Music

To build on any previous knowledge and skills through performing, composing and listening. They will develop their instrumental and vocal skills and explore how a variety of cultures have shaped a wide range of musical styles and traditions. They will deepen their understanding of ‘how’ by playing with accuracy and expression, improvise and compose using different structures, scales and tonalities, explore a range of notations and develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of key musicians and composers through listening and appraising. Students will develop confidence and resilience as well as self-discipline and teamwork.

Key skills & concepts of learning:

• Develop knowledge and understanding
• Perform, compose and listen to music
• Develop instrumental and vocal skills
• Explore cultures, musical styles and traditions
• Play with accuracy & expression
• Develop confidence, resilience, self-discipline and teamwork

The national curriculum for music aims to ensure that all students:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

Cockburn School Music Department follows a highly practical approach to lessons, being inspired by Musical Futures pedagogy. Students are involved in listening, singing and performing from day one. Theoretical knowledge is used to support the practical learning. Students learn how to play keyboard, guitar, bass, ukulele and drums and use these skills to play together in ensemble settings. They learn how to use their voices correctly and body percussion. â€‹They also have the chance to use instruments from around the world. In addition to classroom lessons, students have the opportunity to further study an instrument of their choice with our peripatetic teachers. Currently we offer lessons in singing, piano, drums, guitar (including bass), brass and woodwind.

Students have lots of in-house performance opportunities such as lunchtime concerts, assemblies and the annual MADDFest (a celebration of all the Arts subjects in school). There are also opportunities to perform outside of school and festivals and competitions.