In S3, pupils continue with their chosen 2 instruments and work towards improving their knowledge and experience of the instrument in a Skill Building Unit which involves practising and performing to the teacher/class as a form of assessment, with the hope of reaching NAT 5 standard by the end of the year (ABRSM grade 3 level).
Also throughout the year, we look at various other topics such as:
There is also a greater emphasis on the Composition element of this course to allow pupils further experience and confidence before heading into NAT 5, where Composition is now a required marked element of the course. We look at things such as:
This all culminates in the following assessments during the year:
Also throughout the year, we look at various other topics such as:
- The Orchestra - looking at the different families/Listening/Delivering PowerPoint presentations on assigned families.
- Music Project - pupils are given the opportunity to create a project on anything to do with Music that they feel passionate about. Pupils create a PowerPoint presentation and deliver it to the class.
There is also a greater emphasis on the Composition element of this course to allow pupils further experience and confidence before heading into NAT 5, where Composition is now a required marked element of the course. We look at things such as:
- Circle of 5ths - learning about different key signatures and how helpful they can be to a piece
- Major/Minor Tonality
- The Structure of a piece: Ternary/Binary Form/Intro/Verse/Bridge/Chorus/Instrumental
- Texture of a piece: number of parts/instruments involved
- Cadences: how does a piece end?
This all culminates in the following assessments during the year:
- Composing a piece of music for a solo instrument and Piano OR a song with lyrics with a labelled plan.
- Arranging a pop song that already exists for a String Quartet.
- Introduction to Sibelius/MuseScore and creating a piece using that.
- A composition with pupils given free choice.