Handsworth Grammar School

Music

KS3

The programme challenges and encourages students to develop their musical knowledge, understanding and skills through the following activities: composing, performing, listening and appraising. The variety of musical styles covered include: classical, blues, rock and pop, latin American, Caribbean, oriental and folk.

Units of work include:

  • discovering the musical elements with Year 7
  • comparing world music (Indonesian gamelan and Jamaican calypso) in Year 8
  • composing a film sound track for Year 9
  • homework research projects

The resources available to our students include various instruments and an Applemac ICT suite using Garageband and Cubase software.

GCSE (AQA)

This two-year course provides opportunities for students to develop composing, performing and listening/appraising skills and to increase their musical knowledge and understanding by exploring five areas of study of music for film, dance and special effects; orchestral landmarks; and popular song since 1960.

Composing Coursework (25%)

Students develop their skills in response to a variety of tasks based on each area of study. For their final assessment students will plan and compose a piece of music for a special event. Our students have access to the School's Applemac ICT suite (Garageband and Cubase software) plus regular sessions at the local City Learning Centre.

Performing Coursework (25%)

Throughout the course students have opportunities to perform, both within their Music timetable and also in School events including concerts, recitals and HGS Young Musician of the Year. For their final assessment students are required to perform one solo and one ensemble item.

Integrated Assignment (25%)

In the Spring Term of Year 11, students will select and carry out a composing assignment for any area of study apart from Music for Special Events. In addition there will be a 30-minute examination, when students will write an evaluation of their assignment work.

Listening and Appraising Test (25%)

At the end of the course students will sit a one and a quarter hour written examination with music from all five areas of study played on CD.

AS & A2 (Edexcel)

The Edexcel specification for Music provides a range of options, enabling students to exploit their strengths, develop a particular interest and explore new ground. It also offers students, as they progress to Year 2 of the course, the opportunity to specialise in either performing or composing and, if they wish, to focus on either classical or popular music. The freedom of choice in performing and the wide range of composing styles mean that students can match their practical work to aspects of the areas of study available.

Performing and Composing (AS: Units 1 & 2 / A2 Units 4 & 5)

Students compile a log of solo and ensemble performances across the course and prepare a final solo performance. Assessment is based on an expected standard equivalent to Grade 5 (AS) / Grade 6 (A2).

Students select various composing techniques and also create works in one (AS) or two (if specialising in composing for A2) of these styles: Variations, Romantic miniatures, Neo-classicism, Post-modernism, Popular song, Club dance and hip-hop, Fusions, Film and TV, Music theatre.

Listening and Analysis (AS: Unit 3 / A2: Unit 6)

These skills and knowledge are developed in areas of study chosen from: Keyboard music, Music for large ensemble, Music for small ensemble, 20th century art music, Sacred vocal music, Secular vocal music, Music for film and television, Popular music and jazz, or World music.

One of the two areas for AS must come from the ‘classical' tradition. At A2 students extend their study of one area and add a new area.

Assessment is through a CD-based listening examination and an anthology-based written paper at the end of the AS and A2 courses.

Extended Curriculum

Weekly Activities: choir, orchestra, various woodwind, brass, string and guitar ensembles, wind band, big band, samba band, dhol group, stomp group, musical production, student rock bands, etc.

Instrumental Tuition: piano, guitar, violin/viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet/cornet, French/tenor horn, trombone, tuba, dhol/tabla

Main Events for 2006-7: Music for a Winter's Evening at the Adrian Boult Hall, Smike (musical production), HGS Young Musician of the Year, SoundCity 6, Summer Soiree, evening recitals, etc.