Music KS3 Curriculum

Themes(knowledge & understanding)

Skills 

• The Elements of Music 
• Instruments of the Orchestra
• Music theory 
• Music form & structures
• Music history
• World Music Observational drawing

• Singing
• Performing
• Composing
• Listening & Appraising 

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Bridging the Gap
Elements of Music
Graphic score notation
Instruments of the Orchestra

World Music 1
African Music exploring the art of Djembe drumming and African part-sing

• Call & response
• Close harmony
• Poly-rhythmic playing

Samba Music exploring percussive polyrhythmic ensemble playing.

• Samba instruments
• Role of a leader
• Ensemble awareness

Musical Forms and Structures
Exploring the basic elements of composition 

• Binary and ternary forms.
• Tradition music notation. 
• Keyboard development

Reggae Music

• Developing ensemble playing; keyboard skills and recognition of syncopated rhythms.
• Understanding chord formations and importance of the bassline.

 Musical Theatre
Exploring a range of musical theatre genres dating back to the Golden Age - present day.

• West Side story songs and musical interludes
• Hamilton - spoken word and rhythmical writing
• The great composer duos and their works.

Celtic Music
Exploring the melodic development and structure of folk-dance music .

• Introducing compound time signatures and the style of the Gigue, including improvisation and ornamentation.   

Programme Music
Exploring the works of Saint-Saens, Smetana and Mahler (Listening & Appraising)

• Creating and composing based on thematic stimuli

History of Popular Music 1
1950’s - 60’s Blues and Rock’n’roll music

• 12 Bar Blues, Swung Rhythm, Improvisation, Walking Bass, Comping
• Importance of lyrical content and historical and social links
• British Invasion  -  The Beatles songs

History of Popular Music 2
1970’s - 80s Protest songs

• Importance of lyrical content and historical and social links
• Songwriting

Rock Anthems from:

• Queen
• Abba

History of Popular Music
Modern day Artists and the range of music genres influenced by social and political issues; and the impact of the fashion industry on today’s music.

• Independent learning projects.

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