Music - Curriculum Information
Curriculum Intent
Curriculum Sequencing
Click here for Curriculum Sequencing - Year 7
Click here for Curriculum Sequencing - Year 8
Click here for Curriculum Sequencing - Year 9
Aims Music Department
- To enable every child to enjoy music as a performer, listener or composer.
- To show how people from diverse and cultures backgrounds use music to make sense of the world.
- To develop key life skills such as problem solving, team work and using technology.
- To encourage more people to take music further in life through study, career and as a hobby.
Departmental Staff
- Subject Leader: Mr D Martin
Facilities
Two main teaching rooms well equipped with interactive whiteboards and PCs. And a suite of practice rooms. We have class sets of Ukuleles, Electronic keyboards, Djembes, Electric Guitars and multiple drum kits.
Our Philosophy
The Music department is an inclusive one, giving opportunity and encouragement to all students who wish to develop their musical skills and understanding, regardless of the stage that they have reached in their music life.
Key Stage Three (Year 7-9)
Music has 1 lesson per fortnight in Year 7 & 8 and 9. The department follows a musical skills based curriculum exploring techniques in performance, composition and musical analysis. We prepare students for KS4 through exploring a selection of topics from exam board specifications.
KS4 (Year 10 and 11)
Music currently runs the BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Music Practice
The specification requires the candidates to explore diverse styles and genres through listening, composing and performing. It tracks the development of musical skills and understanding of musical theory through the building of a portfolio of rehearsal logs, recordings and evaluation (60%). The externally examined unit requires a cover version of a song to be created to a prescribed brief. (40%).
Additional Sessions
We have traditionally had a busy extra-curricular programme with choral and instrumental groups of various types and sizes. Our typical performance diary includes:
Open Days – Our students showcase their talents in various spaces around the school.
Awards evening – A musical performance is an important part of the evening in which exam certificates are presented.
Christmas Concert – Our Christmas celebration, in collaboration with Drama and Dance, is a showcase of the skills of our talented musicians alongside performing arts, Drama and Dance students.
Informal music sharing evenings – Working with BSharp Guitar school, we stage informal evenings in the drama studio in which students get the chance to perform to their families and friends.
S’Koolfest – Our rock bands and solo artists compete with their peers at the Pavilion Theatre in a ‘Battle of the Bands’ style evening hosted by Northbrook MET college.
Summer concert – An end of year celebration of work done in and out of the curriculum.
Other events that we have taken part in over recent years include:
School Shows – An opportunity for all students to tread the boards part in a ‘West End’ style musical. Previous productions include: Little Shop of Horrors, Sound of Music, Dracula Spectacular, Guys and Dolls, Spotlight, Oliver and Daisy Pulls It Off.
Worthing Sings Live – Our singers joined with the other secondary schools across Worthing to perform songs together in a massed choir. A great opportunity to perform in Worthing’s Assembly Hall.
The Big Sing – We worked with West Sussex Music to celebrate National Sing Up Day. Students from our feeder schools joined us for a fantastic morning of vocal workshops and performances.
BSharp Guitar School – This is an exciting afterschool session run by Steve Gladman. Budding guitarist can hone their skills and may even get to play in our excellent rock groups. For further details contact Steve Gladman bsharpguitarschool@hotmail.com
Carols by Candlelight – Our Christmas celebration is a musical evening of traditional carols and readings.
School Show – An opportunity for all students to tread the boards part in a ‘West End’ style musical. Previous productions include: Little Shop of Horrors, Sound of Music, Dracula Spectacular, Guys and Dolls, Spotlight, Oliver and Daisy Pulls It Off.
We offer a range of individual and group music tuition sessions. These lessons can take place during the school day however, some are before or after school. Currently we offer:
Keyboard/Piano – Helen Phillips helen.phillips70@icloud.com
Drum Kit – Nathan Sandford Nathan.Sandford@westsussexmusic.co.uk
Guitar - Steve Gladman Steve Gladman bsharpguitarschool@hotmail.com
Brass- Luke Greenwood Greenwoodbrass@outlook.com
Strings: Erin Harte-Stovell erinhartestovellviolin@gmail.com
Woodwind - Dominic Smith dominic.smith@westsussexmusic.co.uk
Voice - Victoria Bramley victoria.bramley@westsussexmusic.co.uk
Please contact the teacher/trust directly for further details of cost or email Mr Martin on dmartin@worthinghigh.net.