Music

Studying Music

The constituent parts of the National Curriculum for this age group are Listening, Appraising, Composing and Performing. These form key elements within our musical curriculum. Composition and performance tasks are included throughout the curriculum and are either individual, paired or in groups, combining classroom percussion, keyboards and work on computer programmes. Our aim is to stretch those pupils with existing experience yet to provide for and enthuse those with a limited musical background. Hence in the Third Year, classes are divided into two groups in relation to the child’s musical experience and proficiency. Music classrooms are well equipped with a substantial range of percussion instruments, keyboards and 32 computers, complete with Sibelius 5, Cubasis, Microsoft Instruments, Audacity and Dance e-jay software for score writing, sequencing and research.

Music in First Year

In the First Year, pupils begin with a unit on rhythm and metre covering stomp / junk percussion, African drumming, Minimalism and basic rhythmic notation. The next topic is timbre and texture. Pupils study the instruments of the orchestra as well as instruments from around the world. This is developed further with the study of Indonesian Gamelan Music. Pupils also study basic pitch notation and melodic writing. Much emphasis is also placed on whole-class singing.

Music in Second Year

Musical knowledge is extended in the Second Year with a study of Major, Minor, Modal, Chromatic, Whole-Tone and Atonal Tonality; Introduction to Form and Structure in Music – Binary Form, Ternary Form, Rondo Form; Theme and Variations, Ground Bass, Strophic Form and Verse-Chorus. Pupils develop their melody writing with rondo-form compositions based on Jack Point's Pavane. This is followed by the study of Indian Music and Indian-Western fusion styles such as Bhangra. The year concludes with an in-depth composition project based on Ground Bass models such as Pachelbel’s Canon and Michael Nyman's Time Lapse.

Music in Third Year

Third Year pupils spend the year concentrating on all sorts of different musical styles from the 20th and 21st Centuries. This involves studying blues, jazz and reggae with related composition and performance tasks on acoustic instruments, keyboards and Sibelius 5 software. Pupils study classical topics such as impressionism, expressionism, serialism, minimalism, experimental music and electronic music including links with other art forms. Pupils compose electronic pieces using Audacity software and also study film music, composing their own "hero" and "villain" themes. The year finishes with a study of modern dance music styles with opportunities for pupils to sequence their own dance tracks using dance e-jay software.

Extra-Curricular Music

Opportunities to perform are extensive. We have numerous bands, orchestras, choirs and chamber-music groups, which perform in prestigious venues such as Manchester Cathedral, the RNCM and the Bridgewater Hall. Recent tours have taken us to venues such as Keswick's Theatre by the Lake and Brussels Cathedral. SGS Chamber Choir has performed regularly on the BBC Radio 4 Daily Service programme. Our performance schedule includes lunchtime recitals; a competitive annual Music Festival; several wholeschool concerts and a tradition of music and drama collaborations including recent productions of Guys and Dolls, Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof and Les Misérables.

Music Bursaries are available which offer free lessons for children willing to learn the more unusual instruments. Colours are awarded in recognition of musicians’ commitment to their ensemble and their sense of team work.