Music

Strategic Lead of Performance: Mr M Osborne | mosborne@themast.co.uk

Mission Statement

Music is a universal language which gives pupils the opportunity to express themselves and be creative through a variety of musical genres.

Music teaches pupils to work collaboratively, develop confidence and high self-esteem.  It encourages pupils to be sympathetic, sensitive and compassionate, whilst encouraging a love  of music, engaging with music and appreciating music from a range of musical styles, genres and traditions.

Music forms a foundation for a fulfilling and interesting life. For some it is the beginning of a specialised career and for others it enriches their life as a leisure activity and promotes  personal well-being.

All pupils have one lesson of Music each week and lasts approximately 55 minutes.

Lessons are practical focused and involve developing the three main areas of study, which are Performing, Composing, Listening and Understanding.

Pupils are encouraged to understand the nature of music, communicate through creative music making and evaluate their learning to inform good practise.

Lessons focus on listening, singing, presenting class and group performances, creating music in groups (or using music technology), watching and listening to their own work and the  work of others, by making observations about the different parts of their work. They suggest successes and suitable targets of improvement for future situations and development.

Pupils receive instrumental and vocal lessons through Musica Kirklees.  Pupils are offered free taster lessons on various instruments and voice at various times during the school year.

Music staff and Instrument Lessons

We have one full time music class teacher, Miss S Kaye and 8 peripatetic staff from Musica Kirklees who offer lessons on the following:

Tutor	Instrument
Miss J Mellor	Piano and Keyboard
Miss L Stafford	Woodwind
Mr A Kingham	Brass
Mrs C Clegg	Drum Kit and Percussion
Mr M Crone	Electric and Bass Guitar
Miss H Roulson	Classical Guitar
Miss K Chappell	Upper Strings
Mrs T Waller	Voice

Over 80 students have weekly lessons from Musica Kirklees and many more have private lessons.

An application form for pupils wishing to ‘learn to play’ can be acquired via the School Office, Music Teacher, or to download from the Musica website at www.musicakirklees.org

How is the Department Resourced?

A specialist music classroom equipped with

• Many Keyboards, 2 pianos, 1 Electric piano
• Electronic and acoustic drum kits
• Electric, acoustic and bass Guitars
• A set of ukuleles
• A class set of African djembe drums
• Lots of classroom percussion instruments (xylophones, glockenspiels, various drums, hand held percussion instruments etc.)

There are 5 well equipped music practice rooms with additional space in the main teaching room that are used as rehearsal spaces during lessons and used to teach instrumental and vocal tuition by Muscia staff to individuals or small groups.

Curriculum Overview

Year 6

Five units are taught, each lasting approximately 7 weeks.

	What is Music? Know and understand some key element words. Develop singing technique. To be able to read a ukulele  chord diagram and play C, F and A chords and strum simple patterns as part of a group performance. To recognise four note durations: Semibreve, Minim, Crotchet, Quaver. Keyboard Kick-Off Understand the layout of the Piano/Keyboard. Use a 5- finger technique when playing ‘Ode to Joy’ and Jingle Bells’ melodies and combine with chords. Develop reading of staff notation and play chords with good technique. Rehearse and perform with confidence.
	I Got Rhythm Read more complex rhythms, including semiquaver patterns. Explore body percussion and to develop performance technique on the Djembe drum including slap tone and bass. To create a structured group drumming composition and perform it confidently. Composing for Film To learn basic features of music sequencing software including searching for, selecting and arranging loops. To add automation to a music technology project. To create an effective soundtrack to a film trailer which includes leitmotif and other film music features.
	Mash It Up Further develop chord playing technique on both the ukulele and keyboard including learning more challenging chords.  Performing a variety of 4 chord songs. As a group, create a mash-up of 4-chord songs and perform. Identifying major and minor tonalities.

Year 7

Four units are taught, each lasting approximately 7 weeks.

Instruments of the Orchestra Learning about the instruments of the orchestra. Revisiting keyboard technique and notation skills and performing a selection of orchestral pieces on the keyboard. four families of the orchestra. Blues Pupils learn about the history and origins of the Blues.  Pupils perform a 12-bar blues on the Keyboard showing key features of the style, blue notes, walking bass pattern and improvisation when composing. Structure of a Blues song.

Minimalism Exploring the music of Steve Reich and other prominent Minimalist composers. Using music technology to create a minimalist cell-based composition which includes phasing and other musical features typical of the style. Rock Band Pupils form a band and perform a set song using Rock band instruments. Learn basic skills on electric guitar, and bass guitar drums and perform Wild Thing.

Year 8

Four units are taught each lasting approximately 7 weeks with the exception of Rock Band which is 12 weeks.

	Samba Recognising features of the Music; history and origins and instruments used.  Reading more complex rhythms, some which include syncopation. Both vocal and instrumental Samba performances.  Waltz Exploring the Waltz including key composers, musical features and historical context. Using music technology to compose a stylistic ternary form waltz that includes an um-cha-cha chord sequence, strings bassline and legato melody.
	Rock Band Pupils perform their own choice song developing skills from Part 1. To develop performance technique on electric guitar, bass guitar and drums and to rehearse more complex band performances. To develop understanding of the history of popular music. To explore careers related to being a professional pop musician. Exploring how to read guitar tab notation. Advanced Piano Revisiting and developing piano technique, including reading from notation, hand position, more complex rhythm reading. The pieces performed will draw on a range of previously studies styles, giving a chance to revisit key knowledge from previous units.
	Remix Developing music technology skills, using a vocal stem as a basis for remixing a popular song. Students will develop their ability to manipulating sounds, recording using MIDI keyboards, adding automation, navigating the software interface.

Enrichment Opportunities

Enrichment opportunities are offered for ALL pupils and are led by some of our visiting peripatetic staff from Muisca. There are a number of clubs throughout the year, such as:

• Pop Choir
• String Group
• African Drumming
• Windband
• Rock Guitar Club
• Ukulele Club

Practise facilities are in use most days with pupils using them to develop skills, prepare for both instrumental and vocal exams and/or to form a Band.

Performance opportunities are given and pupils are encouraged to take part in events in school and in the community.  One of our first opportunities is our Showcase Evening in the Autumn Term.

Each year pupils perform at Kirkburton church where we hold our Carol Service.

Every Christmas Musica Kirklees’ Staff Orchestra and/or Staff Rock Band are invited to come and entertain pupils. These concerts are great fun and informative, with the ensembles playing diverse repertoire and introducing the different musical instruments together with giving our pupils access to high-quality live music.

Each term holds a Positive Awards Assembly where pupils are given the opportunity to perform.

Musical success of individual pupils and groups is celebrated regularly on our school website.

MUSIC MARK – School Member

Each year since 2018, Kirkburton have been extremely proud recipients of the ABRSM Music Mark Award.  This is awarded in recognition of a commitment to providing high quality music education for all children and young people (The UK Association for Music Education – Music Mark – supported by ABRSM)

Links with the community

In the past musical groups have entertained the older generation of the community, at an ‘Old Folks Treat’ at the Junction Pub and Fox Glove, with some festive favourites and opportunity for audience participation.

‘We will remember them’

For several years now, local schools have been represented at the Cenotaph in Kirkburton, for a service of remembrance.  Children from Kirkburton and schools in the surrounding area respectfully present wreaths, read poems together with the Last Post and Reveille being played by the music teacher at the middle school.

What career…?

The music industry is part of the creative and cultural industries, represented by the Creative and Cultural Skills Sector Skills Council, which also includes craft; cultural heritage; literature; design; performing arts; and visual arts. The creative and cultural industries currently employ over half a million people.

The music industry includes trade associations, businesses and employers in recording/labels companies; music publishers; musical instruments; audio production and retail; live events and promotion; specialist music retailers; not‐for‐profit music organisation; as well as music education and training providers.

Key facts:

There are over 100,000 people working in the music industry within the wider creative and cultural sector, of which:

• 50,780 work in live performance
• 21,930 in production, retail and distribution of musical instrument /audio equipment
• 15,130 in retail and distribution of recordings
• 10,190 in recording
• 2,890 in composition of musical works and music publishing
• 1,300 in promotion, management and agency related activities

The music industry contributes £4.2 billion to the UK economy.

Jobs in the industry include: agent, artistic director, classical musician, composer, DJ, lighting technician, songwriter, manager, music and audio manufacturer, music conductor, music teacher, performer, publicity and promotions, singer, sound engineer.

Music Careers Snapshot