Music

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent."          

Victor Hugo 

Music at Kings Langley School

Students cover a wide range of cultural, historical and practical elements of Music in order to develop an understanding of the world around them and importance of the arts. Students develop a sense of independence through taking responsibility for their own learning in individual and group projects as well as fostering teamwork skills with their peers. Resilience and creativity are core elements that runs through all KS3 and 4 Programmes of study. Respect for your own and others' work is woven into the rationale of the schemes with students learning how to critique effectively. The real-world application of Music is discussed throughout the key stages to ensure that students understand the importance, relevance, and application of the subject outside of the classroom and future careers. Students develop the two sides of music - theoretical and practical. The transferrable skills developed in Music are highlighted as well as the clear links with other areas of their curriculum. The encouragement to learn and perform on new instruments regardless of the students' prior experience is key to ensuring that Music is seen as a subject accessible to all. 

Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) 

Throughout the KS3 Curriculum we aim to develop the theoretical knowledge firmly alongside the practical skills with Music Technology running through the projects at certain points in the year in preparation for GCSE. 

Students will have access to Sibelius, Ableton, Focus on Sound and Auralia throughout their KS3, 4 and 5 journey in a newly installed Music Tech Suite. 

Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)

Students follow the Eduqas Music GCSE Specification. They are slowly introduced to the basics of music theory at a higher level than introduced at KS3. Solo and ensemble performances are prepared with lots of opportunity for practical lessons. Performance constitutes 30% of the final grade. Students are introduced to each of the Classical eras of music including The Baroque, Classical and Romantic Eras as well as all the structures and devices found within these eras. Ensembles are introduced, including Jazz, Musicals and The Blues before covering Film Music and Popular Music. Two set works are covered; one by JS Bach and the other by the eighties band Toto. This is assessed through a final written exam which constitutes 40% of the final grade. As performance is an integral part of the course, Kings Langley School subsidises the cost of individual instrumental lessons to ensure that the subject is accessible to all. When completing composition, students will have access to music tech suite which houses 24 computers with Ableton and Sibelius. Composition is assessed through the submission of two compositions to a total of 30% of the final grade. 

Students who currently play an instrument and can read music should strongly consider this subject. However, with the right approach (I.e. a willingness to learn to play an instrument and to read music) this subject could be a successful choice for anyone wishing to start playing an instrument. Reading music is not a pre-requisite for the course but various methods of note-reading will be taught throughout the course, including traditional notation and chord symbols.

Subject Specification

Key Stage 5 (A Level)

Students follow the Eduqas Music A Level Specification. They are introduced to the higher-level concepts of music theory before approaching the Areas of Study: Popular Music, Western Classical Music and Twentieth Century Music. These are assessed through a final written exam which constitutes 40% of the course. Students will prepare a performance and composition portfolio and they may choose in which one of these disciplines they wish to specialise for a greater portion of the marks, up to a combined total of 60%. As performance is an integral part of the course, Kings Langley School subsidises the cost of individual instrumental lessons. When completing composition, students have access to music tech suite which houses 24 computers with Ableton and Sibelius.

Subject Specification

Extra Curricular and Individual Instrumental Lessons

As a thriving department, we welcome a range of peripatetic teachers from the Hertfordshire Music Service. With the choir, band, guitar group and flute choir on offer weekly as well as the range of composition and theory workshops that run, it is a busy and happy department. There are ample performance opportunities with a changing rotation of concerts each year. This has included Winter and other end of term concerts as well as performances in local events such as the Kings Langley Carnival.

Individual Instrumental Lessons

Individual instrumental lessons on a variety of instruments are provided by a team of peripatetic teachers from the Hertfordshire Music Service. We are lucky to have an enthusiastic and dedicated team of staff who work closely with the Music Department Team to achieve the best outcomes for our music students.  Lessons are accessed by signing up through the Hertfordshire Music Service directly from their website https://www.hertsmusicservice.org.uk/hertfordshire-music-service.aspx

Staff Team

Mrs Emma Warren - Head of Music warrene@kls.herts.sch.uk

Mrs Lisa Harris - Principal Assistant Headteacher / Teacher of Music harrisl@kls.herts.sch.uk