Melody & Structure

Learning intentions

In this unit students will:

• Learn what makes a good melody and write your own
• Learn about the basic theory which makes music sound the way it does
• Play a piano piece (or on your own instrument) and perform in front of your peers
• Compose your own piece of music in Ternary Form (3 sections)

Gamelan

Learning intentions

In this unit students will:

• Understand the social & cultural factors that affect the sound of Indonesian gamelan music
• Learn the characteristics of each independent part, and how they fit together to create the unique Gamelan sound
• Critically listen to a piece of gamelan music. Identify the Balungan and its melodic shape
• Develop instrumental techniques through performing Gamelan pieces
• Create an original piece of Gamelan-inspired music; notate, perform and record it

Instruments of the Orchestra

Learning intentions

In this unit students will:

• Learn about the different families of instruments: how they are played, how they make their individual sound [timbre]
• Develop your listening skills by creating a sound dictionary to help you to discriminate between the different instruments in an orchestral piece
• Develop your ensemble playing through performing an arrangement of the theme from ‘Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra’
• Consider the social and cultural factors surrounding the development of the Orchestr

Rock ‘n’ Roll

Learning intentions

In this unit students will:

• Explore the historical, social and cultural factors that affected the development of Rock ‘n’ Roll; where did it come from and to whom did it appeal?
• Develop their performing skills through playing a Rock ‘n’ Roll song as part of a small group
• Develop their composing and arranging skills by creating a Rock ‘n’ Roll cover version of a song
• Develop their listening and appraising skills by applying their understanding of the key features of Rock ‘n’ Roll to unfamiliar examples of the genre

Rondo

Learning intentions

In this unit students will:

• Understand Rondo structure and how to use themes and contrasting episodes
• Develop performing skills through playing ‘Carillon’
• Develop listening skills through applying knowledge gained in this unit to other pieces of music
• Compose a simple pentatonic Rondo piece and perform this to the class

Samba

Learning intentions

In this unit students will:

• Understand the social and cultural factors that contribute to the sound of Samba Batucada
• Learn the characteristics of each instrument and the part it plays, and how they fit together to create the unique Samba sound
• Listen critically to some excerpts of percussion music from different regions of the world and identify structure, instruments and other cultural influences.
• Create an original Samba-inspired composition; notate, perform and record it

Ground Bass

Learning intentions

In this unit students will:

• Learn how harmony is built on a repeating bass line
• Make links through listening to other genres of music that use this compositional technique
• Explore these techniques through performing ‘Time Lapse’
• Use these concepts to compose (using music ICT) and perform their own Ground Bass piece.

African Drumming

Learning intentions

In this unit students will:

• Learn how African drumming is structured and organised through performing ‘Kuku’.
• Develop drumming skills and percussive timbres using Bass, Tone and Slap techniques.
• Identify the various ingredients of African music in recorded examples.
• Learn to improvise using these ingredients.
• Compose and perform a polyrhythmic fusion piece using all that you have learned.

Protest Songs

Learning intentions

In this unit students will:

• Understand the elements that combine to create an effective song
• Explore song-writing techniques through performing ‘Stand by Me’
• Listen critically to a range of protest songs to ascertain what makes an effective protest song
• Write your own protest song and perform it in as part of an ensemble

Performing and composing

Instrumental Music: Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in D major

Vocal Music: Queen, Killer Queen

Music for Stage and Screen: Star Wars, Schwartz, Defying Gravity from Wicked

Fusions: Esperanza Spalding, Samba Em Preludio

Revision

Performing and composing

Instrumental Music: Beethoven, Sonata in C minor ‘Pathetique’

Vocal Music: Purcell, Music for a While

Fusions: Afro Celt Sound System, Release

Performing: Preparation for an instrumental/vocal recital

Composing: Development of composing portfolio.  Compositional techniques practise and composing to a set brief.

Vocal Music:

• Mozart, ‘The Magic Flute’
• Bach, Cantata ‘Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott’

Instrumental Music:

• Vivaldi, Concert in D minor
• Schumann, Piano Trio in G minor

Music for Film:

• Elfman, ‘Batman’
• Portman, ‘The Duchess’

Popular Music and Jazz:

• Pine, Back in the Day
• Bush, Hounds of Love

Fusions:

• Debussy, Estampes No. 1 and No. 2
• La Famillia Valera Miranda, Cana Quema

New Directions:

• Cage, 3 Dances for prepared piano
• Saariaho, Petals

Performing: Refinement of recital programme and final recital

Composing: Completion of free choice composition.  Preparation for compositional techniques exam and finalising and composing to a set brief.

Vocal Music:

• Vaughan Williams, On Wenlock Edge

  Instrumental Music:

• Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique

  Music for Film:

• Bernard Hermann, Psycho

  Popular Music and Jazz:

• Beatles, Revolver

  Fusions:

• Anoushka Shankar, Breathing Under Water

  New Directions:

• Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring

   

  Revision and consolidation in preparation for summer exam