Music
Music lessons are an hour every week in which pupils have opportunities to sing and play a wide variety of styles of music. All pupils throughout the course are given opportunities to sing and play on a number of instruments, including keyboards, guitars and percussion. They work as soloists, pairs and in small groups throughout all listening, performing and composing tasks.
We offer a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities from Vocal Group, Percussion Group and Ukulele Group through to Song Writing Club and Jazz Band. These activities culminate in regular performances including concerts, workshops and musicals.
We offer instrumental lessons with Shropshire Music Service. There are eight teachers currently working in Idsall offering keyboard, guitar, brass, percussion, woodwind, string lessons and singing lessons. So, if you already have instrumental lessons or if you want to take up the opportunity of playing an instrument, we’d love to meet you and get these opportunities set up for you.
If you want to know more about Idsall Music Department, then come and see us. Whatever your talent, whatever your skill, come and enjoy music with us!
The following is an outline of the topics covered per half term.
Music at Key Stage 3
Year 7
Autumn 1
Bridging Unit
Autumn 2
Medieval Music
Spring 1
Musical Clichés
Spring 2
The Orchestra
Summer 1
African Drumming
Summer 2
Major/Minor
Year 8
Autumn 1
Samba
Autumn 2
Minimalism
Spring 1
20th Century
Spring 2
Major/Minor Revisited
Summer 1
Gamelan
Summer 2
Performance
Year 9
Autumn 1
Dance
Autumn 2
Musical Futures Stage 1
Spring 1
Jazz and Blues
Spring 2
Soundtracks
Summer 1
Pop Composition
Summer 2
Musical Futures Stage 2
Music at Key Stage 4
There are three elements to GCSE Music:
Composing | 30% | coursework |
Performing | 30% | coursework |
Listening | 40% | one exam |
Students study a wide range of styles and genres of music developing their performing skills in both a solo and a group context: students will be encouraged to explore a range of compositional starting points and turn them into completed pieces of music and students develop their listening and appraising skills through the study of music across a variety of styles and genres.
This all culminates in the production of two compositions and two performances, as well as one exam answering questions on the 8 set works as well as wider listening pieces.
Styles and Genres covered : Instrumental Music 1700-1820, Vocal Music, Music for Stage and Screen & Fusions.
Year 10
Autumn 1
Music for stage and screen
Autumn 2
Music for stage and screen
Spring 1
Vocal music
Spring 2
Vocal music
Summer 1
Instrumental music 1700-1820
Summer 2
Instrumental music 1700-1820
Year 11
Autumn 1
Instrumental music 1700-1820
Autumn 2
Fusion
Spring 1
Fusion
Spring 2
Revision and further listening analysis
Summer 1
Revision and Further Listening Analysis
Summer 2
Music at Key Stage 5
BTEC Subsidiary Diploma in Music
6 units will need to be covered over 2 years
3 units – completes a Certificate in Music
6 units – completes the Subsidiary Diploma
Compulsory Units
- Music Performance Techniques
- Solo Music Performance Skills
- Working and Developing as a Musical Ensemble
Optional Units
- Aural Perception Skills
- Classical Music in Practice
- Composing Music
- Improvising Music
- Improvising Music in a Jazz Style
- Live Music Workshop
- Modern Music in Practice
- Marketing and Promotion in the Music Industry
- Music in the Community
- Music Performance Session Styles
- Music Project
- Pop Music in Practice
- Studying Music from Around the World
- The Music Freelance World
- The Sound and Music Industry
These options will be chosen in consultation with teacher.
PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS PAGE FOR 2016-17
For further advice or to find out more about the Music curriculum at Idsall School, please contact Mrs. H. Shaw.