Music - Staff
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Mr R. Chapman |
The Department has two members of staff:
Mr R. Chapman: Head of Department
Mrs C. Wood
Resources
TThe Department consists of two large teaching rooms and four smaller rooms, one of which is equipped as a resources centre for GCSE and ‘A’ Level students, and another a Music Technology Studio with digital recording facilities. Separate practice rooms accommodate instrumental lessons with Kent Music School.
The larger room, M1, is well equipped with 16 new computers, each installed with Cubase studio 4 and Sibelius 5 and Yamaha electronic keyboards.
M2 is used mainly for teaching at Key stages 4 and 5 and as a rehearsal and performance space. It is equipped with a new baby grand piano. Both rooms have over-head projectors and whiteboards.
The smaller practice rooms are also equipped with computers.
The Department is well resourced with pianos, electronic keyboards, a Clavinova and a varied selection of tuned and untuned percussion instruments available for class and individual use.
Curriculum
All pupils in years seven and eight receive three one hour lessons of music fortnightly. In year nine pupils have one lesson per week. They follow a balanced course based on the National Curriculum Key Stage 3 programme of study:
- Performing: controlling sounds
- Composing: creating and developing musical ideas
- Appraising: responding and reviewing
- Listening, and applying knowledge and understanding
Pupils are taught Music as a series of topics, each lasting one half term (kent term). Topics are designed to display breadth and balance across different genres, styles and musical traditions and cultures. The key concepts and skills in Music are taught and developed within these units.
Throughout there is a strong emphasis on practical music making (composing and performing), either individually or in groups. Students of all ages and abilities are encouraged to find opportunities to perform, for example during assemblies or by organising lunch time concerts.
Instrumental and vocal lessons are given during the school day by Kent Music. Pupils wishing to start lessons may collect an application form from one of the Music staff.
For GCSE, students follow the AQA syllabus which covers four areas: performing, composing (both assessed during the course), an integrated assignment and a written paper based on listening to, and answering questions about recorded musical extracts.
At A level, students follow the AQA syllabus which consists of six units (three at A/S and three at A2), which cover the disciplines of composing and performing, as well as analytical and aural skills.
A performance of John Ireland's Sea Fever sung by Richard Chalk Sea Fever (mp3, 1.38Mb)
Music - GCSE
There are three main components of the GCSE Music course
- Listening
- Performing
- Composing
For the listening paper we will cover a wide range of music relating to five areas of study. These include:
- Music for Dance
- Music for Special Occasions
- Film Music
- Popular Song since 1960
- Orchestral Music
This is the only written part of the examination and it is based on answering questions about excerpts of music provided on CD.
Two performances are required: a solo piece and an ensemble work. These can be done at any time during the course although time is allocated for students to record their performances during the mock examinations in year 11, and then later in the year should they wish to try to improve their performances.
During the course, pupils will be required to compose one piece of music based on Music for Special Events. In addition there is also an integrated assignment, where a work is composed to a brief set in the Spring Term of Year 11. After composing the piece the candidate arranges a realisation (performance) of the work using available forces, including ICT, and finall,y writes an evaluation of thework during a brief thirty-minute examination.
Although it is not a specific component in the exam, music technology can be used if desired in the composing element. For example, a composition can be sequenced into the computer and then edited and played back in a variety of ways, and a score can be printed.
Music - A Level
Music is a popular subject at 'A' Level and students enjoy full access to the extensive resources of the Department in order to make the most of their studies.
The Syllabus
The 'A' Level Music course follows the new AQA syllabus.
This consists of six units which are given in detail below.
Course Details
AS Unit 1 MUSC 1 Written examination: ‘Influences on Music
Candidates will acquire, explore and apply musical language and context through the study of two of the following Areas of Study:
Area of study 1: ‘The Western Classical Tradition’ (compulsory) - Set work Mozart Symphony no 41 in C (first and third movements)
A choice of one from:
Area of study 2a ‘Choral Music in the Baroque Period’
Area of Study 2b ‘Music Theatre: a study of the Musical from 1940-1980’
Area of Study 2c ‘British Popular Music from 1960 – present day’
The written paper will consist of two sections:
Section A: Listening
Section B: Historical Study based on questions arising from the compulsory and chosen areas of study.
Unit 2 MUSC 2 Composing: ‘Creating Musical Ideas’
Coursework module consisting of a composition or compositions selected from one of three possible briefs:
Brief A: Compositional Techniques
Brief B: Free composition or pastiche in response to a given genre
Brief C: Arranging
The briefs will be released on 1st November in the examination year. Candidates will be offered a maximum of 20 hours, supervised in school, in which to complete their compositions.
Unit 3 MUSC 3 ‘Performing: ‘Interpreting Musical Ideas’
Coursework module requiring two performances chosen from the following list:
- a solo performance on an instrument
- a solo performance on voice
- a solo performance on a second instrument
- an ensemble performance
- a technology-based performance 1 – sequencing
- a technology-based performance 2 – multi-track/close microphone recording
Performances should last 5-8 minutes
A2 Unit 4 MUSC 4 Written examination: ‘Music in Context’
Candidates will acquire, explore and apply musical language and context through the study of two of the following Areas of Study;
Area of Study 1: ‘The Western Classical Tradition’ (compulsory)
Area of Study 3a:’English Choral Music in the 20th century’
Area of Study 3b: ‘Chamber Music from Mendelssohn to Debussy’
Area of Study 3c: Four decades of Jazz and Blues 1910-1950’
The paper will consist of two sections:
Section A: Listening
Section B: Historical Study based on questions arising from the study of the compulsory and chosen areas of study.
Unit 5 MUSC 5: Composing: ‘Developing Musical Ideas’
Coursework module consisting of a composition or compositions selected from one of three possible briefs:
Brief A: Compositional techniques
Brief B: Free Composition or pastiche in response to a chosen brief
Brief C: Arranging
The briefs will be released on 1st November in the examination year. Candidates will be offered a maximum of 20 hours, supervised in school, in which to complete their compositions.
Unit 6 MUSC 6: Performing: ‘A Musical Performance’
Coursework module requiring the performance of two or more contrasting pieces for either acoustic and/or performance via music technology chosen from either:
- solo acoustic performances
- technology-based performances
- one solo performance and one technology-based performance- each performance to be at least 5 minutes
The programme will last 10-15 minutes
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Music - ICT
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The use of Information Technology is incorporated in the music curriculum from Year Seven upwards. Pupils are encouraged to use ICT to research information and to present their results. They can also create compositions on computer using either cubase studio 4 or Sibelius 5.
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Music technology involves pupils in:
Recording compositions and performances
Pupils have the opportunity to continue their involvement with this increasingly important aspect of music through to GCSE and A Level.
Play this MIDI file of a composition by an 'A'Level student |
Music - Extra Curricular Activities
MGGS has a thriving music department where students of all musical abilities are encouraged to join a school choir or instrumental ensemble and rehearse performances for public concerts, school assemblies or simply for their own enjoyment.
The Music Department runs an unparalleled selection of instrumental and vocal ensembles according to demand. Most are run during the lunch break. They are led by members of the teaching staff, Kent Music peripatetic teachers, and Sixth Form students. These groups include:
Junior Chamber Choir
Junior Choir
Senior Chamber Choir
Senior Choir
Orchestra
Wind Band
Senior Ensemble
Clarinet Choir
String Orchestra
Recorder Band
Flute Choir
Regular concerts include the annual Christmas Carol Service at the historic All Saints church in Maidstone, concerts within school and performances at other public venues.
The Music and Drama Departments regularly collaborate on projects from large-scale musicals to workshop performances with specially composed music.
Music - Instrumental Lessons
We are fortunate in that many students are proficient instrumentalists, with over one hundred students taking lessons through Kent Music , either in school time or outside school hours at Astley House in the centre of Maidstone.
Students learn on a wide variety of instruments with Kent Music, including:
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Tuition takes place in specially designed practice rooms located away from the main music teaching rooms and lessons are either 20 or 30 minutes in duration. Lessons during school hours are provided on a rota basis to ensure the minimum disruption to normal lessons.
Information and application forms are available from the Music Department, or direct from KMS.
Visit their website by clicking here: Kent Music. This is a useful site containing (amongst other things) factsheets on the various available instruments, an online application form and a (quite difficult) music quiz!