Hurstmere School

Here at Hurstmere, our music curriculum is rooted in our school’s vision and values of Resilience, Self-belief, Teamwork, Respect, Ambition, Leadership, and Integrity.

From this, we have devised the following pillars of enquiry:

• How can we connect with ourselves and others through individual and shared performances?

• How can we understand and empathize with human experience and history through the study of musical traditions?

• How can composers use and manipulate the musical elements to convey meaning?

• How can we develop our ability to listen, analyze and deconstruct music into its micro elements? 

• How can we embrace creativity through composition and improvisation?
• How can we develop our use of technology to prepare us for music in the modern age?

Each pillar of enquiry can be explored across the three key areas of Music – Performing, Composing and listening and appraising.

We also have three overarching themes attached to each year at Key stage 3:

Y7 – The Building Blocks of Music

Y8 – Expressing Meaning through Music

Y9 – Music and Us

Teaching Staff

• Mr C Ballard – Assistant Principal
• Miss N Okri – Instructor of Music

Studio Fix Staff

• Mr A Gilbert – Studio Fix Lead
• Mr T Monks – Studio Fix Support

Peripatetic Staff

• Mr S Ward – Guitar/Bass Teacher (Mon)
• Mr J Simmonds – Drum Kit (Wed)
• Mr T Karunasekera – Piano (Thur)

More information about the topics listed can be found in the Student Resources area of Sharepoint.

Music GCSE – OCR Exam Board

Course Content

Music GCSE is a two-year course that aims to develop a pupil’s understanding of the core three principles of Performing, Composing and listening/appraising.

Assessment Structure:

The course assessment consists of an integrated performance and composition component with the pupil's choice of instrument, a practical portfolio that includes the board-set composition task and ensemble performance, and an examined listening and appraisal component at the end of the course.

Integrated Portfolio (30% of total GCSE)

• One solo performance piece (chosen by the pupil)
• One composition piece which the pupil designs the brief for.

Practical Component (30% of total GCSE)

• One group performance piece (related to one of the AOS)
• One composition in the style of one of the areas of study, in response to a brief set by OCR.

Listening and Appraising Exam (40% of total GCSE)

• The Listening and Appraising Exam focuses on areas of study 2, 3, 4, and 5.
• Pupils will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of musical elements, contexts and language in an exam that lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes.

 

Music Technology Level 2 VCERT – NCFE Exam Board

Course Content

Music Technology is a two-year course that aims to develop a pupil’s understanding of music and the role that technology plays in its creation. This is separated into five content areas for study:

• Content Area 1: Introduction to Music Technology and the Music Business
• Content Area 2: The Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
• Content Area 3: Musical Elements, Musical Style and Music Technology
• Content Area 4: Sound Creation
• Content Area 5: Multitrack Recording

Assessment Structure:

The qualification has two assessments externally set by NCFE: one Non-exam Assessment and one written Examined Assessment.

Non-exam Assessment (60% of total Technical Award)

• A 'Synoptic Project' through which pupils show their ability to integrate and apply knowledge, understanding and skills with breadth and depth from all five content areas.
• NCFE will set the 'Synoptic Project' brief in the second year of study.

Examined Assessment (40% of total Technical Award)

• A written exam that lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes

 

Progression from Level 2 Technical Award Music Technology:

• A Level Music Technology
• BTEC Level 3 Music Technology
• Learners could also progress into employment or apprenticeships (such as producer, technician, arranger, etc.)