ARTS
Music Curriculum Overview 2025 - 2026
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Y7 |
Autumn 1 The Elements of Music
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Autumn 2 Celebrations |
Spring 1 Instruments of the Orchestra
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Spring 2 The Seasons
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Summer 1 Folk Music |
Summer 2 Game Music |
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LQ – What are the elements of music? How do I use the elements of music in performance and composition?
Baseline test Body percussion Keyboard skills ‘Oh, When the Saints’ Rhythm games
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LQ – How do we use music within our culture to celebrate? How do I use the elements of music to compose for a particular mood?
Christmas singing Christmas keyboard Halloween composition |
LQ – What is an orchestra? How do I identify specific timbres? How can specific timbres be used to create mood and atmosphere?
Carnival of the Animals Peter and the Wolf
Animal composition Focus on percussion X-Curr Land and Env
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LQ – What are the key features of Baroque music? How do composers create mood and atmosphere? How do I perform a piece of Baroque music on the keyboard?
Listening and performance of Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’ |
LQ – What is the purpose of Folk Music? What are the features of Folk music? How do I create an arrangement of a piece of Folk music using a drone and triad chords?
Drunken Sailor Arrangement |
LQ – What is the purpose of Game Music? How has Game music developed over time? How do I perform Game Music? How do I use the elements of music to effectively compose Game Music?
Super Mario/Tetris performance Game character composition |
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Y8 |
Autumn 1 The Blues
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Autumn 2 Celebrations |
Spring 1 The Seasons
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Spring 12 The Greats
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Summer 1 Mood and Atmosphere |
Summer 2 The Development of Popular music |
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LQ – What are the origins of The Blues? How do I perform a Twelve Bar Blues Chord Progression? How do I perform a triad chord in the Twelve Bar Blues chord progression? How do I improvise using the Blues Scale?
Blues performance and improvisation
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LQ – How do we use music within our culture to celebrate? How do I use the elements of music to compose for a specific mood or atmosphere?
Christmas singing Christmas keyboard Halloween composition |
LQ – How do composers create mood and atmosphere using the elements of music? What are the key features of the Baroque period? How do I perform a piece of Baroque music on the keyboard?
Listening and performance of Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’ Season composition
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LQ – Who are the great composers of the Classical period? What are the key features of the Classical period? How do I play a piece of Classical music on the keyboard?
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Fur Elise Performance
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LQ – How do composers use the elements of music to create a specific mood or atmosphere? How do I perform a piece of film music? How do I compose a piece of music for a particular scene or genre using the elements of music effectively?
Listening and performance of film music Composition relating to a chosen mood, scene or atmosphere
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LQ – What are the features of popular music from the 60s to the 90s? How did popular music develop from the 60s? What impact has technology had on popular music? How do I play a chord? What is the typical structure of pop music? How do I use the elements of music to compose a piece in the style of a chosen decade?
Listening and performance of ‘Let it Be’ and ‘Three Little Birds’
Pop music composition |
Creative Arts - Info for website September 2025
Here at Dorset Studio School we believe in the importance of Creative Arts and students are given the opportunity to develop their knowledge of Music and Art through a broad curriculum and a range of extra-curricular activities.
The benefits of studying Creative Arts include improved mental health and communication skills, the development of fine and gross motor skills and enhanced understanding of the world and empathy towards others.
In Years 7 and 8 students delve into the formal elements of Art and Music delivered by specialists with a practical focus often relating to our Land and Environment specialism. We often take inspiration for our projects from the beautiful surroundings of the Kingston Maurward Estate.
Extra-curricular activities include art club, keyboard club, ukulele club and choir which are run at lunchtimes at the Kingston Maurward site. We are currently offering voice and guitar lessons delivered within the school day by a specialist team of visiting peripatetic staff. There are formal performance opportunities provided throughout the year at a range of exciting venues including Kingston Maurward House and Stinsford Church. At KS3 the students also have the opportunity to take part in a drama workshop incorporating devising techniques based on topical issues linking to Land and Environment and trips carefully selected to enhance curriculum knowledge and enrich the creative experiences of students.
