Our BGE music curriculum is entitled ‘Just Play’ and the approach is designed to engage students in whole class music making by providing a simple step by step resource that supports the development of instrumental skills on drums, guitar, bass, keyboard, vocals and ukulele, using music that students like, recognise and engage with. Each class in S1/2 creates a class band which prepare and perform in a number of Live Lounge Performances to an audience of other pupils/teachers and parents. There is also an opportunity for pupils to be involved in developing other skills within the class band including Band Manager, Artistic Directors, Sound Engineers, Marketing Directors and Actors/Choreographers.

S1/2 pupils also complete projects on ‘Instruments of the Orchestra’ and ‘Pop and Rock’These projects provide opportunity to develop a knowledge and understanding of a wide range of musical concepts.

Our S3 pupils begin to focus on Skill Development on 2 chosen instruments. In S3 students will improve performing skills through continuing to perform in groups while also performing as soloists to an audience. In S3 our students also begin to apply skills acquired in S1/2 towards creating and composing through Songwriting. Students continue to develop knowledge and understanding of musical concepts through completion of a variety of units.

Purpose and aims

The purpose of the National 3/4/5 Music course is to provide candidates with a broad practical experience of performing, creating and understanding music. The course enables candidates to work independently or in collaboration with others, and can help them to plan and organise, to make decisions and to take responsibility for their own learning. The course aims to enable candidates to:

¨ broaden their knowledge and understanding of music and musical literacy by listening to music and identifying level-specific music concepts, signs and symbols

¨ create original music using compositional methods

¨ perform music

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for learners with an interest in developing their skills in music and general understanding of music. The course allows learners to consolidate and reinforce prior skills in music, and knowledge and understanding of music developed through other qualifications or experience. It can also provide a pathway for those who want to progress to higher levels of study. The course takes account of the needs of different learners and can be contextualised to suit a diverse range of learner needs, interests and aspirations.

There is considerable scope for personalisation and choice through the activities of performing, creating and listening to music, and through opportunities for using music technology to create music.

 In the course, candidates draw upon their understanding of music styles and concepts as they experiment with these in creative ways when performing and creating music. Candidates experiment with and use music concepts in creative ways, within a range of compositional methods, as they compose original music and self-reflect on their creative choices.

Through listening, candidates develop knowledge and understanding of a variety of music styles, level-specific concepts, signs and symbols used in music notation. Candidates develop their performing skills on two selected instruments, or on one selected instrument and voice through regular practice and self-reflection.

Skills, knowledge and understanding Skills, knowledge and understanding for the course

The following provides a broad overview of the subject skills, knowledge and understanding developed in the course:

¨ skills in listening to music to promote aural perception and discrimination

 ¨ knowledge and understanding of music styles, concepts, notation signs and symbols

¨ skills in creating original music using compositional methods

 ¨ reviewing the creative process and evaluating own composing

¨ skills in performing music on two contrasting instruments in contrasting styles

¨ self-reflection and review of rehearsal and practice skills

Purpose and aims of the Course

The purpose of the Course is to provide a broad practical experience of performing and creating music and develop related knowledge and understanding of music. Course activities allow learners to work independently or in collaboration with others, and can help learners to plan and organise, to make decisions and to take responsibility for own learning.

This Course is practical and experiential in nature and includes flexibility in the contexts for learning. It helps learners to develop and extend their interest in music, and to develop performing skills on their two selected instruments or on one instrument and voice.

The Course also provides opportunities for learners to develop composing skills and broaden their understanding of music concepts and styles. The Course enables learners to develop their skills and creative capabilities as a musician. Performing music, for example, demands skills of autonomy, interpretation and creativity, as well as providing the opportunity to increase confidence and self esteem. The practice required to develop these skills can promote perseverance, among other things, as well as helping learners to learn how to learn. The skills that learners gain throughout the Course will be valuable for learning, life and work.

The aims of the Course are to enable learners to:

♦ develop performing skills in solo and/or group settings on their selected instruments or on one instrument and voice

 ♦ performing challenging music with sufficient accuracy while maintaining the musical flow

 ♦ create original music using compositional methods and music concepts creatively when composing, arranging or improvising

♦ broaden their knowledge and understanding of music and musical literacy by listening to music and identifying a range of music signs, symbols and music concepts

 ♦ critically reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others

Information about typical learners who might choose to study H/AH Music

This Course is a broad-based qualification. It is suitable for learners with an interest in developing and extending their applied musical skills and understanding of music, and for learners with a more specific interest in particular aspects of music. It could also provide a pathway for those who want to progress to higher levels of study. The Course is practical and experiential and there is considerable scope for personalisation and choice through the activities of performing, creating and understanding music, and through opportunities for using music technology to create music. This makes the Course accessible as it takes account of the needs of different learners and can be contextualised to suit a diverse range of learner needs, interests and aspirations. On completing the Course, learners will be able to: perform a programme of music with accuracy and maintaining musical flow; create their own original music; self-reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others; listen to music with awareness, understanding and discrimination; and improve their musical creativity and performing skills by critically evaluate their own work and the work of others.

H Music
N5 Music