Music

The Music department has four Music teachers, and is visited by a number of peripatetic staff from Tees Valley Music Service (TVMS).

The department is led by Mr Raymond Rose who has experience of teaching across KS3, 4 and 5. The main instruments he performs on are trombone and piano. Mrs Nicola Richardson teaches KS3, 4 and 5 and plays the piano and flute. Mr Wayne Shellard teaches KS3 and runs the Academy Choir. Mr Shellard is also a Musical Director for local amateur-dramatic theatre groups. Miss Sim is the piano and voice teacher who also supports GCSE and A Level performance skills as required.

All of the team have complementary skills and each is highly experienced and motivated to ensure that your son or daughter has the best possible musical experience at Nunthorpe Academy.

Music Department

Year 6 Transition

In Music we aim to develop confidence in the first lessons, through playing rhythm and pitch games, team building activities through the use of Keyboards, Djembe (African drums) and some singing activities. All these activities are designed to make the young person feel comfortable in the musical environment, and get to know others in the group.

Key stage 3

Programme of Study

The KS3 Music Course provides the foundation for further study at GCSE and A’ Level providing young people with a range of musical skills that will help them understand and enjoy music for life.

The Learning Journey

Key stage 4

Programme of Study

We currently offer Edexel Music which gives students the opportunity to study the areas of performance, composition and appraising. This course will build on the work done at KS3 and is suitable for all. Learning to sing or play a musical instrument is beneficial prior to the start of the course but not essential.

The Learning Journey

Students will build a skill set that will enable them to perform on their own and with others, and compose in a range of styles. They will listen to and analyse a range of music ranging from historic to contemporary, and will learn how to talk about it in a musical way. Students will present their ‘best’ work for assessment at the end of the course, as shown below.

GCSE Music – Summary of Assessment

Component 1: Performing – Total duration of performances: 4-6 minutes
Non-exam assessment: internally assessed, externally moderated 30% of qualification
A minimum of two pieces, one of which must be an ensemble performance of at least one minute duration. The other piece(s) may be either solo and/or ensemble. Performances must be recorded in the final year of the examination.

Component 2: Composing – Total duration of compositions: 3-6 minutes
Non-exam assessment: internally assessed, externally moderated 30% of qualification
Two compositions, one of which must be in response to a brief set by Edexcel in the year of the examination. Learners will choose one brief from a choice of four, each one linked to a different area of study. The briefs will be released during the first week of September in the academic year in which the assessment is to be taken. The second composition is a free composition for which learners set their own brief.

Component 3: Appraising – Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes 40% of qualification
This component is assessed through a listening examination paper set by the Edexcel. The first Section A includes the set works, a musical dictation question and a skeleton score question. Section B is an extended writing question featuring comparison between an extract from one of the set works and one extract of unfamiliar music.

• Area of study 1: Instrumental Music 1700-1820;
• Area of study 2: Vocal Music;
• Area of study 3: Music for Stage and Screen;
• Area of study 4: Fusions.

Homework

Students will be expected to complete homework regularly to ensure understanding of the areas being covered. Practising their chosen instrument should be ongoing each day, and students will need to work on compositional ideas at school and at home.

Setting

All GCSE music students are taught in mixed ability groups.

Key stage 5

Programme of Study

We are currently offering A Level Music through Edexcel which will give young people the opportunity to continue to develop their performance, composition and appraising skills.

To study this course you would be expected to have achieved at least a grade B at GCSE, however there are a few students who may not have taken GCSE who would still be eligible if they play a musical instrument at a high standard, so please ask for further details.

Below is an overview of the programme of study.

GCE A Level Music – Summary of Assessment

Component 1: Performing 30% NEA
Total performance time of 8 minutes Performance can be solo and/or ensemble.
Total of 60 marks (12 marks available for difficulty of pieces).

Component 2: Composition 30% NEA
2 compositions: 1 free, or free choice brief (minimum 4 minutes duration) and 1 brief assessing technique (minimum 1 minute duration).
Together total minimum of 6 minutes.

• Composition 1: 40 marks;
• Composition 2: 20 marks. Total of 60 marks.

Component 3: Appraising 40% Exam
6 Areas of Study with 3 set works in each:

• Vocal Music
• Instrumental Music
• Music for Film
• Popular Music and Jazz
• Fusions
• New Directions.

This component includes a listening examination.

Questions

1. Set work analysis with a score;
2. Extended responses on wider context;
3. Unprepared extracts of music with and without a score;
4. Comparison questions.