MUSIC &

PERFORMING ARTS

 

Why study Music and the Performing Arts?

Music and the Performing Arts brings any community together through singing, ensemble playing, experimenting with the creative process through improvisation and composition. Music and the Performing Arts evoke emotion.  The study helps strengthen students’ ability to sing and perform in harmony while further developing sound production and expressive performance. Listening as a technical exercise develops the ability to explore musical and performance meaning and purpose and listen to music with increasing discrimination. It supports the development of a reliable musical and performance memory deepening understanding of the music they listen to, engage with, and perform. More generally the study of Music and the Performing Arts supports the development of concentration, phonemic awareness, literacy, memory, and academic achievement.

How will I study Music and the Performing Arts?

Students are given extensive listening opportunities to help develop expressive intentions. They are given space for exploration, inconsistency, and independence. High levels of guidance are given for novices, but productive struggle is encouraged affirming a creative state of flow. Opportunities are given to explore knowledge of musical and performance cultures, genres, traditions and repertoires throughout time, which is part of a broad education and a joy in and of itself. In each unit students compose their own music and performance and then perform either individually or in an ensemble. Pupils have the opportunity to devise choreography and scripted performances and also develop these as a performer.

What will I study at Key Stage 3?

In Music in each unit of lessons pupils listen to and evaluate music from a range of traditions, cultures, time periods and genres. This supports their own ability to compose and perform. Students begin by composing and performing short melodies using simple chords. This develops into layering with textures and sonorities. Simple chord sequences become groove polyrhythms, complex bass lines. Students study the elements of Music including duration, tempo, timbre, texture pitch and structure. They study staff notation. They explore the impact of note lengths from semibreves to semiquavers, and expression with dynamic markings. They then study critical elements of Samba, Reggae, Blues, twentieth century music and digital music. This is complemented by the study of traditional Japanese and African music. Students develop competency on the keyboard and the ukulele. Students have a narrower instrument choice and consistency of instrument to improve the expressive quality of their sound production.

In Performing Arts pupils engage with a performance journey of discovery. They learn fundamental techniques in both disciplines. In Drama this includes stage directions, improvisation, pitch, projection, physical theatre, devising, script work and performing. In Dance this includes dynamics, improvisation, repetition, development, gesture, travel, rotation, falling, gesture, stillness and elevation. Pupils explore musical theatre moving from a class production to a full company production. In depth studies of dance include ‘Lindy Hop’, ‘Chance Dance’, and ‘Street Dance’. In depth studies of drama include ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Episodic Theatre and ‘Missing Dan Nolan’. Pupils will build on their dance and drama skills throughout KS3 which will allow them to explore performance work in more detail and ultimately improve their confidence and performing arts skills.

What will I study at Key Stage 4?

BTEC Music

In BTEC Music students develop an understanding of how the Music Industry operates. Students study health, safety & security at venues. They explore how organisations interrelate & why these relationships are important. They look at the roles and responsibilities of all involved from performance and creative roles to management roles. Students study production and promotion and how to charge and get paid as a musician.

The BTEC Music curriculum covers Musical Performance. Students explore techniques, interpretative skills and stylistic qualities of music. They focus on music rehearsal and performance skills including but not exclusive to warm-up, repertoire, rehearsal techniques, musical interaction & feedback.

Students then go onto manage a Music Product. They plan for a live concert/event giving consideration to factors such as venue, target audience, repertoire, technical and logistical requirements & constraints. Students learn to organise and facilitate planning and development activities. They then realise and deliver the Music Product including promotion and marketing.

Students study the introduction of live sound. This includes developing an understanding of the legal considerations such as PRS and licensing. Stage planning, set up and sound checks need to be organised. Students study the sound equipment and the associated manual handling, PPE and electrical safety. They study how to check the sound for quality, levels and mix. Safety regulations need to be understood to both operate the live sound safely and to derig safely.

 

BTEC Performing Arts

Key Stage 4 Performing Arts pupils study the development of key skills that prove aptitude in Performing Arts such as reproducing repertoire or responding to stimuli. Pupils will also develop their understanding of process that underpins effective ways of working in the Performing Arts, such as development of ideas, rehearsal, and performance. The curriculum covers attitudes that are considered most important in the Performing Arts, including personal management and communication. Pupils develop the knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, process, and attitudes in the sector such as roles, responsibilities, performance disciplines and styles.

Assessment at Key Stage 4

Examination Board: Edexcel BTEC First Award in Music 600/6818/8

External Assessment

Overview Focus
  • Written exam
  • 1 hour
  • 50 marks
  • The music industry

Internal Assessments

Overview Focus
  • Non exam assessment
  • Portfolio of evidence
  • Internally assessed
  • Managing a music Product
  • Introducing live Sound
  • Introducing Musical Performance

 

Examination Board: Edexcel BTEC First Award in Performing Arts 603/040/66

External Assessment

Overview Focus
Component 1 Internally assessed

Assignment subject to external verification standards

Component 2 Internally assessed

Assignment subject to external verification standards

Component 3 Externally verified

3 hour timescale

60 marks

 

Enrichment

The Performing Arts department offers subject-specific enrichment clubs such as Open Mic, peripatetic lessons, band club. They organise a range of educational visits and theatre trips throughout the year including the ballet, musical theatre, expressive art performances. Talent shows and whole school musicals are regular calendared events and see high levels of pupil engagement.

Careers

The study of Music could lead to future careers ranging from performance artist and audio engineer to record producer and commercial composer.

Famous people with a Music degree include Lady Gaga (musician), Randolph Severn (animator, co-creator of South Park), and James May (UK presenter and journalist).

The study of Performing Arts could lead to being a professional performer, director, lighting designer, costume and wigs designer, sound engineer, dancer, singer and actor. Famous people include Matthew Bourne, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Dame Judy Dench.