Music

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Music Curriculum Intent

“Create confident resilient and creative musicians who have the foundation skills and knowledge to allow them to develop their universal musical language.”

The Macclesfield Academy currently provides high-quality instrumental lessons on guitar and brass via our team of peripatetic tutors.  If you would like your child to have lessons on these instruments please contact paul.blaylock@macclesfieldacademy.org

For other instruments, we are pleased to announce our partnership with Love Music Trust, one of our local Music Hub providers. If you require lesson on keyboard, woodwind, strings, percussion or voice, please fill in the application form via the link near the bottom of the following page https://www.lovemusictrust.com/parents-and-pupils/small-group-and-individual-tuition/

We are proud of our thriving department where EVERY student has the opportunity to develop their musical skills. We promote experience in a wide range of musical instruments and many students attend our ‘open house’ most breaktimes, lunchtimes and after school, where they can play on the keyboards, guitars, ukuleles, drum kits etc.

We have flagship concerts at Christmas and in the summer with huge numbers of students involved, as well as playing an integral part in the huge whole school production with the Drama and Art departments.

Key Stage 3

We develop practical music skills on the keyboards, guitars and drum kits as well as giving experiences on ukuleles. We also teach pupils how to listen to and appraise music to gain a better understanding of how music is created. Again, we believe that hardly any other school gives such wide instrumental opportunity to students.

ICT in Music is also taught extensively, as is the theory of reading and writing music to support the practical activities.

Assessment: 

Pupils have 2 assessments per unit of work.  One assessment is a practical assessment either focussing on performance or composition and the other is a written assessment where we listen to a piece of music in the genre studied and write critically about it.

Key Stage 4

We offer GCSE Music with the OCR examination board. In this course students will: 

  • Develop and extend their knowledge of music, including composition, performance and listening and appraising. 
  • Gain understanding of the interrelated aspects of music, known as the ‘elements’. 
  • Develop and extend their competence in a range of skills, including using the elements to effectively compose pieces of music and enhance their performances.  
  • Apply musical knowledge, understanding and skills to pieces of music, analysing and commenting on them, including extended response essay-style questions. 

Students have to complete 4 pieces of Non-Exam Assessment (15% each) which are a solo and ensemble performance and 2 composition, one of which is to a set brief by the exam board. There is a examination at the end of the course which is worth 40%.

Personal rehearsal outside of lesson time forms an important part of the course.  Performances do not have to be in the public forum, but these often produce the highest marks. GCSE Music requires motivated learners who are able to work independently and demonstrate creativity. 

Music develops many skills that are recognised by employers as positive characteristics, regardless of the profession, and GCSE Music is a good qualification to have on your CV. 

Assessment:

Pupils study 1 unit of work per term.  In that unit of work they complete a composition assessment, a performance assessment and a listening and appraising assessment.  In addition to this they also have 1 mock exam at the end of year 10 and 2 in year 11 as part of the whole school mock exams.

Music extra-curricular

The music department runs a range of extra-curricular activities including choirs, ensembles, rock bands, personal rehearsal and GCSE booster sessions.  Please see the board outside the music department for an up to date timetable.

Extra Curricular Music Opportunities from September 2022

School Orchestral Ensemble

School Rock Ensemble

Musical Theatre Group

Music Instrument Lessonswww.lovemusictrust.com

 

 

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