Music

At Key Stage 3 (KS3) students can expect to be challenged in their performance skills from the very beginning using a number of instruments including voice, ukuleles, keyboards and drums. They are introduced to a variety of music and given opportunities to listen, compose and create.

Students will study Music for one hour per week at Key Stage 3.

You can listen to Year 7’s Performance classwork which they completed in autumn 2018:

And here’s an example of some Year 8 film music work on Batman:

At Key Stage 4 (KS4) our students follow the AQA GCSE Music course. The specification can be found here: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/music/gcse/music-8271

The course provides an opportunity to develop and apply musical knowledge and skills through a wide variety of genres with an emphasis on practical music-making.

The subject content is divided into three components:

• Understanding Music (40%)
• Performing Music (30%)
• Composing Music (30%)

• BBC Bitesize website (Music): http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zpf3cdm
• General Music revision/quiz: https://yacapaca.com/resources/gcse-music/aqa-gcse-music/0/
• General Music Listening Tests: https://www.youtube.com/user/QKSMusic
• Relevant selected works for listening and analysis: https://www.youtube.com/user/RhinegoldEducation

Post-16, students will be able to move on to A-Level Music and/or Music Technology. From there they can access a plethora of degree courses relating to everything from classical music to jazz, pop, folk, studio engineering and electronic music. Both music and music technology are useful in many career pathways and this GCSE course is an ideal starting point for those considering a career in music.

York Music Service is the primary provider of tuition at Vale of York Academy offering instrumental and vocal lessons for all ages and abilities on a wide range of instruments including voice. Lessons take place during the school day on a rotation and can be differing lengths dependent on need. Students in receipt of Pupil Premium funding, Free School Meals or are looked after children can receive a bursary from the York Music Hub to pay for lessons. Mrs Brady can assist with this.

All students studying Music at GCSE level are advised to seek instrumental or vocal tuition to assist with the 30% performance coursework.

Please speak to Mrs Brady for further information or visit http://www.yorkmusicservice.co.uk/

At present we have Super-8s on a Monday after-school which is a targeted group for keen year 8 musicians. Thursdays is Open music club where students can come and use the music department to practice, play in groups, work on their classwork, complete coursework and share ideas.

A programme of concerts and a whole-school Musical are planned for 2019-20 (see school calendar for further details).

Subject Lead for Music is Mrs Pip Brady who can be contacted by email at p.brady@valeofyorkacademy.org