Subject: Music
Subject Overview:

Through rehearsing, singing, playing, composing and listening learners at Kepier will experience music in a variety of styles, with an emphasis on performance. The music department is fully equipped with keyboards, guitars, percussion, brass, woodwind and string instruments, and pupils can make use of the practice rooms during music lessons, breaks, lunchtimes and after school.

As well as their timetabled lesson, students have the opportunity to receive tuition for the following: brass, woodwind, strings, guitar, drums, piano and voice.

At Key Stage 4, learners will study either Eduqas GCSE Music or RSL Level 2 Certificate in Performance. Both courses comprise units which develop musical performance skills, composition, and musical knowledge.

Learners on the Eduqas GCSE Music courses complete two performances (30%), two original compositions (30%) and a Listening & Appraising exam (40%).

Those who choose RSL Level 2 Certificate in Performance complete a Musical Knowledge research and presentation assignment (20%), a songwriting/composition assignment (40%) and a performance project (40%)
Key Stage 3
Content: Year 7: Year 8: Year 9:
Autumn Term 1: Pop Melodies: 1960s and 2000s Vocal Melodies and Song Structures

1. Valerie (Amy Winehouse)
2. Help! (The Beatles)
3. Hey There Delilah (Plain White T’s)
4. I’m a Believer (The Monkees)

 Pop Melodies: 1960s and 2000s Vocal Melodies and Song Structures

1. Valerie (Amy Winehouse)
2. Help! (The Beatles)
3. Hey There Delilah (Plain White T’s)
4. I’m a Believer (The Monkees)

 Pop Music Hooks: Vocal and instrumental hooks from the 1980s and 2010s

1. Happy (Pharrell Williams)
2. Take on Me (A-Ha)
3. Shake it Off (Taylor Swift)
4. Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division)
Autumn Term 2: Film Themes: Main title themes and leitmotifs from the blockbusters

1. Harry Potter
2. Star Wars
3. James Bond
4. Indiana Jones

 Film Themes: Main title themes and leitmotifs from the blockbusters

1. Harry Potter
2. Star Wars
3. James Bond
4. Indiana Jones

 Musical Theatre: Songs from the Musicals

1. We Go Together (Grease)
2. You Can’t Stop the Beat (Hairspray)
3. All That Jazz (Chicago)
4. City of Stars (La La Land)
Spring Term 1: Musical Traditions: Traditional music from South America, Africa, India and Britain

1. Reggae & Samba
2. African songs
3. Indian Ragas
4. Folk songs from the British Isles

 Musical Traditions: Traditional music from South America, Africa, India and Britain

1. Reggae & Samba
2. African songs
3. Indian Ragas
4. Folk songs from the British Isles

 Let’s Dance: Dance Music from old to new

1. The Blue Danube (Waltz)
2. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Ballet)
3. Funky Town (Disco)
4. Praise You (Club Dance)
Spring Term 2: Classical Themes: Famous Melodies from the Great Composers

1. Eine Klein Nachtmusik (Mozart)
2. ‘William Tell’ Overture (Rossini)
3. Ode to Joy (Beethoven)
4. Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky)

 Classical Themes: Famous Melodies from the Great Composers

1. Eine Klein Nachtmusik (Mozart)
2. ‘William Tell’ Overture (Rossini)
3. Ode to Joy (Beethoven)
4. Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky)

 Film Scores: Incidental music from the movies

1. Schindler’s List
2. Jurassic Park
3. Home Alone
4. Halloween
Summer Term 1: Pop Textures: Pop layers in the 1940s and 1990s

1. Don’t Look Back in Anger (Oasis)
2. In the Mood (Glen Miller)
3. Wannabe (The Spice Girls)
4. When You Wish Upon a Star (from Pinocchio)

 Pop Textures: Pop layers in the 1940s and 1990s

1. Don’t Look Back in Anger (Oasis)
2. In the Mood (Glen Miller)
3. Wannabe (The Spice Girls)
4. When You Wish Upon a Star (from Pinocchio)

 A Shot of Rhythm and Blues: Rock ‘n Roll and Soul Music
from 1950s and 1970s1. Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)
2. Rockin’ All Over the World (Status Quo)
3. I Want to Break Free (Queen)
4. Stand By Me (Ben E. King)
Summer Term 2:
Key Stage 4
Content: Year 10: Year 11:
Autumn Term 1:
  • Introduction to song writing: generating musical ideas
  • Understanding and defining Pop Music styles
  • Songwriting Assignment (RSL) and Composition set brief (GCSE)
  • Performance practice (RSL) and ensemble performance practice (GCSE)
  • Music for film listening (GCSE)
Autumn Term 2:
  • Developing songwriting ideas
  • Pop Music and Musical Styles investigation (RSL)
  • Pop Music and developing set work knowledge – Africa by Toto (GCSE)
  • GCSE solo and ensemble performance window opens
  • Songwriting assignment evaluation and submission (RSL) and composition set brief (GCSE)
  • Performing assignment (RSL)
  • Set works revision (GCSE)
Spring Term 1:
  • Building song textures
  • Musical Knowledge Assignment, Task 1 (RSL)
  • Pop Music wider listening (GCSE)
  • GCSE composition/songwriting recording window opens
  • RSL Performing assignment planning/preparation
  • Listening and Appraising revision (GCSE)
Spring Term 2:
  • Building song structures
  • Musical Knowledge Assignment, Task 2 and assignment submission (RSL)
  • Musical Forms and Devices listening, and solo music performance (GCSE)
  • Performance recording (RSL)
  • Listening and Appraising revision (GCSE)
  • GCSE performances recorded (by the end of Spring term)
Summer Term 1:
  • Songwriting: recording (RSL) and preparation (GCSE)
  • Performance preparation (RSL)
  • Music Forms and Devices, developing set work knowledge – Badinerie by Bach (GCSE)
  • Performance assignment evaluation and submission (RSL)
  • Listening and Appraising revision (GCSE)
Summer Term 2:
  • Songwriting: recording (GCSE) and evaluation (RSL)
  • Performance preparation (RSL)
  • Music for Ensemble listening and ensemble performance practice (GCSE)
  • Course review (RSL)
  • Listening and Appraising exam (GCSE)
Personalised Learning Checklist:
Click the links below to download your personalised learning checklist:
Revision Links for GCSE Course:

GCSE Music BBC Bitesize https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zpf3cdm
Teachinggadget.com (username music@kepier password music
How can parents support their child’s progress in this subject?

  1. Encourage and facilitate daily personal practice
  2. Encourage and facilitate weekly revision of theory and listening work
  3. Be aware and encourage the attendance of additional support sessions during lunch and after school
Extra-Curricular Activities:

Monday GCSE drop in (Lunch), Band Practice (3-4pm)
Tuesday Keyboard Club (Lunch), Rock School (3-4pm)
Wednesday Ukulele Club (Lunch)
Thursday Choir (Lunch)
Friday GCSE Drop in (Lunch)
Additional Information:

If you have a question about the Music curriculum you can use the form below to contact the Music department.