- Home
- Curriculum
- Curriculum Subject Information
- Music
Music
Music at Framingham Earl aims to develop students knowledge of Music and develop skills as composers and performers. All students study Music in Years 7, 8 and 9.
At the end of Year 9 the students have the option to continue to study GCSE Music. There are opportunities for the students across all year groups to take part in extracurricular musical activities. Through Years 7 to 9 students study eighteen units of Music covering a wide variety of musical styles and genres, using a variety of instruments. The units range from Western Classical, including the Great Composers to world music from around the globe. Every unit is centred around gaining knowledge of the elements of music and their application in listening, composition and performance.
The units have been chosen and planned to support the development of musical knowledge and skills. Each unit will have a variety of listening, composing and performance tasks to aid understanding and knowledge development. Some units focus on a specific element of music and some centre around music theory and a specific style or genre. Students will develop their level of skill during a topic and this will be assessed at the end of each topic. Creating compositions and practising for performance, including singing, is an integral part of the curriculum and necessary to make sustained progress. Preparing a piece of music for performing, whether it be composition or performance involves constant revision and improvement and is equivalent to creating an extended piece of writing.
Music
Key Stage 3
Year 7
| Term | Content | Assessment
| Evaluate the ways in which this unit has built upon previous learning and works towards future learning? Consider knowledge, concepts, vocabulary and skills.   |
| Autumn Term 1 | Duration | Group composition of rhythmic piece Written test
| This unit establishes basic concepts of pulse and rhythm that are key to success in music. Knowledge is acquired about note names and lengths and how rhythms can be read from notation. |
| Autumn Term 2 | Pitch Sol Fa system Treble Clef notation | Performance of ‘Mattachins’ Written Test
| Students’ knowledge of treble clef pitches established and correct positioning of hands on keyboard. This is an ongoing task as ‘bad habits’ slip in easily. Continuing work will be needed in this area. Reinforcement of treble clef pitches will be needed as well to deepen memory of these and improve and quicken the recall of these. |
| Spring Term 1 | Ostinato | Performance of Ostinato/Riff/Hook Written Test
| Students use their knowledge and skills gained in the previous units to create and notate ostinati having had input exploring what makes a successful ostinato. Great composers unit-exploring ostinatos by various composers. |
| Spring Term 2 | Ukulele Skills | Students are assessed on their ability to play a variety of chords and use these in a performance with a backing Written Test
| Students learn specific technique on this instrument. In some cases this may build on previous knowledge from primary school and develop this. In most cases this will be brand new input. |
| Summer Term | Chords and Britpop
| Performance of Brit pop song Written Test
| This unit continues to develop confidence and recall of pitch and rhythm as well as skills and techniques learned in previous units this year.
|
Year 8
| Term | Content | Assessment
| Evaluate the ways in which this unit has built upon previous learning and works towards future learning? Consider knowledge, concepts, vocabulary and skills.   |
| Autumn Term 1 | 12 Bar Blues and Improvisation | Performance of 12 Bar Blues Written Test
| Builds on work completed in Y7 on chords and basic ukulele chords. Development of strumming patterns. Ongoing reinforcement of pitches in treble clef. Introduction to bass clef ready for Autumn 2 unit. |
| Autumn Term 2 | Pitch-Bass Clef | Performance of ‘Hall of the Mountain King’ Written Test
| This unit establishes knowledge of the bass clef and instruments that use this clef. ‘Great Composer’ unit. |
| Spring Term 1 | Film Music
| Performance of Film Theme Written Test
| Exploration of key music from one area of study linked to the current GCSE specification. This unit brings together all the knowledge and skills that Y8 have acquired this year.
|
| Spring Term 2 | Minimalism
| Performance of ‘Tubular Bells’ Written Test
| This unit explores the use of irregular time signatures and explores how these can be used in music. There is further development on the use of Ostinati in music. |
| Summer Term | Structure - Melody Writing | Composition or performance of a melody Written Test
| Exploration of established structural conventions. Use of pitch and rhythm knowledge. Reinforcement of notation. |
Year 9
| Term | Content | Assessment | Evaluate the ways in which this unit has built upon previous learning and works towards future learning? Consider knowledge, concepts, vocabulary and skills.   |
| Autumn Term 1 | Jazz and Syncopation | Performance of ‘Boogie Woogie’ Written Test
| Revisit of keyboard techniques/treble and bass clef as needed. Jazz and Blues is a key area in GCSE Music. Exploration of syncopation and improvisation. |
| Autumn Term 2 | Reggae | Performance of ‘Three Little Birds’ Written Test
| Revisit ideas of ostinato, off beat and syncopation. Further reinforcement of notation. |
| Spring Term 1 | Gamelan | Performance of ‘Gamelan’ piece Written Test
| Exploration of Heterophonic texture. Use of tuned percussion. Group performance/Ensmeble preparation. |
| Spring Term 2 | Ground Bass
| Performance of ‘Canon in D’ Written Test
| Great Composers unit. Further reinforcement of stave notation.
|
| Summer Term | Song Writing | Composition of song Written Test
| Focus on creativity. Achieved by studying song conventions and then creating own song using scaffolded support. |
Key Stage 4
Year 10
| Term | Content | Assessment | Evaluate the ways in which this unit has built upon previous learning and works towards future learning? Consider knowledge, concepts, vocabulary and skills.   |
| Autumn Term 1 | Area of Study 1 inc Badinerie study piece Music Theory | Music theory exam paper Exam questions Area of Study 1 and on Badinerie | This unit establishes the core skills and knowledge needed to access the course. The elements of music and associated language are learned and students apply these to the music from Area of study 1. They begin to learn about their first study piece, exploring the key features of Badinerie. |
| Autumn Term 2 | Area of Study 2 Music Theory | Music theory exam paper Exam question on Area of Study 2
| Students continue to develop their theory skills and use the knowledge already gained to help them to learn about the genres of music in Area of Study 2. |
| Spring Term 1 | Area of Study 3 Composition Skills |
Exam question on Area of Study 3
| Students use their knowledge acquired in term one to begin to explore compositional techniques and devices. This is taught via a variety of exercises utilising both practical and listening skills. |
| Spring Term 2 | Area of Study 4 inc Toto study piece Composition Skills | Exam question on Area of Study 4 and Toto study piece.
| Composition ideas continue to be developed while using established techniques and devices. Students study Area of Study 4 and the 2nd study piece, exploring the key features of this piece. |
| Summer Term 1 | Area of Study 1inc Badinerie study piece Composition Skills | Exam questions Area of Study 1 and on Badinerie
| Students begin to create original ideas that can be taken forward in order that they can be used in the free composition that is completed in Year 11. Area of Study 1 is examined again in order to further develop students confidence in this component. |
| Spring Term 2 | Area of Study 2 Composition skills | End of year exam | Area of Study 2 is revisited so that students can build further knowledge in this component. Composition ideas continue to be developed. |
Year 11
| Term | Content | Assessment | Evaluate the ways in which this unit has built upon previous learning and works towards future learning? Consider knowledge, concepts, vocabulary and skills.   |
| Autumn Term 1 | Area of Study 3 Solo performance preparation Composing NEA completion | Exam questions on Area of Study 3 | NEA composition, composing to a brief, issued. Students use the skills learned in Y10 to produce this piece of work and free composition. Solo performance pieces are chosen and practice begins. |
| Autumn Term 2 | Area of Study 4 inc. Toto study piece Free composition submission | Exam questions on Area of Study 4 Composition (Free composition) NEA | Free composition submission occurs at the end of this half term to manage the workload of students. Area of study 4 revisited to develop confidence in this area. |
| Spring Term 1 | Area of Study 1 and 2 revision Solo performance submission Composing to a Brief composition submission | Solo Performance NEA Composition(Composing to a brief) NEA | Revision of Area of Study 1 and 2 including exam question modelling undertaken. Solo performances recorded for submission. Composition to a brief finalised and submitted. |
| Spring Term 2 | Area of Study 3 and 4 revision Ensemble performance submission | Ensemble performance NEA | Revision of Area of Study 3 and 4 including exam question modelling undertaken. Ensemble performances recorded for submission. |
| Summer Term | Revision and listening examination practice | Final appraising examination | Final preparation for different types of exam questions from all areas of study |
Music Lessons - Form to complete 2025-26
