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Inspiring Young People

Year 8

Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. In Year 8, your daughter’s music education will continue to engage and inspire her to develop a love of music and her talent as a musician, and so increase her self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As she progresses and builds upon the skills introduced in Year 7, she will develop a critical engagement with music, allowing her to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the music of the great composers throughout history, and a range of music from different places, styles and cultures.

 

 

Content to be studied

Method of assessment

Autumn Term

 

 

 

 

Elements of Music - Form and Structure

 

In Year 8 pupils will compose a simple 24 bar composition in ternary or rondo form, utilising variation and minimalist techniques.

 

·   Rhythm, Pulse, Beat, Tempo

·   Note Values – crotchets, minims, quavers, semibreves

·   Phrase structures

·   Variation form, Rondo form, Ternary Form, Binary      form

·   Composing using repetition and contrast

 

Self-assessment, peer assessment and teacher-led formative assessment through verbal feedback.

Summative assessment in the form of a final performance and/or a listening examination at the end of each unit.

Spring Term

 

 

Musical Theatre – Accompaniments

 

In Year 8 pupils will focus on the keyboard accompaniment of ‘She used to be mine’ from ‘Waitress’ and the ukulele guitar accompaniment to ‘Edelweiss’ from ‘The Sound of Music’ performing excerpts in small groups using the keyboards, ukulele and vocal skills.

 

· Vamping chord patterns on the ukulele/ keyboard

· Strumming

· Head voice versus belt ‘chest voice’

 

Summer Term

 

 

Ensemble Skills - Blues Skills

 

In Year 8 pupils will be learning about Blues and Jazz music, contributing to an ensemble performance which includes a walking bassline, chords of the 12 bar blues, a sung blues melody and or improvised scat singing.


Pupils working on the ukulele / keyboard:

· Playing primary chords (12 bar blues)

· Improvising using the Blues scale

· Harmonic rhythm

 

Pupils working vocally:

· Scat singing (improvised using the blues scale)

· Solo singing within an ensemble group

 

 

 

How will I know if my daughter is achieving this?

Formative assessment (i.e. assessment for learning) is to help pupils themselves understand what they need to do next in order to improve. It entails a dialogue with pupils, giving feedback which is personalised, so that pupils know what steps they need to take next and what a quality outcome will look like in the topic they are working on.

Summative assessment (i.e. assessment of learning) focuses on the product or the outcome of learning. Pupils will be awarded a grade of Developing, Secure or Excellent for each summative assessment.

 

 

                                               

 

 

 

 

   
 

How can I support my daughter?

Encourage your daughter to attend extra-curricular activities, for reasons of personal fulfilment, companionship with like-minded pupils, and the challenge of extending her performing skills and experience. Involvement in extra-curricular music can generate a greater sense of self-worth and motivation, and could lay the foundation for the enjoyment of music in later life. In addition, encourage your daughter to listen to as much music as possible, preferably music and genres that she doesn't normally listen to, in order to broaden her musical experience.
 
 

Enrichment opportunities

Any pupils wishing to take up peripatetic musical instrumental lessons within school, please visit https://www.musicforlife.org.uk to book lessons

Beatz Percussion Ensemble Wednesday (Week A) 12.45 – 1.10
 – Open to all pupils in Year 8

Big Band Wednesday (Week B) 12.45 – 1.10
 – Open to pupils who play a ‘popular’ instrument (keyboard, drums, guitar/ bass) or certain brass / woodwind instrument (cornet, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet), as well as solo singers

Junior Choir Thursdays 12:45 – 1.10
– Open to all pupils in Year 8

Senior Orchestra Thursdays 16:00 - 17:00
– Open to pupils who play an orchestral instrument (Grade 2+)

String Ensemble Friday (Week A) 12.45 – 1.10
– Open to pupils who play the violin, viola, cello or double bass (Beginners welcome)

Flute Choir Friday (Week B) 12.45 – 1.10
– Open to pupils who play the flute or piccolo (Beginners welcome)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                             

  1. Curriculum Map Ks3
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