Soundations 

Learning intentions 

In this unit, students will: 

• Learn how to read and write music notation 

• Develop Audiation & Dictation skills 

• Learn about the Elements of Music that make music sound the way it does 

• Play a piano piece (or their own instrument) and perform in front of their peers 

• Develop their piano playing through Ensemble pieces – Arriba & Ship Without a Rudder 

• 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.

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 

• 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 they choose 

• Develop their listening and appraising skills by applying their understanding of the key features of Rock ‘n’ Roll to unfamiliar examples of the genre 

• Develop Audiation & Dictation Skills 

   

Rondo

Learning intentions

In this unit, students will:

• Understand Rondo structure and how to use themes and contrasting episodes
• Develop performing skills through playing ‘Super Mario Rondo’

• Compose and Perform a Rondo Rap

• Develop listening skills through applying knowledge of the Musical Elements gained in this unit to other pieces of music
• Compose a simple pentatonic Rondo piece and perform this to the class

• Develop Music Technology skills through composing a Rondo piece on Garageband

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.

Protest Songs 

Learning intentions 

In this unit, students will: 

• Explore the Elements of Music that combine to create an effective song 

• Explore songwriting techniques through performing ‘Stand by Me’ 

• Develop their performing skills through playing a Rock ‘n’ Roll song as part of a small group.

• 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

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

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

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