Why do we learn music?
Head of Department
Our approach
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11

Why do we learn music?

Our subject radiates joy and excitement in the academy with a wide and diverse range of pupils participating, feeling included and building their own personal and musical identities in the department. We aim for every pupil at Ark Elvin to have access to music, to challenge the class divide and have experience at learning and mastering a new skill on an instrument. Our staff members across the department promote passion and creativity amongst our pupils and we all work together with a feeling of pride towards performing Music to our community and beyond.  We want all pupils to appreciate the arts and improve their cultural capital of the arts industry while studying Music at Ark Elvin Academy. 

Head of Department

Head of Performing Arts

Ms Frances Green

f.green@arkelvinacademy.org

Our approach

Pupils at Elvin come from a range of different musical backgrounds, cultures, interests and starting points. Our curriculum ensures that pupils pursue a life enriched by music making, at the same time providing knowledge and skills to successfully continue the study of music at KS4, A-level, university and as a career.    

Many of our students come to Elvin with a limited experience of music theory and music making, while some students will arrive with a rich knowledge and many years of playing experience.  With these opposites in mind the curriculum aims to meet the needs of all students, beginning with an accessible curriculum that builds on knowledge and experience over time, removes barriers of musical making as well as including challenge for those who might be more able.  These challenges are aimed at developing the quality of their musicianship and the music that they produce.     

 In Ark Elvin’s Music department, we believe that every pupil can be a musician, and improve their personal, emotional and intellectual development as well as being open to new, inspirational cultural experiences.       

Year 7

Autumn Term

Route of progression: Vocals 

Repertoire/Genere: Beatboxing, Rapping ( Mas Da Nada) and Singing ( Massed choir)

Theory Focus: Rhythmic notation 

Creative task: 8 beat breaks 

Spring Term

Route of Progression: Keyboard and Production 

Repertoire/Genre: Pop Music 

Theory Focus : Notes on the keyboard and stave 

Creative Task : Melody Writing 

Summer Term 

School Specialism Unit

Route of Progression: Production 

Repertoire/Genre: Hip Hop, R&B, Grime.

Theory Focus: Rhythmic notation and notes on the keyboard and stave

Creative Task: Songwriting

All Year 7 subjects Next Year 7 Subject - Art

Year 8

Autumn Term 
West African Drumming (Focus: Structure, texture and rhythm
Spring Term 
The Beauty of Baroque (classical melody focus)
Summer Term 
Band Musicianship: the Blues (pop harmony focus)

All Year 8 subjects Next Year 8 Subject - Art

Year 9

Autumn Term 
Electronic Dance Music (Texture and technology focus) – Pop music
Spring Term 

Film Music 

(Focus: Sonority)

Summer Term 
Band Musicianship (song writing focus) – protest songs

All Year 9 subjects Next Year 9 Subject - Art

Year 10

Autumn Term 
  1. Performance: Ensemble introduction and solo preparation (instrumental teachers) 
  2. Composition: Keyboard skills and Free composition 
  3. Listening and Appraising: Set work (Toto’s Africa), Film Music 
Spring Term 

Course content: 

  1. Performance: Ensemble development and solo development ( with support from instrumental teachers) 
  2. Composition: Free composition – choosing genre, harmonic and melodic choices 
  3. Listening and Appraising: Film Music, Jazz and Blues and Set work – Africa 
SummerTerm
  1. Performance: Ensemble and solo finalising – recording of solo. 
  2. Composition: Free composition – beats, bassline and texture 
  3. Listening and Appraising: Set work- Badinerie and Musical elements recap 

All Year 10 subjects Next Year 10 Subject - Art

Year 11

Autumn Term 
  1. Performance: Ensemble preparation and final solo recordings ( instrumental teachers)
  2. Composition: Brief composition- development of harmony and melody

  3. Listening and Appraising: 

    Autumn Term 1- Music For Ensembles 

    Autumn Term 2- Popular Music

Spring Term 
  1. Performance: Ensemble recordings ( instrumental teachers)
  2. Composition: Brief composition- Developing piece, interventions- free composition

  3. Listening and Appraising: 

    Spring Term 1- Badinerie revision 

    Spring Term 2- Revision and exam technique

Summer Term 
Revision and exam technique ahead of Music appraising exam. 

All Year 11 subjects Next Year 11 Subject - Art