Music

What we are trying to achieve with our students

• Encourage a love of music within all of our students across all Key Stages

• Enable our students to become confident, creative and independent learners

• Encourage our students to engage with music from a variety of different genres, cultures and periods

• Introduce students to new musical skills within the context of performing, composing and listening

• Create opportunities for students to use technology creatively

• Develop confidence within individuals and offer opportunities for group work where they develop skills in decision making, team work, communication and leadership

• Offer students many enrichment activities including choir, bands and ensembles, as well as concerts, trips, workshops, a bi-annual stage production and European summer tour

Staff List

Ms A Bailey, Joint Head of Music
Since joining the music team in January 2016 I have been thrilled to work with students at every key stage as well as leading the Junior Orchestra and Senior Brass Group. My previous post was at a busy north London comprehensive and I have been an exam marker for Edexcel and AQA exam boards for many years. As a flugel horn player, I regularly perform with the Hitchin Brass Band as well as leading the Hitchin Youth Band. I am passionate about music-making for all and keen to see young people engaged in music both practically and academically.

Mrs E Guinane, Joint Head of Music
I have been teaching at KTS since 2009, when I started as an NQT. Since being here I have gradually taken on more responsibility and in 2014 was appointed Head of Music. I play the trumpet and the 'cello and I really enjoy conducting or playing with our many successful ensembles. As Head of Music at the Knights Templar School, it is extremely important to me that all of our students have the opportunity to get involved in music-making both inside and outside of the classroom.  Our staff are passionate about what they do and their energy and excitement make our Music Department a very busy and vibrant place to be!

Mrs H Johnson
I joined the school over 20 years ago as a peripatetic clarinet teacher and teacher of classroom music.  I am now responsible for KS3 music within the school.  My passion is working with and playing alongside young instrumentalists and singers in our many extra curricular groups.  Music tours are one of the highlights of my job and I have been lucky enough to visit Prague, Barcelona, Croatia and Hungary and to perform inside St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice.   I am currently learning to play the bassoon, proving you are never too old!

Courses We Offer

KS3

At KS3, we offer our students a very practical approach to music. From Year 7 we incorporate singing, composing, listening and performing tasks into all our Schemes of Work. We also aim to give a firm grounding in the musical elements as well as music notation.

 

In Year 8, our students are introduced to GarageBand, and receive technology lessons in how to use loops, input, record and compose using the software. Alternate projects are devoted to the development of performance skills, listening and analysis and group composition. The following Schemes of Work are in place: Riffs & Repetition, Samba, Chords, African Drumming, Fanfare and Reggae.

In Year 9, students have the option to choose music as one of their two arts subjects. They receive three music lessons across the fortnight and work is split between both the usual music classrooms and the music technology suite (K2). Each of the projects includes building knowledge and skills in listening, performing, composing, and using music technology.

Term 1             Blues
                        Music & Media; adverts

Term 2             Film Music
                        Musical Cliches; cartoons

Term 3             Song Writing

Courses We Offer

KS3

At KS3, we offer our students a very practical approach to music. From Year 7 we incorporate singing, composing, listening and performing tasks into all our Schemes of Work. We also aim to give a firm grounding in the musical elements as well as music notation.

In Year 8, our students are introduced to GarageBand, and receive technology lessons in how to use loops, input, record and compose using the software. Alternate projects are devoted to the development of performance skills, listening and analysis and group composition. The following Schemes of Work are in place: Riffs & Repetition, Samba, Chords, African Drumming, Fanfare and Reggae.

In Year 9, students have the option to choose music as one of their two arts subjects. They receive three music lessons across the fortnight and work is split between both the usual music classrooms and the music technology suite (K2). Each of the projects includes building knowledge and skills in listening, performing, composing, and using music technology.

Term 1             Blues
                        Music & Media; adverts

Term 2             Film Music
                        Musical Cliches; cartoons

Term 3             Song Writing

KS4

At KS4, we offer two music courses; GCSE Music and BTEC Level 1/2 Tech Award

GCSE Music

We follow the AQA GCSE syllabus. There are three main areas of assessment.

1. 40% Understanding music; set works and unfamiliar music listening exam. Including the following:

- The Beatles; 3 pieces from the Sergeant Pepper album

- Haydn ‘The Clock’ Symphony, movement 2

- Popular Music since 1960

- Western Classical Music 1650-1910

- Western Classical Music since 1910

- Traditional Music, incl. blues, folk, world fusion

2. 30% Composing music; Two pieces. One to a brief and one free. Internally assessed.
3. 30% Performing music; one solo and one ensemble. Internally recorded and assessed.

BTEC Level 1/2 Tech Award

This is an ideal qualification for those wishing to progress to employment, a music industry-related apprenticeship or further technical qualification. It includes practical, technical projects so learners can create a portfolio of work. The ability to play a musical instrument is not required for this course.

Key Concepts:

The Music Industry

Recording Techniques

Composition for Media

Music Production

Live Sound

Managing a Music Product

Unit 1: Exploring Music Products and Styles (internally assessed)

Learn about the features of different styles of music and techniques used in the production of different musical products.

Unit 2 – Musical Skills Development (internally assessed)

As a producer and creator of music you will learn techniques so you can create your own original music and will take charge of a music production.

Unit 3 – Responding to a Commercial Music Brief (externally assessed)

You will learn how to respond to a client and their request, using music industry strategies in the planning and your creative techniques to complete a product.

KS5

At KS5, we offer two music courses:

A Level Music

We follow the Edexcel Syllabus for Music A Level. The course is divided into three parts; 

1. 40% Appraising - Students study set works from six areas; Vocal music; Instrumental Music; Pop & Jazz; Music for Film; New directions and Fusions. Two hour written exam.
2. 30% Performing– 8 minute recital; solo and/or ensemble. Internally recorded and externally assessed.
3. 30% Composing – One free composition and one composition assessing technical skill. Externally assessed.

Lesson time for the Appraising exam is dedicated to general listening, theory skills, music history and analysis of set works. Students are encouraged to do their own wider listening and research as part of their studies. Composition lessons take place in our technology suite for the most part, using Musescore, Sibelius 7 software and Logic 9 on our apple computers. All of our Music students have instrumental lessons either inside or outside of school, so that the performance unit can be addressed with a specialist instrumental teacher.

BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Music (performing)

Our BTEC Music Performance course is suitable for anyone who sings or plays an instrument. It is not necessary to have instrumental lessons.

The course is open to classical and popular musicians due to the flexibility of the optional units. The course allows learners to develop their performance capabilities and increase their aptitude on their given instrument through dedicated rehearsal time and performance. It also allows students to gain an effective knowledge of event organisation, understanding of musical styles, and an insight into becoming a recording artist.

Course Components:

1. Ensemble Music Performance (Mandatory)
2. Optional Unit (choose one):

• - Composing Music
• - Music Performance Session Styles
• - Solo Performance

Improvising Music

KS5

At KS5, we offer two music courses:

A Level Music

We follow the Edexcel Syllabus for Music A Level. The course is divided into three parts; 

1. 40% Appraising - Students study set works from six areas; Vocal music; Instrumental Music; Pop & Jazz; Music for Film; New directions and Fusions. Two hour written exam.
2. 30% Performing– 8 minute recital; solo and/or ensemble. Internally recorded and externally assessed.
3. 30% Composing – One free composition and one composition assessing technical skill. Externally assessed.

Lesson time for the Appraising exam is dedicated to general listening, theory skills, music history and analysis of set works. Students are encouraged to do their own wider listening and research as part of their studies. Composition lessons take place in our technology suite for the most part, using Musescore, Sibelius 7 software and Logic 9 on our apple computers. All of our Music students have instrumental lessons either inside or outside of school, so that the performance unit can be addressed with a specialist instrumental teacher.

BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Music (performing)

Our BTEC Music Performance course is suitable for anyone who sings or plays an instrument. It is not necessary to have instrumental lessons.

The course is open to classical and popular musicians due to the flexibility of the optional units. The course allows learners to develop their performance capabilities and increase their aptitude on their given instrument through dedicated rehearsal time and performance. It also allows students to gain an effective knowledge of event organisation, understanding of musical styles, and an insight into becoming a recording artist.

Course Components:

1. Ensemble Music Performance (Mandatory)
2. Optional Unit (choose one):

• - Composing Music
• - Music Performance Session Styles
• - Solo Performance
• - Improvising Music