Music
Music is a powerful focus for creative energy, and one that both stimulates and guides the imagination. At Fort Pitt we aim to develop aesthetic sensitivity and creative ability in all students. The curriculum covers a wide variety of music from a number of historical periods, countries from around the world and modern popular styles. All students develop skills in singing, playing percussion and keyboards, composing, listening to and analysing music. From Bach to Bernstein, British Folk to Bhangra, Bepop to Britpop, there is something for everyone! The Music House is alive and buzzing throughout the school day, with class lessons, instrumental and vocal tuition, and extra-curricular rehearsals. Drop by sometime and hear us – come and see what all the noise is about!
Enrichment
Music ensembles and clubs run every day. Whether you are an instrumentalist or vocalist, a beginner or advanced, there is a club for you! Why not come along and give one a try? Make new friends, learn and develop new skills and enjoy yourself! Our ensembles include Orchestra, Jazz Band, Voiceworks Choir, Ukulele Group, Flute Choir, Single Reed Ensemble and more. Students work towards putting on termly concerts to showcase their work.
Trips and events
The annual school production is a popular event for singers, dancers and actors. As well as concerts in school we take groups to perform in the local community for charity events and celebrations.Music trips include regular visits to The Proms at The Albert Hall. Who knows, maybe some of you will be performing there yourselves one day?!
Subject Leader: Mrs C. King (cking@fortpitt.medway.sch.uk )
Curriculum Content
Key Stage 3
Year 7 and 8 students study a wide range of music whilst working on key skills in Performing, Composing and Listening analysis. Students sing, play keyboards and percussion instruments. There is opportunity to compose music in given styles and listen to examples of music from the topics studied.
YEAR 7
- 1 and 7.2 I’ve Got Rhythm
- 3 Pentatonic Pitch
- 4 March and Waltz
- 5 Ground Bass
- 6 Mood and Tonality
YEAR 8
- 1 Blues
- 2 Reggae
- 3 and 8.4 Best of British
- 5 Cover to Cover
- 6 Groove with GarageBand
Key Stage 4 – GCSE MUSIC
Exam board: PEARSON EDEXCEL
Students explore four different Areas of Study during the course, linking three key skills for
assessment; namely Performing, Composing and Appraising.
Unit 1 Performing Music (30%)
One solo performance and one ensemble performance on any instrument or voice.
Unit 2 Composing Music (30%)
Two original compositions based on two of the areas of study, notated and recorded.
Unit 3 appraising
Analysis of set works and unfamiliar music assessed through a listening/written examination paper (one hour and forty five minutes).
Areas of study and set works
Instrumental Music 1700 – 1820
- J S Bach: 3rd movement from Brandenburg Concerto no. 5 in D major
- L van Beethoven: 1st movement from Piano Sonata no. 8 in C minor ‘Pathétique’
Vocal Music
- H Purcell: Music for a While
- Queen: Killer Queen (from the album ‘Sheer Heart Attack’)
Music for Stage and Screen
- S Schwartz: Defying Gravity (from the album of the cast recording of ‘Wicked’)
- J Williams: Main title/rebel blockade runner (from the soundtrack to ‘Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope’)
Fusions
- Afro Celt Sound System: Release (from the album ‘Volume 2: Release’)
- Esperanza Spalding: Samba Em Preludio (from the album ‘Esperanza’)
Key Stage 5 – A level Music
Exam Board: Pearson edexcel (8MU0 / 9MU0)
Students explore six different Areas of Study during the course, linking three key skills for
assessment; namely Performing, Composing and Appraising. The course is modular and comprises of three units in the AS year and a further three units in the A2 year.
UNIT 1 performing (30%)
A public performance as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble for a minimum of 6 minutes
Grade 5 standard or above
UNIT 2 composing (30%)
Two original compositions – one to a brief set by the exam board and either another composition to a brief or a free choice composition
UNIT 3 appraising (40%)
Application of knowledge through the context of six areas of study, each with two set works.
Application of knowledge to unfamiliar works.
One examination for 90 minutes testing aural and written analysis skills
Areas of study and set works
Vocal Music
- S.Bach Cantata ‘Ein Feste Burg’
- Mozart ‘The Magic Flute’
Instrumental Music
- Vivaldi ‘Concerto in D minor Op. 3 No.11’
- Schumann ‘Piano Trio in G minor Op.17
Music for Film
- Danny Elfman ‘Batman Returns’
- Rachel Portman ‘The Duchess’
Popular Music and Jazz
- Courtney Pine ‘Back in the Day’
- Kate Bush ‘Hounds of Love’
Fusions
- Debussy ‘Estampes’
- Familia Valera Miranda ‘Cana Quema’
New Directions
- Cage ‘3 Dances for 2 Prepared Pianos’
- Kaija Saariaho ‘Petals for Violoncello and Live Electronics’
UNIT 4 extended performance (30%)
A public performance as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble for a minimum of 8 minutes
Grade 6 standard or above
UNIT 5 composition (30%)
Two original compositions – one to a brief set by the exam board and either another composition to a brief or a free choice composition
UNIT 6 appraising (40%)
Application of knowledge through the context of six areas of study, each with three set works.
Application of knowledge to unfamiliar works.
One examination for 2 hours testing aural and written analysis skills
Areas of study and set works
Vocal Music
- S.Bach Cantata ‘Ein Feste Burg’
- Mozart ‘The Magic Flute’
- Vaughan Williams ‘On Wenlock Edge’
Instrumental Music
- Vivaldi ‘Concerto in D minor Op. 3 No.11’
- Schumann ‘Piano Trio in G minor Op.17
- Berlioz ‘Symphonie Fantastique
Music for Film
- Danny Elfman ‘Batman Returns’
- Rachel Portman ‘The Duchess’
- Bernard Herrmann ‘Psycho’
Popular Music and Jazz
- Courtney Pine ‘Back in the Day’
- Kate Bush ‘Hounds of Love’
- Beatles ‘Revolver’
Fusions
- Debussy ‘Estampes’
- Familia Valera Miranda ‘Cana Quema’
- Anoushka Shankar ‘Breathing Under Water’
New Directions
- Cage ‘3 Dances for 2 Prepared Pianos’
- Kaija Saariaho ‘Petals for Violoncello and Live Electronics’
- Stravinsky ‘The Rite of Spring’
