Music Key Stage 4

The Music Curriculum- Key Stage 4

Students in KS4 will study for a BTEC in Music. This course is highly tailored to student needs, ensuring they leave SHS as a rounded musician.

As the BTEC is a highly practical course it is widely recognised by colleges and further education provision as a route that will produce exceptional performers and musicians.

Year 10

Year 10 Curriculum Overview	Component	Overview
	BTEC Music is taught holistically with each unit feeding others. Year 10 is used to prepare for the official year 11 concert.
Term 1	Unit 1: The Music Industry Optional unit 1	Unit 1: Student sit and exam about the music industry.
Term 2	Unit 2: Managing a Music Product	Unit 2: Students will plan and present a concert independently.
Term 3	Unit 5: Introducing Music Performance	Unit 5: Students will track their own progress.

Year 11

Year 11 Curriculum Overview	Component	Overview. In year 11 students prepare for their official concert.
Term 1	Unit 1: The Music Industry Optional Unit	Unit 1: Student sit and exam about the music industry
Term 2	Unit 2: Managing a Music Product	- Performing Coursework: Solo & Group Pieces - Composing Coursework: Piece 2 (Exam set brief) - Appraising: Popular Music
Term 3	Unit 5: Introducing Music Performance	Unit 5: Students will track their own progress.

During the 2 years of KS4 students will study 4 units of work, with 2 being compulsory and 2 optional. The two compulsory units are:

Unit 1: The Music Industry- this is an external exam that looks at the wider world of the music industry and the wide range of jobs and roles in this.
Unit 2: Managing a Music Product- this unit has students planning and organising a concert/CD from scratch which forms one of our big shows in the year.

Students must choose 2 optional units, they include:

Unit 3: Introducing Live Sound- setting up and organising the sound system for a concert/recording, we complete this as part of unit 2
Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition- students will compose one 3-minute piece of music
Unit 5: Introducing Music Performance- students will perform music; we complete this as part of unit 2
Unit 6: Introducing Music Recording- students will record music; we complete this if we chose a CD as part of unit 2
Unit 7: Introducing Music Sequencing- students will make music using a computer sequencer and produce a CD as part of Unit 2

The Music department supports students to engage in a qualification that has a clear progression into further education, employment or an apprenticeship. The Music department has close links with many Manchester based organisations, including: Brighter Sound, Trafford Music Hub and The Royal Exchange Theatre.

As a practical qualification this provides a clear progression route into a music specialism and offers students with experience of leading and reviewing products and performances.

Students will engage in a highly performance based qualification that sees them taking the lead in organising, booking resources and handling budget while maintaining detailed logs and minutes.

By the end of the course students will have created a professional standard product that will be available to the school and community, this could include:

> A CD
> A concert
> A music video

By the end of the course students will have:

> Planned, developed and delivered a music product
> Promoted a music product
> Review the management of the music product

As well as demonstrating:

> An understanding of different organisations that make up the music industry
> And understanding of jobs in the music industry

Students will have shown their work within school and the community and made links with external organisations.