Performing Arts - Music

The Music curriculum at Trinity engages students in a broad and ambitious music curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge, igniting curiosity and preparing them well for future learning or employment. The curriculum is centered around the National Curriculum for music, focusing on three strands; Performing, Composing, and Listening/Appraising. All students are given the opportunity to play and perform in a range of contexts using voices and instruments. They improvise and compose by drawing on a range of musical structures, styles, genres and traditions. They are taught to use staff and other relevant notations appropriately and accurately in a range of musical styles, genres and traditions and develop a deepening understanding of music history through performing and listening.

By the end of Year 9, students’ entitlement will have been met by a well-balanced curriculum, focusing on the three strands of Performing, Composing and Listening/Appraising. Students will have had the opportunity to learn theoretical concepts associated with a range of musical genres throughout history, as well as developing practical skills in music-making as both a soloist and an ensemble player. They will be able to understand and identify features of different styles and genres, and will be able to describe and explain what they hear. Key focusses of the curriculum include; the Eras of Music, use of Sibelius, and Composition Skills in a variety of genres.

Outside the classroom, students have the opportunity to enrich their musical learning through attending the numerous co-curricular clubs. Year 7s will be offered the chance to attend the Trinity Beginners Academy of Music, feeding into intermediate and advanced ensembles further up the school, including Trinity Orchestra and Schola Cantorum. The department is also lucky enough to be partnered with Kent Music, offering extra-curricular lessons and ensembles after school at the Sevenoaks Music Centre.

By the end of Year 11 students will be able to apply their understanding of different styles and genres to both solo and ensemble performance. They will be able to analyse specific musical features and replicate them in their own compositions. Students will also be able to evaluate two pieces of music by comparing the similarities and differences and giving evidence to support their answers. Key focusses of the curriculum include; The History of the Western Classical Tradition (split into Instrumental and Vocal), World Music Fusions, and Music for Stage and Screen.

By the end of Year 13 students are able to critically evaluate musical features of different composers using knowledge of different styles and genres throughout history. They will be able to perform a full recital to a high standard on an instrument of their choice. Students will use their analytical knowledge to appropriately compose within a specific style or genre. They will also be able to write an extended analytical and evaluative essay which compares and contrasts different pieces of music, giving evidence to support their answers.

SEND and Music at Trinity

At Trinity It is an expectation that all lessons and wider resourcing has effective provision for students with SEND so that they are able to make equal progress to their peers. SEND data is analysed and used to inform planning and interventions where necessary.

In Music, all teachers consider the needs of SEND students in three ways.

Firstly, teachers consider a ‘seating check’. In Music this means students are seated in the classroom according to their SEND need, as well as ensuring that students are strategically placed in practical music lessons to support individual needs and encourage successful music-making.

Secondly, all resources are checked to ensure they are SEND friendly. In Music this means that all resources, PowerPoints and worksheets are in readable fonts and are designed to reduce cognitive load in lessons. Dual coding and scaffolding is implemented across the department to support the learning of all SEND students.

Finally, the way Music is implemented is at Trinity ensures all SEND students can make progress. This means that instructions are broken down into small steps, with clear and concise success criteria, regardless of whether it is a performance, composition or theory task.

Curriculum Road Map Music