SGSE

A-Level Music

Curriculum:

Click to Expand Year 12 Autumn Content:

Pop and Jazz, Performance Skills, Compositional Skills

Key Concepts

To be able to start to analyse a piece of music, thinking about its context and history.
To understand what deliberate practise is and to start implementing this into their performance practise.
To understand how to correctly write a chord sequence.
The look at what countermelodies are and how to implement them into an already pre-existing melody.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms for Pop and Jazz, Arrangement, Countermelody, Deliberate Practise

Instrumental Music, Modulations

Key Concepts

To be able to start to analyse a piece of music, thinking about its context and history
To understand what deliberate practise is and to start implementing this into their performance practise.
To understand how to correctly write a chord sequence.
The look at what countermelodies are and how to implement them into an already pre-existing melody.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms for Instrumental, Modulation, Pivot Chord, Direct Modulation, Parallel Modulations

Click to Expand Year 12 Spring Content:

Vocal Music, Performance Skills, Compositional Skills

Key Concepts

To understand the background to vocal music and how the lyrics and music work together to create a specific atmosphere and emotion.
To understand how a level performance is marked and what is expected from them.
To apply their compositional knowledge of modulation, chord sequence, unusual chords and melodic writing to a theme and variation composition.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms for Vocal Music, Theme, Variation, Transition, Deliberate Practise

Film Music, Performance Skills, Compositional Skills

Key Concepts

To understand the background to film music and how music is specifically composed for films.
To analyse how film music supports the film scenes and helps generate emotions/opinions about characters.
To start their composition mock, doing research into their chosen style.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms for Film Music, Modulations, Extended Chords, Deliberate Practise

Click to Expand Year 12 Summer Content:

Revision for Mock Exam, Record Performance Mock

Key Concepts

To understand the background to film music and how music is specifically composed for films
To understand the key features of instrumental music
To understand the key features of pop and jazz
To understand the key features of vocal music
To be able to perform in front of an audience

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms for Film Music, Pop and Jazz, Vocal Music and Instrumental Music, Deliberate Practise

Debussy, Performance Skills, Compositional Skills

Key Concepts

To understand the background to fusion music and look at why composers might want to compose fusion.
To understand the key features of Debussy and to know his two pieces in detail.
To look at how to write supporting notes to go with their compositions.
To reflect from their performance marks feedback.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms for Fusion Music (specifically Debussy)

Click to Expand Year 13 Autumn Content:

Fusions (Shankar)

Key Concepts

To understand the background to fusion music and look at why composers might want to compose fusion
To understand the key features of Shankar and to know her three pieces in detail
To look at how to write supporting notes to go with their compositions

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms For Fusion Music (Specifically Shankar), Composition Skills

New Directions (Saariho and Stravinsky)

Key Concepts

To understand the background to new directions and contemporary music, looking at why composers chose to re-write the music rules
To understand the key features of Stravinsky and to know the Rite of Spring sections in detail
To underhand Saariho and to know her Petals in detail

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms For New Directions), Dictation

Click to Expand Year 13 Spring Content:

By this point in the academic year, we have completed the course content and we are focusing on revision, exam technique and pace.

Click to Expand Year 13 Summer Content:

By this point in the academic year, we have completed the course content and we are focusing on revision, exam technique and pace.

Subject Overview:

A-Level students have 5 Music lessons each week.

Students have Music homework set once every week, however all students in Sixth Form are expected to allocate time outside of lessons for further study.

Homework usually consists of, revision tasks, composition tasks and practice for the performance piece.