Langley Grammar School has been nominated by Slough Music Service to become a Music Mark school for the 2023/24 academic year in recognition of the value that we place on music and our commitment to a broad and balanced curriculum. We are also Lead School for Music in the Slough area.
Years 7-9
During Years 7-9 the following topics are taught.
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
Soundations
Learning intentions
In this unit, students will:
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Learn how to read and write music notation
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Develop Audiation & Dictation skills
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Learn about the Elements of Music that make music sound the way it does
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Play a piano piece (or their own instrument) and perform in front of their peers
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Develop their piano playing through Ensemble pieces – Arriba & Ship Without a Rudder
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Compose & Improvise their own B section of music in Ternary Form (3 sections)
Gamelan
Learning intentions
In this unit, students will:
- Understanding 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 their listening skills by creating a sound dictionary to help 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 orchestra.
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Rock ‘n’ Roll
Learning intentions
In this unit, students will:
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Explore the historical, social and cultural factors that affected the development of Rock ‘n’ Roll
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Develop their performing skills through playing a Rock ‘n’ Roll song as part of a small group
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Develop their composing and arranging skills by creating a Rock ‘n’ Roll cover version of a song they choose
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Develop their listening and appraising skills by applying their understanding of the key features of Rock ‘n’ Roll to unfamiliar examples of the genre
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Develop Audiation & Dictation Skills
Rondo
Learning intentions
In this unit, students will:
Samba
Learning intentions
In this unit, students will:
- Understanding 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.
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Protest Songs
Learning intentions
In this unit, students will:
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Explore the Elements of Music that combine to create an effective song
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Explore songwriting techniques through performing ‘Stand by Me’
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Develop their performing skills through playing a Rock ‘n’ Roll song as part of a small group.
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Write their own protest song and perform it as part of a group
Develop advanced Audiation & Dictation Skills
Ground Bass
Learning intentions
In this unit students will:
- Learning 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 and Musical Elements through performing ‘Time Lapse
- Use these concepts to compose and perform their own Ground Bass piece, using Sibelius, Logic, or Garageband
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
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GCSE
Students studying the subject at GCSE follow the Pearson/Edexcel specification. During the course the following topics are covered.
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
Performing
- Solo Performance on chosen instrument
Composing
- Theme & Variations
- Popular Song and Music Production
- Writing for Film & Television
Listening & Appraising
- Instrumental Music: Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in D major
- Vocal Music: Queen, Killer Queen
- Music for Stage and Screen: Star Wars
Music for Stage and Screen: Schwartz, Defying Gravity from Wicked |
Performing
- Ensemble Performance on chosen instrument
Composing
- Responding to a set brief from Edexcel
- Completion of free choice composition
Listening & Appraising
- Fusions: Esperanza Spalding, Samba Em Preludio
- Instrumental Music: Beethoven, Sonata in C minor ‘Pathetique’
- Vocal Music: Purcell, Music for a While
Fusions: Afro Celt Sound System, Release
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For more detailed information on the course content and assessment please refer to the examination board website:
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/music-2016.html
A Level
Students studying the subject at A Level follow the Pearson/Edexcel specification. During the course the following topics are covered.
Year 12 |
Year 13 |
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
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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:
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For more detailed information on the course content and assessment please refer to the examination board website: https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A%20Level/Music/2016/Specification%20and%20sample%20assessments/GCE-music-specification-A-Level-2015.pdf
Additional resources
Students may find the following links and/or resources useful to further their studies of this subject:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zmsvr82
https://www.musictheory.net/