Music at Thornhill is designed for all students regardless of ability or experience and starts from the principle that it is an important part of being human, as we all interact with Music on a daily basis. The subject aims to engage all students in developing music specific skills but also in building important personal qualities including self-esteem, self-discipline and the ability to work with others.   
The curriculum is designed to give students a range of experience and is centred on the three key musical skills of Performing, Composing and Listening with understanding. Students will engage with a range of genres both old, new and from around the world, being given opportunities to gain new experience by thinking about and participating in music making. 
 
Key Stage 3
At KS3 students will be given the opportunity to learn instrument specific skills in ukulele, guitar, keyboard & percussion. They will develop knowledge of music theory, relevant notations & the traditions/features of the styles covered. 
As a result, music will be placed in context but students will also be expected to draw connections between genres, developing their ability to analyse and justify their opinions when writing or discussing pieces. 
Technology has a vital role to play in music making today and students will also be encouraged to explore the creative possibilities of sequencing software in both composing and recording projects.

Key Stage 4
At KS4 students will continue to develop their skills in a vocational context on the Tech Award in Music Practice. 
Students develop their appreciation of a range of genres (including Pop music from the 60s until the present day, Western classical music, World music and Music for media) by listening to and practically exploring the iconic music of bands, composers and artists. 
Students also experience the skills of being a performer, composer or producer, before specialising and improving their skills in two of the disciplines. Performers will learn repertoire and develop instrumental technique. Composers explore and extend ideas using a range of musical elements. Producers learn to input, edit and shape music using sequencing software.
The course culminates in a final exam in which students develop and present music in response to a given brief. As either a performer or producer, students will take a song offered by the exam board and prepare a recording in one of the styles covered during the course to demonstrate their creative skills and musical proficiency.

Why study this course:
This course is ideal for any student with a love for Music.
It provides opportunities to build practical skills and technical knowledge through exploration of a range of styles from the last 60 years. 
Students can develop their performance ability in a range of instruments and also learn how to create music using computer sequencing software.
As a vocational course it focuses on real life products and expects students to be creative, organised and increasingly independent.

Component 1 - Exploring the Music Industry 
Students explore musical styles from the last 60 years including British Invasion, SynthPop, EDM & Music for Media. They will listen to, perform and compose using the key features of each genre creating a portfolio of work which demonstrates their understanding.

Component 2 - Music Skills Development
Students will learn about the professional skills musicians require to create & share their music. They will then work on practical projects which allow them to develop their own skills by combining Performance, Creation or Production areas.

Component 3 - Responding to a Commercial Brief
Students are given a list of 10 pieces by the exam board and will work to create a cover version in a style different to the original. Their submission will demonstrate the skills they have developed as a creator/performer or creator/producer.

How the course is assessed
60% internally assessed - Components 1 & 2 - The exam board publish set assignments which are completed under supervised condition in lesson time. Teacher assessment is confirmed through a moderation process.
40% externally assessed - Component 3 - The final assessment is created in the classroom under controlled conditions in response to a stimulus set by the exam board. This is assessed by an examiner. 

Other information
Students studying this course could progress on to further A level/Level 3 study.
The course also looks to develop music making skills and personal attributes that could be used professionally or personally for the rest of your future.

Curriculum Plans
Curriculum plans for Music can be viewed from the links below.