Music
Where words fail… music speaks – Hans Christian Anderson
The Music department aims to broaden each student’s knowledge, appreciation and understanding of music with a view to developing their core music skills in performance, composition and appraising/listening.
Click HERE to download our curriculum journey for Music.
We also aim to create an atmosphere that enables students to share their ideas in a clear, expressive way and enables them to grow as musicians no matter what their ability or previous experience of music.
Instrumental lessons
At Harris Academy Rainham we work very closely with our peripatetic staff to support the development of those learning a musical instrument. We are fortunate to work with Havering Music School and other peripatetic teachers who are excellent in their field, offering music tuition once a week on all instruments. We currently have students learning piano, vocals, strings, woodwind, drums and guitar (bass and acoustic). Please contact Ms Sees on E.Sees@Harrisrainham.org.uk if this is something that you are interested in.
Music clubs
We also offer a range of opportunites for music outside of the curriculum including:
- Choir - available to all, Wednesday 8.20-8.50am
- School production - period 4 on a Monday during autumn term
- Practice time during lunchtimes and before/after school
- Music theory - offered to those who express an interest
- Regular concerts throughout the year
Year 7 & 8
Our Year 7 and 8 music lessons currently run on a 'carousel' which means that each child will receive Music for one term during Year 7 and one term during Year 8. Students begin in Year 7 by looking at the key elements and foundation blocks in music and explore them through the three main strands that are in every lesson delivered from Year 7 through to Year 11. Through these topics, students get a feel for the key ingredients that will lead them to experiencing a rich music curriculum and hopefully leading on to success later on in their school career.
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Year 7 |
Year 8 |
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The elements of music |
Reggae and the sound of Bob Marley |
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Melody and chords (keyboard unit) |
Cover versions |
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African drumming |
Rap and political issues |
Year 9
In Year 9 we focus on the three primary strands at the heart of GCSE which are performance, composition and listening/appraising. Through different topics we start to embed aural perception skills, develop theory knowledge and allow students to perfect their craft by ensuring that GCSE students receive an instrumental lesson on an instrument of their choice, funded by the school. All students are encouraged to take part in extra curricular groups, perform in concert settings and are regularly exposed to music of other cultures and traditions (both in school and outside). In Year 9 we allow students to develop valuable transferable skills such as self-confidence, concentration, creativity, evaluation and team work.
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Topics covered |
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Brit pop |
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Baroque and classical traditions |
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Melody and chords (part 2) |
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Arts award |
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Music theory/appraising |
Year 10 & 11
GCSE Music helps students to develop subject knowledge, understanding and skills, through listening to a variety of music, playing music and creating their own.
The course places a strong weighting on the practical aspects of music, with choices catering for a wide range of interests and abilities. This course assesses students' ability in the three key areas of performance, composition and appraising/listening which begin as far back as Year 7.
The course is taught over two years with four pieces of coursework weighting 60% of the overall mark and a listening paper which is waited the final 40%. Students will be required to learn and study two pieces in detail as well as answer questions on unfamiliar extracts and write musically in an extended piece.
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Pieces studied (2018 onwards) |
Coursework required |
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Eine Kleine Nacht Musik by Mozart |
One solo and one ensemble piece (weighted 15% each) |
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Since You’ve Been Gone by Rainbow |
One free composition and one set brief composition (weighted 15% each) |
Students should be taking instrumental lessons throughout the whole time they are studying GCSE Music. The required standard is ABRSM Grade 3.
Documents
| Curriculum Journey - Music | Download |
