Years 4, 5 and 6
In three terms (over 3 years) pupils will develop their musical skills through...
- Singing simple unison songs
- Sing unison songs with actions and movement (from memory)
- Singing without piano accompaniment
- Singing in two-parts (rounds)
- Singing different Genres of songs
(Classical/Folk songs, songs from Musicals/Films, Choral anthems, World Music, etc.)
- Exploring the Elements of Music:
- Pitch (high/low)
- Duration (long/short)
- Tempo (fast/slow)
- Texture (thick/thin)
- Timbre (quality of sound)
- Rhythm
- Metre (pulse)
- Exploring un-tuned percussion instruments (triangle, wood block, etc.)
- Exploring un-tuned world percussion instruments
(African Drums and Xylophone, Latin American Percussion instruments).
- Exploring tuned percussion instruments (Xylophone/Glockenspiel).
- Playing melodies on tuned percussion (with piano accompaniment).
- Composing melodies on tuned percussion and keyboard
(Based on the Pentatonic Scale (5 notes), modes, world music scales etc.)
- Learning about the instruments of the orchestra
- Working on pupils' own Music Theory Book
(Basic written work, using games, puzzles etc. encourages Literacy and numeracy development).
- Listening and appraising a variety of genres of music.
Years 7 & 8
- Pupils in years 7 and 8 at Aberlour House follow an enhanced version of the National Curriculum, based on the acquisition of the three musical skills:
- Composing music
- Performing music
- Listening and Appraising music
Class music lessons take a Musical Topic/Concept, and pupils are given the opportunity to express themselves in composition and perform in a way that is appropriate to their own level of understanding and practical achievement.
Schemes of Work
The schemes of work come from four broad subject areas:
- Western Classical Music (1600 - 1899)
- Western 20th Century Music (1900 - present day)
- Popular Music
- World Music
Year 7
- Voices in Layers (Performing)
- Introduction to Notation and Elements of Music (Theory)
- Gamelan - Music of Indonesia: Java and Bali (Performing/Composing )
- The Graphic score and Experimental Music (Composing)
- Samba Band - Brazilian Percussion ensemble (Performing)
- Folk Music (Performing)
- Examining the West End Musical (Performing)
- Variation Form (Performing and Composing)
- Classical Sonata Form (Performing)
Year 8
- Ragtime - Music of Scott Joplin (Performing)
- 12 bar Blues (Performing/Composing through improvisation)
- Jazz (Performing/Composition)
- Programme Music (Listening and Appraising)
- Reggae (Performing and Composition)
- African/Egyptian Drumming (Performing/Composing)
- Popular Song of 1960 - 1990 (Performing/Composing)
- Film Music (Composition)
- Indian Music (Performing/Composing)
Aberlour House Extra Curricular Activities:
- Junior Choir/Senior Choir. We recently recorded a CD, For As Long As I Have Music, the title track of which you can hear in the column to the right.
- School Orchestra/String Orchestra/Brass Ensembles/Wind Band
- Recorder group/Scottish Pipe Band/Guitar ensemble
Both formal and informal concerts are arranged throughout the year and children also perform in weekly services. These activities help to give them the confidence they require to perform in public, which will be an invaluable asset during their school and working lives.
Music at Aberlour House