Key Stage 3
Classes have a double lesson every week for music and learn basic skills of musical literacy, listening and appraising, composition and performance covering a variety of different musical idioms: the Year 7 curriculum for example includes studies of Vivaldi's Four Seasons violin concertos, and African and Chinese music; Year 8 encompasses Stravinsky Firebird Ballet and Rock and Roll; Year 9 study the Blues at one end of the spectrum and Opera at the other (this year Don Giovanni by Mozart). The emphasis is very much enjoying the subject and much of the work in class is practical with written homework often involving research on the internet.
Each year group attends one annual outing relevant to the course each year:
Year 7 prepared and performed and African drumming piece after a couple of workshops;
Year 8 attended a Gamelan (Indonesian music) workshop;
Year 9 went to a performance of Don Giovanni at the Royal Opera House.
GCSE
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A significant minority of girls take music to GCSE which follows on logically from the Key Stage 3 course. Pupils continue to concentrate on the 3 skills of performing, composing and listening and appraising. Note-reading skills are certainly advantageous to all parts of the course and pupils nearly always have individual lessons on their instrument/singing. Performance and composition are undertaken during the 2-year course and a portfolio of the best work in both papers is sent for moderation to the Examination Board. There is one listening paper, based on familiar musical extracts, which is sat during the examination period.
The small classes make for a relaxed whilst of course encouraging and expecting a serious and committed approach.
The small classes make for a relaxed whilst of course encouraging and expecting a serious and committed approach.
AS and A2
Music at AS and A2 level requires a considerable degree of technical knowledge and performing expertise. It is a particularly highly regarded qualification as it demonstrates a wide range of skills. Pupils demonstrate their performing and presentation skills in coursework undertaken during the year and submitted as a portfolio to the examination board. Composition techniques are studied during the 1st term and a half culminating in a composition which is written under supervised study circumstances. The written paper involves a combination of short answer essays, some listening excerpts to respond to and some harmony exercises.