Year 7 & Year 8
A look into our classroom
At Stoke Newington School & Sixth Form we hit the ground running. Right from the beginning our young people have a unique and highly personalised method of learning, creating an environment to nurture, educate and encourage creative individuals to achieve the highest level of musicianship. Browse below to learn more about what we have to offer our young people.
Year 7 Units
Building the skills to become a musician
Spring Term 2a
I've Got Rhythm
This unit introduces or reintroduces the concept of pulse through a variety of experiences which include pulse games and other rhythmic activities. Through composing and performing, pupils are introduced to rhythm grids and rhythm grid notation which can be extended to include single line rhythm notation using the note values of a semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver and pair of quavers.
Spring Term 2b
Form and Structure
This unit begins by establishing what is “Form and Structure” in music and why Form and Structure is important. Through performing, composing, improvising and listening and appraising, pupils then explore four different musical structures: Question and Answer Phrases, Binary Form, Ternary Form and Rondo Form.
Summer Term 3a
Sonority City - An Introduction to the Orchestra
This unit develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding about orchestral instruments and families/sections of orchestral instruments. Pupils learn about the construction, sound production and timbres/sonorities of different orchestral instruments, the layout, grouping and the instruments which belong to each section of a modern symphony orchestra.
Year 8 Units
Developing your skills and knowledge as a musician
Autumn Term 1b
All That Jazz
This unit develops pupil’s understanding of the key musical features of Jazz and Blues, exploring chords, chord patterns and how improvisation is used within Jazz and Blues genres. Instruments, timbres, and sonorities used in Jazz and Blues are also explored and the different roles between Frontline and Rhythm Section instruments within Jazz and Swing/Big Bands.
Spring Term 2a
All About that Bass
Bass Clef Reading and Notation forms the foundation of this unit which explores a range of commonly used Bass Line Patterns within a variety of different types, styles, and genres of music from different times and places. Pupils begin by exploring the various meanings of the term ‘bass’ before looking at the Bass Clef and the names of the notes in the lines, spaces and ledger lines on the Bass Stave. Instruments and voices which use the Bass Clef are referred to throughout the unit.
Spring Term 2b
Soundtracks
The unit begins with an introduction into the purpose of film music and the decisions and challenges a composer of film music faces. Leitmotifs are an important aspect of film music and pupils explore how composers have used these to represent certain characters and situations within films and how, through the manipulation of the elements of music, these can be changed to suit different on-screen situations.
Summer Term 3a
Videogame Music
The unit begins by looking at Character Themes in computer and video game music before pupils move on to explore ways in which Character Themes can be developed and changed for different atmospheres and scenarios within computer and video games. Sound effects are then explored and pupils either perform or create a range of sound effects to match common actions and cues within games. The unit ends with pupils undertaking a performance project based on a computer or video game theme or creating a musical score/soundtrack for a computer or video game creating their own ground theme and sound effects.
Summer Term 3b
What Makes a Good Song
Pupils learn about the importance of Hooks and Riffs, Popular Song Structure and the various difference components/sections within, Melodic Motion (Conjunct and Disjunct Motion) and Lyrics within a range of other popular songs. Lead Sheet notation is used throughout the unit and pupils are encouraged to confidently navigate around lead sheets evaluating what musical information is, and is not, included in this form of notation. The unit ends with pupils creating their own musical arrangement of a popular song from a Lead Sheet in their chosen style/genre.