Music
Our core aim is to promote and embed the value and relevance of music to all of our young musicians from Reception through to year 13. We believe that all students can benefit from being part of musical experiences during their time at the school: as performers and composers, improvisers and as an audience. We aim to provide students with the necessary skills and understanding that they need to allow them to participate in music in an empowered and fulfilling way, helping them to foster a lifelong love for music. Some of our students may go on to study music, to work in the industry, perform, compose or teach music; however it is our aim that all Dunraven students will leave the school with lifelong memories of the powerful emotions and sense of belonging that being part of music has the power to instil in all of us, which will enable them to lead more fulfilling and meaningful lives.
Music at Dunraven combines curriculum music, instrumental music and ensembles; alongside musical events and visits to provide a rounded and comprehensive musical experience for all young people at the school.
All students have access to:
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A rich, engaging and relevant music curriculum, based in the National Curriculum
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Subsidised lessons on a wide range of instruments, and voice
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A diverse range of vocal and instrumental ensembles
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Well equipped bespoke musical spaces for creating, practising and composing music
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Opportunities to participate in regular school concerts, recitals, whole school musicals and take part in the Lambeth Music Festival and the Young Voices Festival
Our ambition is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to attend at least one live music performance at an external venue.
Curriculum wider aims – for all young people to become;
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Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve
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Confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
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Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society
Our curriculum is underpinned by the three pillars: technical, constructive and expressive.
1. Key Musical Concepts
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Understanding of musical theory
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Developing aural skills
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Building and refining practical skills
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Learning and developing composition and improvisation skills
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Developing the use of ICT in music
2. Key outcomes
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Performing, Composing and Listening.
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Reviewing and evaluating.
3. Range of content
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Performance activities in a range of contexts.
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A range of classical, world and popular traditions that reflect cultural diversity.
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Music theory
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Staff notation and other relevant notations.
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Contextual influences.
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Use of music ICT.
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Role of music and musicians in society.
The curriculum aims to provide:
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Scope across the whole curriculum that enables pupils to gradually develop control over the sound they are producing
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Opportunities to regularly revisit and practise skills & technical control as well as honing independent and autonomous skills within this area
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Consistency across the curriculum for developing sound control (whilst exposing students to a range of styles, genres and opportunities as performers) however also recognising weak transfer of procedural knowledge.
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Regular opportunities to return to core understanding (ie musical theory and notation)
EYFS
Music in Early Years is focused on communication and language. Children learn rhymes, poems and songs by singing in a group or on their own, trying to match the pitch and follow melodic line. Children work on their physical development by moving to the rhythm of the music and playing a range of musical instruments. They are encouraged to express their feelings and thoughts about music by sharing ideas and skills.
Each year they prepare and participate in a nativity concert to give them the opportunity to perform as part of a larger event with other students and to an audience, this helps to facilitate a culture of performance and musical celebration at a young age.
KS1
Children in KS1 learn to use their voices expressively and creatively, speaking chants and rhymes. They explore the sounds around them and work on their basic composing skills by using body percussion and instruments. They are learning to listen with concentration and understanding to a range of recorded and live music.
Each year they prepare and participate in a nativity concert to provide them with the opportunity to perform as part of a larger event with other students and to an audience, continuing to facilitate the culture of performance and musical celebration as part of school life.
KS2
KS2 children are taught how to play music with confidence and control. They are taught the basics of music theory, musical composition, organising and working within musical structures.
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Children in Year 3 learn how to play the recorders.
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Children in Year 4 and Year 5 learn how to play the ukulele.
Children are also taught how to sing with confidence by performing a solo or in a group. Children are exposed to a wide range of classical and popular music in order to develop an understanding of the history of music.
KS2 children are having an opportunity to sing in the Dunraven Primary Choir, including taking part in the Young Voices performance at the 02 (alongside Year 7 students - developing musical and social cross-phase links; and developing the sense of a musical all-through community).
Children are offered instrumental sessions on a range of instruments from year 3, and encouraged to participate in the Primary Orchestra which rehearses each Monday (supported by music staff). Primary students are encouraged to progress to the secondary orchestras (Junior orchestra and Dunraven Symphony Orchestra) as soon as they are at an appropriate standard on their instruments.
Each year all KS2 children perform in at least one concert (usually the Christmas concert).
KS3
Music is timetabled for a single, 45 minute period each week of the year for all students in key stage 3.
Students work in pairs, small groups and as a class to perform and create together, developing performance skills; learning to play keyboard, drums, ukulele and guitar and bass as well as developing vocal skills; and fostering a creative approach to learning music.
Students collaborate to perform and compose music from a range of genres and cultures, increasing their understanding of compositional devices, theory and developing individual performance skills.
Students learn to read staff notation as well as other notations during year 7 and this is returned to in each unit of work.
All students have a termly music booklet with chord charts and staff notation for each unit of work. Homework is set twice each half term (in week 2 and 4) as a google quiz focusing on developing theoretical understanding and a confident musical vocabulary.
Students are assessed each half term - this will take the form of a performance or composition.
All marks and teacher feedback is provided to students on their google classroom.
Year 7
- to sing in unison and rounds (and basic 2-part harmony)
- learn to read and perform basic note values and rests
- to construct basic triads and perform these on keyboard / ukulele
- to learn the notes on the keyboard
- to learn the notes of the treble & bass clefs
- to improvise and compose using the pentatonic scale within a simple structure
Year 8
- to sing in 2-part harmony as a class
- learn to develop reading and performing more complicated note values: triplets and dotted rhythms
- to be able to play a range of chords using sharps and flats and distinguish the difference between major / minor
- to revise the notes of the treble & bass clefs
- to improvise using the phrygian dominant & chromatic scales
Year 9
- to sing in 3 or 4 part harmony as a class
- learn to develop reading and performing more complicated note values: triplets and dotted rhythms
- to be able to play chord extensions and more extended chord sequences such as the circle of fifths
- to be able to compose using stylistic conventions in a creative way (eg a blues outro or a EDM break)
- to improvise and develop extended melodic lines within a given structure (eg jazz or theme and variations)
- to develop music ICT skills
KS4
Music is timetabled for three periods a week in key stage 4. Students study the Eduqas specification at GCSE. Building on prior learning at GCSE in focusing on a programme of study which incorporates performances, composition and listening.
Y10: Introduction to musical language and composition.
Y11: Further composing skills (using motifs and developing ideas within more complex structures).
One-to-one instrumental tuition: All GCSE students receive a free instrumental lesson each week where they work with instrumental teachers to develop their two performances for their GCSE music submission as well as preparing for their Y10 and Y11 recitals.
KS5
Music is timetabled for four periods a week in key stage 5 + a double supervised study period in the department.
In lessons students will focus on:
Listening & Appraisal - focusing on the 12 set works
Foundation in composing skills
Composing to a brief set by the board
Advanced harmony
In lessons students will focus on:
Developing composition ideas
Students have 30-45 minutes one-to-one tuition with their instrumental tutors each week - This is where they focus on:
Advanced performance skills
Preparing for their y12 and y13 recitals
