Notre Dame Catholic College
and Sixth Form

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything

–  Plato

Music

Our curriculum is designed to develop passionate, imaginative and inquisitive individuals, who see the world from an artistic perspective, enjoying and exploring music of various styles and genres from an array of different cultures. The curriculum prepares students to become independent and creative individuals.

Miss J Hart

Miss J Hart

Head of Music

Our music curriculum is designed to develop passionate, imaginative and inquisitive individuals, who see the world from an artistic perspective, enjoying and exploring music of various styles and genres from an array of different cultures. The curriculum is broad and ambitious and is rich in practical skills development. It prepares students to become independent and creative individuals and allows them to develop their knowledge and skills in the three main components of music:

 Our music curriculum is carefully designed and delivered to:

  • give all students’ an enjoyable, practical and inspiring experiences so that they can enjoy all aspects of music (OPENING DOORS)
  • give every student the opportunity to develop their musical potential and nurture and encourage them to continue their musical development throughout their school life
  • build confidence through performance, composition and listening activities and develop self-discipline through rehearsal and preparation
  • develop students’ appreciation and understanding of the rich and varied history of music from all over the world (OPENING MINDS)
  • help develop students understanding of the cultural importance of music and give them opportunities to experience music through extra-curricular and enrichment activities, educational visits, playing an instrument and regular access to authentic materials (OPENING MINDS)
  • develop students understanding of musical terminology, which includes the ability to apply it in new contexts when analysing different styles and genres and also the ability to use and understand these terms confidently in the discussion and evaluation of their own musical performances and compositions
  • develop students’ transferable skills that they can use in all other areas of their learning.

 

Year 7, 8 and 9 Curriculum Content

Our three-year Key Stage 3 curriculum is designed to develop passionate, imaginative and inquisitive individuals, who see the world from an artistic perspective, enjoying and exploring music of various styles and genres from an array of different cultures. The curriculum is broad and ambitious and is rich in practical skills development. It prepares students to become independent and creative individuals and allows them to develop their knowledge and skills in the three main components of music: Performing, Composing & Theoretical Understanding/Listening & Appraising music.

 

Year 7Unit/Topic
Autumn HT1Unit 1: Understanding Music - Rhythm
Autumn HT2Unit 2: Understanding Music - Keyboard Skills
Spring HT1Unit 3: Music Ensembles
Spring HT2Unit 4: Elements of Composition (Part 1)
SummerUnit 5: Elements of Composition (Part 2)

Year 7 Curriculum Map

Year 8Unit/Topic
Autumn HT1Unit 1: African Drumming
Autumn HT2Unit 2: Blues and its Influences
Spring HT1Unit 3: Beyond The Blues
Spring HT2Unit 4: The Riff
SummerUnit 5: Hip Hop

Year 8 Curriculum Map

Year 9Unit/Topic
AutumnUnderstand the origins and stylistic features of Reggae
SpringUnderstand how different genres of film/gaming music and is used to create an intended effect.
SummerPop Music – 1960 to present day

Year 9 Curriculum Map

Year 10 and 11 Curriculum Content

At GCSE level students 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.

 

Year 10 Unit/Topic
Autumn HT1Popular Music
Autumn HT2Western Classical Tradition – 16-50 – 1910 (Baroque)
Spring HT1Module 3: Western Classical Tradition -1650 – 1910 (Classical)
Spring HT2Module 3: Western Classical Tradition -1650 – 1910 (Classical)
Summer HT1Module 5: Western Classical Tradition - 1800 – 1910 (Romantic)
Summer HT2Module 5: Western Classical Tradition - 1800 – 1910 (Romantic)

Year 10 Curriculum Map

Year 11Unit/Topic
Autumn HT1Western Classical Tradition Since 1910
Autumn HT2Unfamiliar Listening - Western Classical Tradition and Popular Music
Spring HT1Traditional Music
Spring HT2Completion of Set Brief composition, score and appraisal.

Year 11 Curriculum Map

Key Stage 4 Music students follow the AQA GCSE Music specification. For further details, please follow the link below.

Download Full GCSE Music Specification here

Key Stage 5 music students follow the AQA A Level Music or BTEC Level 3 Music Performance specification. For further details, please follow the link below.

Download Full A Level Music Specification here

Download Full BTEC Level 3 Music Performance Specification here

Please click on the logos below to visit Music-specific materials and resources.

  • BBC Bitesize KS3: 
  • BBC Bitesize KS4:
  • Oak National Academy:

 

Please click on the First Careers logo to visit their website.

A Student’s View

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Oliver
Former Notre Dame student, went on to study English Literature at University of Cambridge