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Music

Aims of the department

  1. The ethos of the Music Department is to make a wide variety of music accessible, and enjoyable, for as many students as possible through developing the skills of composing, performing and listening.
  2. Music of some kind appeals to every student.
  3. Our aim is to increase that enjoyment by the teaching of performing and composing skills and also by teaching students how to listen to, and appreciate, unfamiliar music.

How do you bring this subject to life at Beverley Grammar School?

  • Lots of practical music making
    • in the classroom,
    • at lunchtimes and
    • after school.
  • instrumental lessons
  • An extensive extra curricular programme

What facilities do you have?

The music department is accommodated in the Expressive Arts Block, and is equipped with:-

  • Teaching room
  • Large practise room
  • Small practise room
  • Sound engineering room
  • 2 ICT rooms
  • Instrument storage room
  • Access to ICT facilities, comprising 15 computers and dummy keyboards
  • Software packages include,

  • Musical equipment including,   

    • 17 keyboards (with adaptors for personal stereo earphones)
    • Condenser microphones
    • Drum kit
    • Electric drum kit
    • Electric pianos
    • Electric guitars
    • Electric bass guitars
    • 16 Acoustic guitars
    • Digital recording equipment

  • Musical scores, books, examination texts and CDs for    

    • Orchestra
    • Instrumental groups
    • Choir

The department has:-

  • Full time head of department
  • Part time member of staff
  • 6 visiting instrumental teachers
  • A strong work ethic
  • A good sense of humour (which the students seem to appreciate)

Do staff have a specialist area of interest?

Ms Turner has an interest in Authentic Baroque music, especially music after 1700.

What is the coolest thing about the department?

 ‘Winter’ by Vivaldi as played by Kennedy - he is hot!

Generally the Music Department is ‘hot’ rather than ‘cool’ as we are hard working and highly motivated, always working towards a performance, whether it be in the classroom in a lesson or for a big Concert/ Performance in school or Beverley Minster.

What do pupils enjoy most about learning in this department?

  • Performing on instruments and learning new skills are particularly popular with pupils.
  • Year 7 also enjoy singing together as a big choir - especially in Beverley Minster - what a building!

What teaching styles do you use in the department?

  • Most lessons are visual, auditory and kinaesthetic.
  • The Interactive Whiteboard with its interactive keyboard is a big feature of most lessons.
  • Music is written down in a variety of ways - both conventional and graphic. Sometimes music is learned aurally - by rote - especially songs.


Ms. L. Turner
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Ms. S. Tatman

Curriculum

The emphasis throughout KS3 is on practical music making with as big a variety of teaching and learning methods as possible. The emphasis is on fun and enjoyment.

Year 7:

  • Perform in the Christmas Carol Service at Beverley Minister and the School’s Spring Concert celebrating the Easter term.
  • They cover basic keyboard, note reading skills and learn to play chords on both keyboards and guitars.
  • Graphic scores, rhythm work and instruments of the orchestra are also studied.
  • Study takes place each week in two 60 minute lessons.

Year 8:

  • Continue to develop rhythm and keyboard skills.
  • Compose a variety of musical styles, alone, in pairs and in groups, for example,
    • Fanfares
    • Blues Songs and
    • Chinese music
  • They also learn to play the African drums.
  • Study takes place each week in a 60 minute lesson.

Year 9:

  • Take a quick tour through the History of Music.
  • Compare pop music of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
  • Compose and perform Film Music.
  • Actively participate in playing the bass guitar and the drum kit.
  • The keyboard is a popular choice for final assessment but some pupils opt to perform on a variety of other instruments or in a group.
  • Study takes place each week in a 60 minute lesson.

Year 10:

  • Follow the new Edexcel course
  • Study takes place each week in two 60 minute lessons.

Year 11:

  • Follow the legacy AQA course.
  • Study takes place each week in two 60 minute lessons.

Year 12:

  • Follow the AQA specification.
  • Study takes place each week in four 60 minute lessons.
  • The four lessons are divided between 2 of the schools within Beverley Joint Sixth.
  • AS Music Technology is offered as an option (Edexcel).
    • This is taught at Longcroft.

Year 13:

  • Follow the Edexcel specification
  • Study takes place each week in four 60 minute lessons.
  • The four lessons are divided between 2 of the schools within Beverley Joint Sixth.

Instrumental Lessons and Extra Curricular

More than 10% of students have instrumental lessons in school time. A number also have private lessons and join in with extra curricular groups.

 

 

The main events/performances are:




Links to other useful websites

www.finalemusic.com/ - Free music writing software

http://audacity.sourceforge.net  - Free recording software