MusicEthos
Our school is named after one of the most important of all British composers so it's no surprise that music has always been of vital importance to the cultural life of the school. Our emphasis is on collaborative music making and we provide lots of opportunities for students to work together and perform in a variety of contexts. All students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have one hour of music learning across the year. At KS4 students can opt to study either GCSE or the Vocational Award in music and, at Post 16, we offer A level Music and Music Technology. Learning and teaching We have three full time specialist music teachers, a music technician and a team of peripatetic instrumental tutors who collaborate successfully to support the musical development of all our students. Music lessons are an active mix of practice and theory utilising a range of instruments and new technologies. We have a specialist music recording studio and a suite of rehearsal rooms in addition to three music classrooms equipped with digital keyboards and Apple Mac computers. We are also experimenting with the use of iPads for music creation. Skills development We find that the vast majority of our students are fascinated by and engaged in music culture. We aim to draw on this wealth of innate interest, helping to shape and develop musical ability. Musical training physically develops the left brain (which processes language) and supports spatial intelligence (which helps with visualising information). Music also teaches students the importance of hard work and develops an ability to take risks. Students also learn the values of teamwork and discipline. They must communicate and co-operate in order to successfully combine their efforts into a musical whole. We also facilitate the development of self-expression and self-esteem in the successful performance of their work. Assessment In common with dance and drama, we use an assessment process at Key Stage 3 that enables all students to know how they are progressing in terms of the key curriculum concepts and skills. We use a wide range of Assessment for Learning (AfL) strategies to encourage learners to reflect on their development. Extra-curricular and enrichment Students have numerous opportunities to pursue their interest in music outside lesson time. We run daily band rehearsals and after school music activities utilising the full range of skills and experience in the music department team. There are regular performances and inter-disciplinary events like our Festival of Light during the Christmas period. We also take students to see inspiring musical performances at a range of venues in London. Independent learning We believe that young people benefit from developing their skills and ideas independently (and collaboratively) outside school. We set regular independent learning assignments, often incorporating a range of ICT resources, to encourage students to develop their practice and document their learning. A combination of practical and written tasks supports both the physical and intellectual development of our learners. |
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