

Home Learning:

GCSE music students are expected to commit to regular practice time on their chosen instrument. This forms the majority of music home learning. Additional extension tasks are set relating to the study of the areas of study

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