BGE COURSE (S1 and S2)

In S1 and S2 the classes complete four 9 week rotations in music.

Click on the link below to view our BGE learning journey map:

WILLIAMWOOD BGE CURRICULUM MAP

Block 1

In the first block, pupils develop skills on a variety of classroom instruments; keyboard, glockenspiel, drum-kit and ukulele.

Pupils learn how to read music and begin to develop their general musicianship skills.

We learn about the Instruments of the Orchestra, the different families and performance techniques.

We introduce Music Technology by using loops to create dance tracks.

Block 2

In block 2 pupils develop their skills on guitar and drum kit.

Through the analysis of film music, we develop our listening and musical literacy skills by identifying a number of musical concepts.

Pupils develop their composing skills through a Mixcraft Music Technology project by creating a soundtrack and soundscape for a film clip.

Block 3

In block 3 pupils continue to develop their performing skills on two instruments of choice.

Pupils have the opportunity to perform in groups and as a class through Musical Futures and performing different group arrangements.

We continue to develop our skills in Music Technology through our ‘Gaming Unit’. Pupils learn to manipulate and edit sounds to line up sound effects with the video game.

Block 4

In block 4 pupils will be given the opportunity to choose an area to focus on in either music or music technology.

In music pupils continue to develop their performing skills on two instruments of choice and learn about the music industry.

In music technology pupils will develop their skills through our ‘Radio play unit’.

3 BGE

In S3 our learners engage in skill based learning.  This approach builds on the prior learning that takes place in S1/2.  The main aim is to prepare the learner for a smooth and successful transition into the National 5 qualification.

The S3 course consists of 3 units:  Performing Skills, Composing Skills and Understanding Music.

Performing – to develop skills on two instruments or one instrument and voice.  Throughout the year the students will get to opportunity to perform individually and in group performances.

Composing – to learn about compositional techniques and how to write original music.

Understanding Music – to identify music concepts within different styles of music including Scottish music, Blues and Jazz, Rock and Pop and World music.

 

National 5 Music

The National 5 course consists of 3 units: Performing Skills, Understanding Music and Composing skills.

Performing – to develop a 8 minute programme of pieces at minimum Grade 3 standard on two instruments or one instrument and voice.  This programme will be assessed by an external examiner in Feb/March of S4.   This element is worth 50% of the final mark.

Understanding Music – to identify music concepts within different styles of music including Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20^th Century music plus the units covered in S3.  This will be assessed as listening paper in May of S4 which is worth 35% of the final mark.

Composing– pupils must create their own original piece of music which must be a minimum of 1 minute in length and a maximum of 2 minutes 30 seconds. Pupils must also submit a short review of the composing process. This is worth 15% of the final mark.

Higher Music

The Higher course consists of 3 units: Performing Skills, Understanding Music and Composing skills.

Performing – to develop a 12 minute programme of pieces at minimum Grade 4 standard on two instruments or one instrument and voice.  This programme will be assessed by an external examiner in Feb/March of S5/S6.   This element is worth 50% of the final mark.

Understanding Music – to develop a deeper understanding of music and music literacy within different styles of music. These styles will include Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20^th Century music.  This will be assessed as listening paper in May of S5/S6 which is worth 35% of the final mark.

Composing– pupils must create their own original piece of music which must be a minimum of 1 minute  and a maximum of 3 minutes 30 seconds. Pupils must also submit a short review of the composing process. This is worth 15% of the final mark.

 

Advanced Higher Music

The Advanced higher course consists of 3 units: Performing Skills, Understanding Music and Composing skills/Analysis

Performing – to develop a 18-20 minute programme of pieces at minimum Grade 5 standard on two instruments or one instrument and voice.  This programme will be assessed by an external examiner in Apr/May of S6.   This element is worth 50% of the final mark.

Understanding Music – to develop a deeper understanding of music and music literacy within different styles of music. These styles will include Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20^th Century music.  This will be assessed as listening paper in May of S6 which is worth 35% of the final mark.

Composing and Analysis– pupils must create their own original piece of music or create an original arrangement which must be a minimum of 1 minute in length to a maximum of 4 minutes 30 seconds. Pupils must also submit a 600-800 word review of the composing process. Candidates must also choose a piece of music by a composer and analyse the key features with reference to compositional methods and music concepts. This is worth 15% of the final mark.