Music

Ways to Help your Child's Musical Studies 

The Music Curriculum at Leventhorpe 

We believe that through learning music, we also learn habits of practice, perseverance and teamwork. Our intent is to introduce students to music from different genres and cultures. We believe in learning music by using various forms of notation. These include learning by rote, western classical traditions (Staff Notation and by letter) and also graphic notation. We are proud to encourage students to be able to be risk-takers in their musical performances; whether as a vocalist or an instrumentalist. All Year 7 students are able to apply for our Leventhorpe Everyone's A Player program which funds a term of one to one individual instrumental lessons.

The music department strives to give and enhance pupils' skills in performing and creating music, and also the knowledge of evaluation of music from different genres. They use these skills and knowledge to develop as music students so that they are able to achieve well at KS4 and beyond whilst developing the confidence and resilience to become willing contributors to the outside world. Students use a range of literacy and numeracy strategies to analyze, evaluate and perform given pieces and gain knowledge of musical works to which they would not normally be exposed. They will understand how to keep themselves safe and develop effective group working skills, whilst understanding core British Values.

Please be advised that due to COVID-19 restrictions, music lessons should now be booked direct through the Hertfordshire Music Service website.

The Key Stage 3 National Curriculum for Music

We ensure that the full breadth and balance of the music curriculum is delivered to students during their key stage 3. 
They are taught to:

1. play and perform confidently in a range of solo and ensemble contexts using their voice, playing instruments musically, fluently and with accuracy and expression
2. improvise and compose; and extend and develop musical ideas by drawing on a range of musical structures, styles, genres and traditions
3. use staff and other relevant notations appropriately and accurately in a range of musical styles, genres and traditions
4. 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
5. listen with increasing discrimination to a wide range of music from great composers and musicians
6. develop a deepening understanding of the music that they perform and to which they listen and its history.

In Years 7 and 8 you receive two one hour music lessons a fortnight and can then opt to continue Music in Year 9. There is a strong emphasis on performing and composing in Y7-9 music lessons. You will be encouraged to be musically creative and expressive in a safe, positive and vibrant working environment. Students regularly perform to the teacher, small groups and the whole class, recording their compositions. Listening to and analysing a range of musical styles is also a key element of Leventhorpe music lessons and vital to a rounded musical education.

We have an innovative curriculum in Years 7 and 8, where students are given the opportunity to try out a wide range of instruments. Practical group work is at the heart of our music-making whilst ensuring that links are made back to theoretical music knowledge. In Year 9 you will get to further your musical studies through a range of scaffolded musical activities aimed to build student confidence and further develop student levels of attainment and enjoyment. You will be required to compose and perform more independently than you had during Year 7 and 8, and will also be encouraged to explore your own ‘voice’ when composing and performing.

In Year 9 you will get to further your musical studies though a range of scaffolded musical activities aimed to build student confidence and further develop student levels of attainment and enjoyment. You will be required to compose and perform more independently than you had during Year 7 and 8, and will also be encouraged to explore your own ‘voice’ when composing and performing.

Year 7 Topic Overview

Autumn
1. - Rhythm and Elements of Music. - Bass Line Assessment. (1,2,3,4)
2. Carnival of the Animals. (1,2,3,4,5,6)

Spring
3. Keyboard Unit. (1,3)
4. African Music. (1,2,5,6)

Summer
5. Film Music. (1,2,4,5,6)
6. Variations. (1,2,4,5,6)

Year 8 Topic Overview

Autumn
7. Melody and Chords. (1,2,3,4,6)
8. Music in Advertising. (1,2,4)

Spring
9. Reggae. (1,2,3,4,5,6)
10. Ground Bass. (1,2,3,4,5,6)

Summer
11. Musical Theatre. (1,4,5,6)
12 Bar Blues. (1,2,3,4,5,6)

Year 9 Topic Overview

Autumn
• Own choice composing.
• Composition Starting Points and Stimulus (Chords and Melody, Pictures, Poetry, Existing Music).
• Ground Bass.
• Pop Music, Classical Music.

Spring
• Popular music introduced.
• General listening.
• Blues group assessment (performance).

Summer
• Traditional music introduced.
• Western classical tradition since 1910 introduced.
• 20th century composition assessment.
• Summer concert.

Optional GCSE Music in Year 10 and 11

Students studying GCSE Music usually have five one hour music lessons a fortnight. They are also supported in their performance work with a funded 20 minute instrumental/vocal lesson or music technology once a week. Students opting for GCSE Music are expected to contribute fully to the extra-curricular activities of the Leventhorpe Music Department. In KS4, students have access to Garageband and Musescore to compose and record music. 

 

Year 10 Eduqas Specification
 

Set Works 

“Badinerie” - J.S. Bach 

“Africa” - Toto 

Autumn 
• “Badinerie” studied in detail. 
• Music theory. 
• Individual composition. 
• Individual performance work (solo and groups). 
• “Africa” studied in detail. 
• Individual composition. 
• Individual performance work (solo and groups). 
• Christmas concert. 

Spring 
• Start composition 1 (free choice). 
• Individual performance work (solo and groups). 
• Composition 1 (free choice) continued. 
• Individual performance work (solo and groups). 
• Revisited theory and set works in preparation for Year 10 mock exam. 

Summer 
• Revisited theory and set works in preparation for Year 10 mock exam. 
• Composition 1 (free choice) continued. 
• Individual performance work (solo and groups). 
• Composition 1 (free choice) continued. 
• Individual performance work (solo and groups). 
• Summer concert. 

EDUQAS GCSE Specification

Year 11 Eduqas Specification 

Set Works 

“Badinerie” - J.S. Bach 

“Africa” - Toto

Autumn 
• Individual performance work for final submission (solo and groups). 
• Start composition 2 (set brief). 
• Individual performance work for final submission (solo and groups). 
• Composition 2 (set brief) continued. 
• Christmas concert. 

Spring 
• Individual performance work for final submission (solo and groups). 
• Composition 2 (set brief) continued. 
• Record solo and group performances. 
• Submit both compositions. 
• Leaver’s concert. 

Summer 

Final examination preparation 

 

Optional A' Level Music in Year 12 and 13

Students studying  A Level Music usually have nine one music lessons a fortnight. They are also supported in their performance work, with a funded 30 minute instrumental/vocal or music technology lesson once a week which is paid for by Leventhorpe. Students opting for A Level Music are expected to contribute fully to the extra-curricular activities of the Leventhorpe Music Department. 

EDUQAS A Level Specification

Year 12 Eduqas Specification

A Level Set works for Years 12 and 13 

Three areas of study:  

Area of study A: The Western Classical Tradition (The Development of the Symphony 1750-1900) which includes two set works. Choose one set work for detailed analysis and the other for general study.  

A choice of one area of study from:  

Area of study B: Rock and Pop  

Area of study C: Musical Theatre  

Area of study D: Jazz  

A choice of one area of study from:  

Area of study E: Into the Twentieth Century including two set works:  

Area of study F: Into the Twenty-first Century including two set works:  

Autumn 
• Free Choice Composition. 
• With instrumental teachers. 
• Classical Music Set Works. 6 Lessons 
• Jazz Area of Study. 6 Lessons 
• 21st Century Music Set Works. 6 Lessons 
• Music Theory. 

Spring 
• Free Choice Composition. 
• With instrumental teachers. 
• Classical Music Set Works. 6 Lessons 
• Jazz Area of Study. 6 Lessons 
• 21st Century Music Set Works. 6 Lessons 
• Music Theory. 

Summer 
• Free Choice Composition. 
• With instrumental teachers. 
• Classical Music Set Works. 6 Lessons. 
• Jazz Area of Study. 6 Lessons. 
• 21st Century Music Set Works. 6 Lessons. 
• Music Theory. 

 

Year 13 Eduqas Specification

Autumn 
• Complete Free Choice Composition. 
• Composition to a Brief. 
• 5 minutes of solo performance 
• Set Works. 
• Music Theory. 

Spring 
• Submit Complete Free Choice Composition. 
• Submit Composition to a Brief. 
• Submit solo performance. 
• Leavers’ Concert. 
• Recap of all Areas of Study. 
• Music Theory. 

Summer 

Final examination preparation