- Home
- EA Horizons
- Subject Information
- Music
Music
BackAt Excelsior Academy, we believe that every child is a musician waiting to be discovered. Our Music curriculum is designed to inspire a lifelong love of music by giving all pupils, regardless of their starting point, the opportunity to perform, compose, listen and respond creatively to music.
Through a broad and inclusive curriculum, pupils develop the confidence, knowledge and practical skills needed to enjoy, appreciate and participate in musical experiences both in and beyond the classroom.
Music is a unique and powerful form of expression that connects people, cultures and communities. Our curriculum explores how music is created, organised and performed, enabling pupils to deepen their understanding of melody, harmony, rhythm and musical structure. Through the study of a diverse range of musical styles, genres and traditions, pupils develop their ability to think critically, listen analytically and express themselves creatively.
The curriculum is carefully sequenced to develop pupils’ technical, constructive and expressive understanding of music over time. Through performing, composing, improvising and listening, pupils build resilience, creativity, communication and teamwork while gaining an appreciation of music's cultural and historical significance. Our aim is for every pupil to leave Excelsior with a greater understanding of music, a stronger sense of musical identity and the confidence to engage with music throughout their lives.
Subject Leader: Michael.Davison@excelsiornewcastle.org.uk
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 3 and 4
Aims of our Key Stage 3 Curriculum
Throughout Key Stage 3, pupils develop the knowledge and skills required to become increasingly confident performers, composers and listeners. Learning is sequenced around fundamental musical concepts, including melody, harmony, rhythm, texture and structure, allowing pupils to make connections across different musical styles and traditions. Pupils learn how music is constructed and develop the vocabulary needed to analyse, describe and evaluate musical performances and compositions.
In Year 7, pupils establish the foundations of their musical journey through the study of rhythm, pitch, singing, keyboard skills and ensemble performance. They explore how music brings people together before applying these skills through the study of Reggae and its cultural influences.
In Year 8, pupils build on their melodic and harmonic understanding through the study of Ode to Joy and develop their improvisation and performance skills through the exploration of Blues music. They investigate how musical ideas are developed and communicated across different genres and historical periods.
In Year 9, pupils deepen their understanding of harmony, composition and performance through the study of popular music and the 'Four Chord Trick'. They further develop their ensemble, improvisation and arrangement skills while making increasingly sophisticated connections between melody, harmony and bass lines.
By the end of Key Stage 3, pupils have developed a secure understanding of the building blocks of music and are able to apply their knowledge creatively through performance, composition and listening activities. They are well prepared for further study at Key Stage 4 and continued participation in music beyond the classroom.
Aims of our Key Stage 4 Curriculum
At Key Stage 4, pupils follow the OCR GCSE Music course, building upon the knowledge, skills and musical understanding developed during Key Stage 3. The curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to refine their performance skills, develop increasingly sophisticated compositions and enhance their listening and analytical skills through the study of a broad range of musical styles and traditions.
Pupils explore areas of study including their own instrument, the conventions of pop music, rhythms of the world, film music and the concerto through time. Alongside these areas, pupils develop a deeper understanding of musical elements, compositional techniques and the cultural contexts that have shaped musical development.
Throughout the course, pupils complete both performance and composition coursework, applying their technical, constructive and expressive knowledge in creative and practical ways. They also develop the listening and appraisal skills required to analyse and evaluate music with increasing confidence and accuracy.
The curriculum prepares pupils for further study, employment and lifelong engagement with music by developing independence, creativity, resilience and collaboration. It enables pupils to think and work like musicians while fostering an appreciation of music as an important part of culture, identity and society.