Music
The love and appreciation of Music adds so much to the quality of our lives.
As we deepen our engagement in Music, whether by performing, composing or listening attentively to it, we come to appreciate what a wonderful gift it is. At Saracens High School, we aim to give pupils of all musical backgrounds a very positive experience of the subject. We encourage them to pursue their interest beyond the classroom.
Key Stage 3
Pupils in Year 7 and in Year 8 have 1 Lesson a week of Music. They are welcome every-time Mr Guez is free in the Music room at Break and lunch time where they can try any instrument they want.
Autumn 1: Pulse and Rhythm | Learning to play the Djembe drum
- Pulse and rhythm
- Polyrhythm
- Ostinato
- Playing in a group
- Knowing the 3 sounds of the djembe.
- Improvisation
Autumn 2: Keyboard Line | Learning how to play the keyboard
- Learning the name of the keys.
- Composing short melodies
- Playing with both hands.
- Learning to play famous songs of different difficulty levels
Spring 1: Ukulele | Learning to play the Ukulele
- Knowing how to read a Chord Tab.
- Knowing how to read a fingerstyle tab.
- Learning how to strum.
- Learning to play C, G, Am and F.
- Learning to play famous Ukulele songs in groups.
Spring 2: Chords and composition | Learning how to create Triads
- Learning the difference between Major and minor chords.
- Knowing the technique to play any Major or minor triads on the keyboards.
- Learning the different ways of playing triads Chord sequence
- Composing a simple melody on top of a triad using the Notes of the triads and the passing notes.
Summer 1: Electronic Music | Making an instrumental using a music software
- Learning the notion of sampling.
- Learning the specific skills of electronic music.
- Using the knowledge of chord sequences and melody building to create a beat
- Starting to learn modern Music structures.
- Creating a collaborating beat.
Summer 2: Band Project I | Forming a band and making a cover of a song of their choice
- Remembering how to use a djembe, ukulele and keyboard.
- Compiling all the skills learned over the year to choose a song and make a cover of it.
- Bouncing back from failure
- Trial and error
- The student are given much more freedom so they learn independence and gain self confidence.
- Best covers will perform in front of the school during assembly.
Year 8
Program Music | Music that paints a picture or tells a story
- Composition based unit.
- Tempo
- Dynamics
- How to change the effect of your Music.
- Tones and Semitones
Blues | Performing a blues song
- Blues Scale
- Improvisation
- 12 Bar Blues
- Walking Bass
- Vamp
- Listening
Film Music | Connection between Music and Cinema
- The importance of Music in Films.
- What is the use?
- Analysing famous Film Songs.
- Creating their own film theme.
Pop Music/Electronic Music II | Making a Pop Arrangement
- Students are learning about different musical devices used in popular songs including the use of hooks and riffs. Students will learn about how pop songs are arranged and how different artist and groups have created various arrangements of the same song
What is GCSE Music? | Introduction to what will be in GCSE Music
- Learning notation.
- Different ways to notate music.
- What will have to be covered in GCSEs
Band Project II | Celebration of everything learned so far
- Same as in Year 7.
- Students to see/realize the progress made over the two years.
Enrichment Opportunities
- Guitar Club
- Drumming Club
- Orchestra/Learning specific instruments such as violin
- Yearly concert/performances
- Lunch time Piano
Learning Resouces
- https://www.youtube.com
- https://www.bbc.co.uk
- GP KS3 higher revision book and workbook
- hyoutube.com
- www.bbc.co.uk
- GP KS3 higher revision book and workbook