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Music
Intention:
The study of music explores the language of sound, emotion, and culture through listening, performing, composing, and understanding notation. As both an academic discipline and an expressive art form, music connects students to history, creativity, and the wider world. Through rigorous skill development and creative exploration, music empowers students to communicate meaningfully, think critically, and express themselves with confidence and artistry. Music fosters a lifelong appreciation of the arts and a deep sense of identity, belonging, and cultural awareness.
Key Stage 3
KS3 Music develops foundational skills in musical notation, listening, performance, and composition through hands-on, engaging lessons. Students explore a wide range of genres, traditions, and musical forms while learning to read and write music, play instruments, and use technology to create their own compositions. Regular listening activities deepen musical understanding and analytical thinking, while performing and composing build confidence, discipline, and teamwork.
Music lessons are currently taught once a week for Year 7 and 9 and once a fortnight for Year 8. Lessons aim to inspire curiosity, encourage creativity, and provide every student with the tools to express themselves musically, both as individuals and collaborators.
Key Stage 4
This specification focusses on the three areas of appraising music (40%), performing (30%) and composing (30%). Students have the options of performing vocally or instrumentally and work as soloists and ensembles. When composing, students work professionally to a brief as well as having the opportunity to explore a free composition. All GCSE students are encouraged to take instrumental or vocal tuition to enhance their potential in examinations; the department facilitate this and encourage participation in enrichment opportunities to further support progress. GCSE students follow the Eduqas specification.
| Music Curriculum Overview | Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
| Year 7 | Music FUNdamentals | The Blues | Pop Music (Keyboard) | Bandlab, The Power of The Pentatonic and Composing | ||
| Year 8 | Musical Theatre | Britpop (Keyboard) | EDM (Keyboard) | Creating EDM in Bandlab | ||
| Year 9 | From Gospel to Grime | Hamilton The Musical | Composing using Bandlab | |||
| GCSE Music | The Twickenham Music Department Follows the WJEC Eduqas specification which can be found here | |||||
| https://www.eduqas.co.uk/media/akxduier/eduqas-gcse-music-spec-from-2016-e-050225.pdf | ||||||
Instrumental tuition, to support the KS3 curriculum, is offered by the Richmond Music Trust. More information can be found here Home - Richmond Music Trust and Home (music-in-education.co.uk)
Students have the opportunity to access the following qualifications in Music:
- Music GCSE (Eduqas)
- Grades (through the Richmond Music Trust and Open 2 Music)
Extra-Curricular Music
|
Activity |
Run by |
Time |
Charging details |
Day |
Instrument |
|
Instrumental tuition |
Richmond Music Trust Open 2 Music |
All day |
Charged / Pupil Premium eligibility |
Monday - Tuesday |
Drums, Guitar, Bass, Piano |
|
Choir |
Music Dept |
3:15-4pm |
Free |
Monday |
Singing |
|
School Production Singing |
Music Dept |
3-4:30pm |
Free |
Tuesdays and Fridays |
Singing |
- Band/individual practice in practice rooms at break, lunch times and after school (free) Monday - Friday
Musical Events
|
Musical event |
How do students get involved? |
Open to which year groups? |
How are students involved? |
Charging information |
|
Singing at local primary schools’ |
Attending Singing Group rehearsals |
All years |
Singing at the event as participants |
Free |
|
Singing at various school-based presentation events |
Attending Singing Group rehearsals |
All years |
Singing at the event as participants and in the audience |
Free |
|
Performances during Assemblies |
Attending Group rehearsals, Participate in music and/or private lessons |
All years |
All instruments |
Free |
|
Singing at Performing Arts evening |
Attending Singing Group rehearsals |
All years |
Singing at the event as participants |
A small charge to all audience members |
|
Singing at Carols In The Courtyard Christmas Event |
Attending Singing Group rehearsals |
All years |
Singing at the event as participants |
Free |
|
Trips to 3 West end Musicals |
All Students |
All Years |
Audience |
Subsidised West End prices |
|
School Production Performances x 3 |
Auditions and attending rehearsals |
All years |
Singing, acting and dancing in the event |
A small charge for all audience members |
In The Future
We would like to:
- Increase the number of KS3 students in the school singing group
- Increase the number of GCSE students
- Increase participation in string, brass and woodwind instruments
- Hire a second music teacher
- Start a Twickenham Orchestra / Band with the aim to have them accompany the school production
- Offer the B TECH curriculum requiring an upgrade to apple from PC
Overview
|
Detail |
Information |
|
Academic year that this summary covers |
2024 - 2025 |
|
Date this summary was published |
September, 2024 |
|
Date this summary will be reviewed |
September 2025 |
|
Name of the school music lead |
Nikki Aitken |
|
Name of school leadership team member with responsibility for music (if different) |
|
|
Name of local music hub |
The Richmond Music Trust |
|
Name of other music education organisation(s) (if partnership in place) |
Open2Music |
Key Features of KS3 Music lessons:
- Music lessons at KS3 are one hour a week
- Lessons at KS3 focus on the skills of:
- Critical listening
- Research and literacy
- Performance (live or recorded)
- Creating / composing
The Music department follows the AQA specification, which can be found here:
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/music/specifications/AQA-8271-SP-2016.PDF
