Music is taught through three areas of study; Listening, Composing and Performing. Key Stage 3 projects include world music, such as African drumming and Samba, a variety of popular music styles, such as Reggae, Brit-pop and rhythms and blues, and projects based on advert and film music using music technology. There is a strong emphasis placed on the elements of music and creativity, and many of the half termly projects are approached through practical music compositions in small groups. This group work encourages students to demonstrate our school values such as determination and teamwork.

Music education develops skills that are necessary in the workplace. It focuses on “doing,” as well as observing, and teaches students how to perform for an audience. It plays a key role in mind development and it can help to develop language, motor skills, emotional intelligence and collaboration skills.

Having the opportunity to play musical instruments and make music together is a vital part of a rich and rounded education. At FIC our main goal in teaching music is to promote interest in and motivation for music and music related activities. We look to foster a sense of rhythm and melody, integrate music with the scholastic and co-scholastic subjects of study and identify and nurture talent in music.

KS3 Music

National Curriculum Aims

The national curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

KS3 Assessment Progress Map

KS3 Units of Work