Music
Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.
Year 8 Music Curriculum
Theme |
Content |
Assessment |
1 Where it all started? The Blues (7 weeks) |
K of primary chords (I, IV, V) and the 12-bar progression; U of how the blues scale fits around chords; S: performance of a piece of blues |
Demonstration of primary chords and 12-bar progression. |
2 Roots, Rebellion, Reggae – Jamaican Music (7 weeks) |
K of Reggae’s ‘one-drop’ drum beat; U of the development of reggae; S: performing Three Little Birds |
Demonstration of Three Little Birds |
3 In The Mood! Jazz (6 weeks) |
K of jazz music and how it developed; U of chord and non-chord notes within improvisation; S: performing In The Mood |
Demonstration of improvisation over In The Mood |
4 Can Anyone Write Music? The Art of Composing Melodies (6 weeks) |
K of types of melodic movement; U of melodic phrase structure; S: Composing a melody |
Composing a melody |
5 Ground Bass to Musical Cycles (6 weeks) |
K of ground bass and different types of musical cycles; U of how musical cycles support musical structure S: Performing a musical cycle |
Performance of a musical cycle |
6 Musical Futures – Preparing Performances (6 weeks) |
K of chords, melody and rhythm for a chosen song; U of how to work towards a small-group performance; S: sharing a prepared performance |
Prepared performance |