Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. At Mount St Joseph, we offer a high quality music education that engages and inspires students to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians.  This in turn will increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.  As students progress, they will develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.

Through their lessons at Mount St Joseph, students will build on their previous knowledge and skills through performing, composing and listening. Our teachers strive to develop: the students’ vocal and/or instrumental fluency, accuracy and expressiveness; their understanding of musical structures, styles, genres and traditions; and the identification of the expressive use of musical dimensions. They will learn to listen with increasing discrimination and awareness to inform their practice as musicians. They will develop how to use technologies appropriately and appreciate and understand a wide range of musical contexts and styles.
 

Year 7

Term 1a: Baseline Unit – What is Music?

Term 1b: Stomp and Song – Find your voice

Term 2a: Polyrhythms

Term 2b: Just Play 1 – Introduction to Ensemble Skills

Term3a: Just Play 2 – Ensemble Skills

Term 3b: Band Skills – Live performance

 

Year 8

Term 1a: Music for Film and Media

Term 1b: Christmas Number One – Live Performance

Term 2a: Rap Music

Term 2b: Just Play 3 – Band Skills

Term3a: Blues and Reggae

Term 3b: Remix / EDM

 

Year 9

Unit 1: Open Performance

Unit 2: Arrangements and Variations

 

For each half-term there is a Knowledge Expert Sheet which outlines the essential knowledge that all students in Year 7, 8 and 9 need to know.

Students demonstrate their depth of knowledge by completing their Knowledge Expert Books.
 

At Key stage 4, the Mount St Joseph Music Department aims to ensure that all students become confident in taking risks and learn from experience when exploring and experimenting with ideas, processes, composition, performance, and critical listening. We strive to ensure that all students develop critical understanding through investigating musical elements, stylistic qualities, and compositional and sonic features.

Students will develop skills to be proficient in:

• Composing music with instruments and music technology
• Refining musical skills through practice, performance, reflection and self evaluation.
• Recording ideas and sound using software and different media/recording techniques
• Presenting a personal and meaningful response to a brief

 

Year 10

Component 1: Exploring Musical Styles

Component 2: Developing Musical Skills

Component 3: Responding to a Music brief

 

Year 11

Component 1: Exploring Musical Styles

Component 2: Developing Musical Skills

Component 3: Responding to a Music brief
 

For each half-term there is a Knowledge Expert Sheet which outlines the essential knowledge that all students in Year 10 and 11 need to know.

Students demonstrate their depth of knowledge by completing their Knowledge Expert Books.