Music

To offer students a broad understanding of both music theory and the way chords, harmony & melodies are constructed, along with an understanding of Music Production & technology and how this affects music arrangement. Looking at the progression of musical styles through the 20th century and how technology both informed and transformed these changes.

Whilst the classroom time does not allow for training students into highly proficient pianists, learning some foundational keyboard skills both allows students to put their music theory into practice as well as effectively connecting them to music technology platforms such as 'Logic' where just a basic ability at keyboard is sufficient to make entire tracks. Using the software 'Logic' to make simple tracks to demonstrate both the arrangement of parts and how through history different sounds and instruments were used.

The class is delivered as a group session of 50 minutes.

With all the concepts around music theory, there are many interconnecting ideas which need multiple attempts and continuous practice for students to grasp how it all fits together. Therefore, a mixture of discussions on the topics posing questions & challenges to students, keeping up the discussion of concepts across several weeks such that students can become acclimatised to the ideas.

We often begin sessions with some critical listening where students can suggest a track they find interesting & we discuss it both on its musical merits but also some of the ways in which it may have been composed, arranged & recorded. We have the keyboards as the means by which students can put the music theory into practice, playing simple melodies and chords as well as learning how to improvise & compose their own musical ideas.

By the end of Key Stage 3

The goal of the classes is to give students the broadest base of understanding possible into how modern music is made. Using critical listening for tracks, particularly tracks the students have chosen to both discuss the music theory involved, but also the arrangement of instruments & the stylistic influences that interconnect to make the music they listen to, students should gain a broad understanding of how music is written and produced.

Alongside this, students can then put their ideas into practice as they play the keyboard and create recording projects where they put their ideas into practice. This demonstrates how these ideas can germinate into a finished track.

The course aims to inspire and give students first steps to both play and record music with the hope they may continue to continue in either music or creative audio into the future.