Music

Members of Department:

Mr Keil - Head of of Department

Mr Perry - Deputy Head of Department

Mr Crockford - Music Specialist (Tull House Lead)

Peripatetic Music Teachers:

Mr Bennett - Trombone

Mr Bescoby - Oboe and Bassoon

Ms Cherrett - Vocals

Mr Henry - Piano and Woodwind

Mr McDouall - Drums

Mr Robinson - Guitar and Bass

Mr Warner - Trumpet

The Morpeth Music Department has a rich history of going beyond the classroom curriculum and providing opportunities that broaden a child’s horizons and contribute to their cultural capital. In the current climate of funding cuts, and music no longer prominent in school curricula across the country, it is more important than ever that young people have access to excellent music education at Morpeth School.

As a department, we pride ourselves on the constant evolution of our curriculum, consistently raising standards through a culture of collaboration, reflection and sharing. Never has the spirit of teamwork been more important than in the light of the challenges we have set ourselves in the years ahead.

Our current area of focus is going beyond giving a young person just access to a music education, but ensuring their success at the highest academic level, if that is a path they choose to pursue. Theoretically, a child should be able to walk through the doors of Morpeth School in September of Year 7 having never played an instrument, and be able to leave with top grades in GCSE/A-Level having completed graded exams that allow them to continue their studies at University and beyond.

To achieve this, we have established a new core entitlement that guarantees the experiences that every Morpeth student will benefit from:

Every child will learn a musical instrument
Every child will participate in a musical performance
Every child will get to see a live musical performance
Every child will get to benefit from Music Technology inside and outside the classroom

Music is a unique form of communication that can change the way pupils feel, think and act.

Music forms part of an individual’s identity. Positive interaction with music can develop pupils’ competence as learners and increase their self-esteem.

Music combines intellect and feeling and enables personal expression, reflection and emotional development.

As an integral part of culture, past and present, music helps pupils understand themselves, relate to others and develop their cultural understanding, forging important links between home, school and wider world.

Find out more:

For more about Music at Morpeth, visit the department website

Find out more about Music Clubs

Curriculum:

KEY STAGE 3

All Year 7 and Year 8 students will learn an instrument in their curriculum music lessons. Pupils will build on any previous knowledge and skills through performing, composing and listening.

They will be taught to develop their vocal and/or instrumental fluency, accuracy and expressiveness; and understand musical structures, styles, genres and traditions, identifying the expressive use of musical dimensions.

They will learn to listen with increasing discrimination and awareness to inform their practice as musicians.

They will be taught to use technologies appropriately and appreciate and understand a wide range of musical contexts and styles.

Pupils will be taught to

play and perform confidently in a range of solo and ensemble contexts using their voice, playing instruments musically, fluently and with accuracy and expression
improvise and compose; and extend and develop musical ideas by drawing on a range of musical structures, styles, genres and traditions
use staff and other relevant notations appropriately and accurately in a range of musical styles, genres and traditions
identify and use the inter-related dimensions of music expressively and with increasing sophistication, including use of tonalities, different types of scales and other musical devices
listen with increasing discrimination to a wide range of music from great composers and musicians
develop a deepening understanding of the music that they perform and to which they listen.

	Year 7	Year 8
Autumn 1	Rhythm and Time	The Influence of Black Culture on Music
Autumn 2	Melody	In At The Deep End
Spring 1	Harmony	In At The Deep End
Spring 2	Accidentals	Songwriting
Summer 1	Bass Lines	Songwriting
Rollover	Ensemble Performance
ICT	Electronic Music Lofi Hip-Hop, House, Garage, Drum and Bass, Synthwave	Podcasting

KEY STAGE 4

GCSE Music

Course Length: 1 Year

Available for: Year 10-11

Entry Requirements: Grade 3 or above on an instrument and/or Rock School Level 2

GCSE Music provides students with the opportunity to focus on three key areas of musicianship: Composition, Performance, and Theory/Analysis.

COMPOSITION

During the year students will write two pieces of music: a composition to a set brief, and a free choice composition. Each composition is worth 15% of the total GCSE.

PERFORMANCE

Students will perform a minimum of two pieces for their composition. A solo performance piece (which can have piano accompaniment or a backing track) and an ensemble performance with other musicians. Each performance is worth 15% of the total GCSE.

EXAM

At the end of the year, students will complete a 90-minute exam paper covering four areas of study:

The Concerto Through Time
Rhythms of the World
Film Music
Conventions of Pop

Music Technology - RSL Level 2 Certificate for Music Practitioners (Technology)

Course Length: 1 Year

Available for: Year 9-11

Music Technology is a level 2 course designed to build on the students’ experiences in KS3 of creating music using DAW software. Students will learn how to create music using MIDI and Audio, edit their tracks, and use professional mixing and mastering techniques to achieve a professional sound. Students will have access to our Mac suites with Logic Pro, as well as our three recording studios equipped with high-quality hardware and software.

As well as developing production skills, all students will complete a Musical Knowledge unit, which explores a variety of musical genres and allows them to investigate areas of music that they are interested in.

Rock School – RSL Level 2 Certificate for Music Practitioners (Performing)

Course Length: 1 Year

Available for: Year 9-11

Rock School is a KS4 course available to all students. The year-long course gives students the opportunity to form a band and rehearse during their 4.5 hours of lesson time per week. Each band will put together a setlist of several cover songs which culminates in an end-of-year performance to families. During this time, bands will have the opportunity to record one of their tracks and film a music video.â

As well as developing performance skills, all students will complete a Musical Knowledge unit, which explores a variety of musical genres and allows them to investigate areas of music that they are interested in.

Level 3 Composition/Performance

Level 3 Certificate for Music Practitioners (RSL)

This course is available to Year 11 students who have completed GCSE Music in Year 10.

Take your musical knowledge and skills further with this Level 3 course in Music! Choose a composition or performance pathway and complete a major assignment in your chosen specialism. This vocational course allows you to gain UCAS points for university entry and is the perfect platform to get ready to study Music A-Level at Sixth Form.

KEY STAGE 5

RSL Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma for Music Practitioners

The RSL Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma for Music Practitioners is a two-year vocational music course, equivalent in size to 1.5 A Levels. It is designed for students who want to develop a broad range of practical, creative and professional skills while exploring different areas of the music industry.

Throughout the course, students complete five units, covering performance, music production, live sound, career development and musical research. Three units are studied in Year 12, followed by two in Year 13.

Year 12

Unit 387E – Rehearsal Skills and Live Music Performance
Students develop their skills as performers, learning how to rehearse effectively both independently and as part of an ensemble, before preparing for live performance.
Unit 349 – Planning for a Career in Music
Students explore the range of opportunities available within the music industry and consider the skills, experience and pathways needed to develop their own future career.
Unit 366 – Music Sequencing and Production
Students develop their music technology skills, using sequencing and production techniques to create and develop music using industry-standard software.

Year 13

Unit 335 – Sound Reinforcement
Students explore the practical skills involved in live sound, including the equipment and techniques used to set up, manage and operate sound for live performances.
Unit 320 – Music Dissertation
Students undertake an extended piece of independent research into an area of music that interests them, developing their research, analytical and written communication skills.

The course offers students the opportunity to develop as musicians, producers and music practitioners, while also building transferable skills including collaboration, organisation, independent working, problem-solving and communication. It provides a strong foundation for students wishing to continue into higher education, employment or further training within music and the wider creative industries.