Teaching Staff 

• E Smith (Director of Learning) 
• I Heddle – Music Teacher 
• F Casewell (Brass)
• K Coulls (Upper Strings and Vocal) 
• P Waite (Guitar) 
• S Abbott (Drums and Percussion) 

Curriculum Intent for Music

Music is an inclusive subject which reaches out to all students. The academic nature of reading notation, understanding theory and musical analysis challenges all students across the key stages. Performance elements allow scope for expression, confidence building and social development. Composition gives students the opportunity to use their creativity in writing music and lyrics. Instrumental development equips students with a life-skill of being able to play a musical instrument. With this wide ranging latitude, Music can provide an enriching and inspiring learning experience for all.

Department Information 

Making music involves more than the voice or fingers playing an instrument; a child learning about music has to tap into multiple skill sets, often simultaneously. For instance, people use their ears and eyes, as well as large and small muscles. Music is a language, music is an academic subject, music is an art form. It’s a subject which covers a multitude of different aspects and offers countless opportunities. 

Key Stage 3 

Year 7 

Rhythm – Students explore rhythmical sequences, both aurally and in written form. Students learn to read and transcribe patterns and phrases.

Pitch – Students in Year 7 study the musical element of pitch. This is predominately practically based, using Keyboards, Tuned Percussion and Voice. Students learn the theoretical attributes to reading standard notation. They also explore identifying intervals aurally and are introduced to musical composition.

Guitar – Year 7 students are given the opportunity to learn the guitar. They learn to play pop and classical melodies whilst reading both standard notation and guitar tablature.

Singing – Students all sing throughout their first year at King James. Whole class vocal sessions cover a wide range of singing styles, from traditional pieces to contemporary pop songs. 

Year 8 

Harmony – Students explore the notion of musical harmony. They begin to apply chords to melodies and pieces learned in year 7. They investigate key signatures and other harmonic aspects such as chord extensions. 

Chromatics – Students study the more advanced musical aspect of chromatics. Working beyond the diatonic structures already explored in year 7. This is investigated classically playing a range of intermediate piano pieces.

Year 9 

The Blues – Students are taught the historical and cultural influences which shaped and defined the genre of Blues Music. Practically Year 9 classes work in small groups (Piano, Guitar, Drums and Bass Guitar) to develop ensemble skills. They work collaboratively in practise rooms and showcase their band playing in performance situations. 

Musical Analysis – Using a wide range of pieces, from differing styles the Year 9 cohort investigate more sophisticated musical concepts. These include: Odd Time Signatures, Modulation, Musical Ornaments and Improvisation.

Learning Journeys