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Ridgewood School

Ridgewood School

Music

The Music Department, part of our Performing Arts Faculty, state their vision as 'Performing Arts, performing always'.

Through the Music Curriculum at Ridgewood School we use our specialist skills to equip our students with powerful musical knowledge. We encourage them to realise their creative instincts through sound and technology; expand their aspirations through the provision and opportunities from our national and local music community; understand a wide range of musical traditions and concepts throughout history and enrich the soul with the universal language of music so they can access unforgettable experiences. Across all Key Stages students are taught and assessed using a holistic approach, strengthening their connection between listening, performance and composition. 

Our Music Curriculum will provide students with:

  • The gift of powerful musical knowledge.
  • An ambitiously planned and broad musical learning experience.
  • Opportunities to develop their vocal and/or instrumental fluency, accuracy and expression; and musical terminology styles, genres and traditions.
  • The ability to listen to music with increasing discrimination and awareness, to inform their practice as musicians.
  • The ability to use technologies appropriately and appreciate and understand a wide range of musical contexts and styles.
  • Knowledge of the fundamental theoretical principles of music and how these relate to a wide range of distinct musical traditions from throughout history and around the world.
  • An understanding of how to collaborate musically in performance and be able to apply musical skills to their own creative process.
  • Increasing independence to master a musical skill. 

Please get in touch via the enquiry form on our Contact Us page. Should you have any further questions about our Music Curriculum, please contact Mrs Moran, Curriculum Lead.

KS3

 

  

Assessment:

This takes place in line with our CF cycle and involves a key assessment for each scheme using the music assessment criteria, focusing on performance and/or composition. In addition, students complete two written assessments at each CF point, providing an opportunity to recall the contextual knowledge and understanding of music through listening.

All year groups complete a baseline assessment to assess individual starting points and ensure that their musical education is tailored and personalised to the individual.

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KS4

Key Stage 4 students follow the new specification AQA GCSE Music syllabus or the NCFE Level 2 Technical Award in Music Technology (601/6774/9).

 

 

Developing and applying the musical knowledge, understanding and skills set out in AQA's GCSE specification ensures students form a personal and meaningful relationship with music. They will be encouraged to engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music and musical contexts, and reflect on how music is used in the expression of personal and collective identities.

The subject content is divided into the three components:

  • Understanding music
  • Performing music
  • Composing music

AQA - Music Specification

Students develop their performing skills through individual tuition with a specialist teacher on their chosen instrument (free of charge) in both a solo and ensemble capacity or via technology.

Students’ composing skills will also be developed through a series of workshop sessions that will provide students with the building blocks to create two successful compositions, one written to a brief and the other a free composition.

Both compositions are assessed on the student’s ability to demonstrate:

  • Creative and effective selection and use of musical elements
  • Appropriate selection and use of musical elements (to the compositional intention)
  • Technical and expressive control in the use of musical elements

Each composition must demonstrate a selection and use of least four types of musical element as follows:

  • At least two of rhythm, metre, texture, melody, structure, form
  • At least two of harmony, tonality, timbre, dynamics, phrasing, articulation

The students further develop their understanding of these elements through the four areas of study: Western classical tradition 1650-1910, Popular music, Traditional Music and Western classical tradition from 1910.

The course is split into 3 units.

  • Performance as an instrumentalist and/or vocalist and/or via technology
  • Composition
  • Understanding
 

Assessment:

The weighting for the course is as follows:

  • Composing and Performing coursework (60%)
  • Understanding music listening examination (40%)
 

NCFE Level 2 Technical Award in Music Technology

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Students have access to their own personal Focus on Sound account for access to listening clips, contextual and theoretical understanding: portal.focusonsound.com

Students also have access to the music library 'I like music': 
  1. KS3 Music Assessment
    Download
  2. NCFE Level 2 Technical Award in Music Technology
    Download
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