Music

Meet the team:

Mr V Smith – Faculty Leader for Performing Arts & Media

After working in industry for over 18 years as an electrical engineer I decided to retrain as a music teacher, where I completed A level music, a licentiate diploma in directing as well as a degree with the open university. I have been teaching at Great Wyrley for 13 years. I began as a classroom teacher and during my time at Wyrley I have performed many roles within the pastoral system, finishing as Director of key stage 3 at the end of last year. I was given the opportunity to take over the role of Faculty leader for performing arts and media in September and I am really looking forward to re-establishing the faculty as one of the strengths of the school. It is my aim to give lots more opportunities to our students in all of the arts subjects as well as building a strong community ethos.

In my spare time I am the musical director for Great Wyrley Community Band and occasionally conduct other ensembles.

Mrs L Nardone – Lead Teacher of Music

I have been teaching at Great Wyrley for ten years and I am very proud of the work that the students continue to produce year after year in the Music department. I love my subject and feel privileged to be able to teach something that is so inspiring and shows the best of people.

I studied Music at GCSE, A Level and then at University and am passionate about passing on the experiences I had to others. I believe music is learnt best through performing and so we strive to make sure there are numerous opportunities for pupils to be involved in solo and ensemble music making both in and out of the classroom.

Through their studies in music, students will learn to work with others, communicate and be creative, whilst developing self-confidence and independence.

Key information to note:

Music is a member of the Performing Arts and Media faculty at Great Wyrley High School. Students receive 2 x lessons per fortnight in Key stage 3, 5 x lessons in Key stage 4 and 6 x lessons in Key stage 5. We offer AQA GCSE Music in years 10 and 11 and Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Performing in years 12 and 13.

Learning Journey:

An outline of what pupils will learn and when and how they will be assessed. Use the guidance below:

Year 7

	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
What knowledge, skills and understanding I will learn:	Understanding Musical Notation, Performing using keyboards, Musical Elements, Singing	World Music including African drumming & Indonesian Gamelan	Blues, Improvisation and Composition, Singing Skills & Harmony
How I will be assessed:	Performing, Composing, Ensemble Work, Listening & Understanding	Performing, Composing, Ensemble Work, Listening & Understanding	Performing, Composing, Ensemble Work, Listening & Understanding
Opportunities for wider learning:	Arts Award Level 1 -Bronze Christmas Festival/Carol Concert Viva Voce, Ukulele Group	School Musical Viva Voce, Ukulele Group	Music Festival

Year 8

	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
What knowledge, skills and understanding I will learn:	Reggae, Performing an off-beat rhythm, Developing advanced keyboard skills	Reggae, Composing an original song, Musical Structures	Arranging using Garage band, Working as an Ensemble, Performance
How I will be assessed:	Performing, Ensemble Work, Listening & Understanding	Performing, Composing, Ensemble Work, Listening & Understanding	Performing, Composing, Ensemble Work, Listening & Understanding
Opportunities for wider learning:	Christmas Festival/Carol Concert Viva Voce, Ukulele Group	School Musical Viva Voce, Ukulele Group	Music Festival

Year 9

	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
What knowledge, skills and understanding I will learn:	Irish Jig composition, Indian Raga analysis and performance	Song Composition, Composing Techniques using ICT	Music and the Media
How I will be assessed:	Performing, Composing, Ensemble Work, Listening & Understanding	Performing, Composing, Ensemble Work, Listening & Understanding	Performing, Composing, Ensemble Work, Listening & Understanding
Opportunities for wider learning:	Christmas Festival/Carol Concert Viva Voce, Ukulele Group	School Musical Viva Voce, Ukulele Group	Music Festival

Year 10

	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
What knowledge, skills and understanding I will learn:	AoS 2 – Popular Music, Study Pieces – The Beatles ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ Performing solo Composing skills	AoS 2 – Popular Music AoS 1 – Western Classical Tradition 1650-1910, Haydn’s Symphony 101 in D major ‘ The Clock’ Performing as an ensemble Composing skills	AoS 1 Western Classical Tradition 1650-1910, Performing solo / ensemble Free Composition
How I will be assessed:	Listening & Understanding, Performing solo	Listening & Understanding, Performing ensemble, Composing	Listening & Understanding, Performing solo/ensemble, Composing
Opportunities for wider learning:	Christmas Festival/Carol Concert Viva Voce, Ukulele Group Soul Band	School Musical Viva Voce, Ukulele Group Soul Band	Music Festival Viva Voce, Ukulele Group Soul Band

Year 11

Autumn Term

Spring Term

Summer Term

What knowledge, skills and understanding I will learn:

AoS 3 Traditional Music,

Performing solo/ensemble,

Composing to a brief

AoS 4 Western Classical Tradition since 1910,

Performing solo/ensemble,

Composing to a brief

Listening Exam,

Performing solo/ensemble,

Composing

How I will be assessed:

Listening & Understanding, Performing solo/ensemble,

Composing

Listening & Understanding, Performing solo/ensemble,

Composing

Listening & Understanding, Performing solo/ensemble,

Composing

Opportunities for wider learning:

Christmas Festival/Carol Concert

Viva Voce, Ukulele Group

Soul Band

School Musical

Viva Voce, Ukulele Group

Soul Band

Music Festival

Viva Voce, Ukulele Group

Soul Band

Useful Links/Resources that will help to consolidate learning:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/music/gcse/music-8271

https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zpf3cdm

Extra-curricular activities:

Viva Voce (Singing group) All welcome - Tuesday lunchtime
Ukulele Group All welcome - Wednesday lunchtime
Soul Band Invitation only - Tuesday afterschool
Bellissimo (Handbells) All welcome - Wednesday lunchtime
Performance opportunities:
Performing Arts & Media Christmas Festival – December
Christmas carol Concert - December
School Musical - July
Year 13 Charity Talent Show - May
Wyrley in the Park Summer Festival - July