Music
Back to Subjects MenuWhat is it to be a Musician at BCHS?
Being a Musician at BCHS means to explore and experience a plethora of musical styles and instruments. It means being open to music from different ears in history and places around the globe.
Musical taste is as unique as your personality, and at BCHS you have the opportunity to further your musical passion with like minded people, developing bands and ensembles for performing and composing.
Musician’s also have many performance opportunities throughout the year in concerts and other school events.
Subject Overview - Year 7-11
Year 7 overview
Year 7 experience a variety of different musical style through exciting projects. Students begin their journey by learning about the elements of music and exploring this through singing and piano.
Students apply these skills to their own compositional work through the theme of programme music. In this topic year 7 study the music from Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and John William’s music for Harry Potter.
Year 7 then explore music from around the world and learn about how music in important in all cultures.
Year 8 overview
Year 8 explore a comprehensive study of the key skills in music, performance, composition and theory.
These skills are discovered through a range of musical topics. These include learning about the history of western music including analysis famous baroque and classical works. Understanding their structures in more detail by composing through theme and variation form.
Students learn several instruments throughout the year including piano, ukuleles and samba percussion.
Year 9 overview
During this year students look into composition through music technology and using computer to create music. This also allows students to delve into composition and layering of instruments in more depth. During this year they also learn about song writing and different musical genres to expand their knowledge and experience types of music they may not have heard before.
Year 10 overview
During this first year at GCSE students will perform both solo and ensemble pieces on their instruments (or singing). They will also compose a piece of music in their choice of style drawing on their passion for their musical interest and instrument. The composition will include elements of music technology through recording and layering of other instruments. Students will also learn about techniques in music and how they are using in different styles particularly pop and rock music from 1950 to present day and film and video game music.
Year 11 overview
During the final year at GCSE students will continue to perform both solo and ensembles but also compose to a brief set by the exam board. Students will choose their genre from a list provided and compose using both live and music technology generated instruments. Students will continue to exam their knowledge of music theory and musical techniques through studying concertos throughout history and music form around the world.
Enrichment
There are lots of opportunities for every year group to further their passion for music.
Structured enrichment clubs include BCHS choir where students sing a variety of different styles including songs form Hamilton, and ukulele club where students have the opportunity to work in a group learning a new instrument.
There is also the opportunity for students to enhance their study in their own style and instrument through the BCHS musicians club.
How do we contribute to PHSEE, British Values and SMSC?
Students in every year explore music from different countries and learn about how music is culturally important in different ways. This allows students access to music they might otherwise not experience and discuss how people interact with music in different ways.
Students discuss the emotional content of music and how music makes them feel, exploring how music elements are used for emotional effect and can affect the listener.
What careers does music support?
Music as a subject can open students up to a variety of careers directly influencing jobs such as musician, songwriter, sound engineer, music producer and music therapist.
Music also has many skills that can be transferred in to countless other career paths such as performance skills useful in any career where you are managing others. Team work and problem solving skills and perseverance through learning a new instrument and language.
