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Music

Music at KS3

The music department is a vibrant and exciting place to be. At the Langton, music is given the importance it deserves, playing an integral part of the curriculum and the extra-curricular life of the school. The department has a large classroom/group rehearsal room, with 3 connecting rooms for group work, a smaller teaching space (equipped with 12 iMac computers) for GCSE and A Level groups and smaller ensemble rehearsal spaces, 5 individual teaching rooms for peripatetic teachers, a department office and band/recording room.

KS3 Students have an hour a week of class music. All are taught in groups of 22.  The KS3 course covers all of the key areas of musical aptitude – Appraising, Composing, Listening and Performing, with a wide variety of practical, listening and theoretical activities. The Music Department is well equipped with resources, instruments and computers enabling boys to develop a strong understanding and an overall appreciation of all aspects of music in different genres.

Practical work will make use of the boys’ own instruments, their voices and a vast array of available instruments. Their knowledge of music theory is built upon from the very start. Boys are encouraged to use their own musical skills on other instruments and there is always the opportunity for them to continue or take up instrumental lessons with a peripatetic teacher. There are 16 teachers who visit the school to give weekly individual lessons in a wide range of orchestral and popular instruments. The lessons are private and the cost of these lessons is approximately £200 for 10 x 30-minute lessons.

Creative work in composing is entered into throughout the course and a variety of topics are explored to encourage individual and group music making. Boys will learn about all of the musical elements including melody, harmony and rhythm, using traditional and graphic notation; they will use music software and have the opportunity to develop their skills and create their own compositions.

Boys are invited to further their musical interests by joining one of the four school choirs, Jazz Band, String Quartet, Full Orchestra and Concert Band as well as other specialist ensembles for brass, saxophone, guitar, flute or mixed chamber music. A wealth of concerts are arranged in and out of school, for these ensembles, and we perform twice yearly in the Cathedral – at our Carol Service in December and our Commemoration Service in May. The school has its own record label – ‘Outside Man Records’ with teachers and students seeking out and developing internal talent, resulting in ‘Langton Live’ events. Alongside our classical and rock and pop musicians, jazz musicians are closely mentored and we hold a Jazz Gig once a year. Concert trips are arranged locally and to London and a large-scale musical is produced in-house, bi-annually. Various tours and concerts are arranged throughout the year.

At the Langton, we also welcome students, of all abilities and ages, from other schools and home-schooling environments to join the Langton musicians in the joy and benefits of music making as part of the Langton Music Centre.

The department has an enthusiastic interest in the benefits of Music on physical and mental wellbeing. Following a wonderful 3-day festival in 2016, the department is continuing to develop and run projects involving the community as part of the Langton Community Music Project. Some of these projects include, the Skylark’s Sing to Beat Parkinson’s project and the Melody for Me project (working with dementia patients to help restore memories through music). Involvement in these projects is open to all of our students; it is our aim to help build a strong sense of altruism in our ‘Leaders of Tomorrow’

Music at KS4

What is GCSE Music all about?

GCSE Music is an academic, challenging and engaging subject, which encourages development of a wide range of skills. It covers performing, composing, listening to, analysing and appraising a wide variety of music – classical music, popular music, music for stage and screen and world music. Lessons are split, equally, between practical and theory lessons. You will develop and improve your instrumental and vocal skills, along with your music theory knowledge, widen your musical vocabulary and ability to analyse music. Music is a great subject to take as a complete contrast to your other subjects. It encourages and nurtures essential skills that will serve you well for the remainder of your education and beyond.

Will I enjoy this course?

You will enjoy this course if you want to study a subject that:

  • involves performing solo – 15%
  • gives you the opportunity to play music with others in various group situations – 15%
  • builds on your existing strengths and interests in music, e.g. playing an instrument, composing
  • involves composing or arranging music on your own, following certain conventions – 30%
  • involves listening to, studying and analysing a wide range and varying styles of music– 40%
  • you appreciate working in a smaller class and building a strong rapport with your classmates.

How does it follow on from what I have learned before?

You will improve your own skills in performing, through regular solo and group performances to the class. You will compose different types of music, using conventions found in a variety of music, along with improving your music theory knowledge and aural awareness. You will listen to, perform and closely analyse 8 set works, following the music and learning more about how and why they were written and/or performed. You will also experience wider listening around these set works, whilst learning to draw comparisons between the different repertoire. Music is an academic subject and writing is a significant part of the course; you will consolidate existing knowledge and learn new vocabulary to enable you to describe music in an appropriate manner, whilst providing musical examples to reinforce each point.

Requirements for the course:

It involves an even greater element of independent study than in KS3. You will prepare solo and group performances of notated music and improve both solo improvising and extemporising in groups, whilst appreciating different performing situations. Your instrumental/vocal skills need to be at approximately grade 2 standard, at the start of the course. You will compose and notate your own music, on your own, using Sibelius or Logic. It requires a complete understanding of the notation of music on paper or using ICT. You must be learning an instrument or be able to sing for your performances. You may also be entered for a theory examination.

What about exams?

There is one exam lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes, during the final summer term. You will listen to a CD and answer short questions on the set works which cover popular music, classical music (past and present) and music from around the world. There will also be a longer essay style question which will require you to compare one of the set works with an unfamiliar piece of music.

Is there any coursework?

Yes. You will submit two performances. One of the pieces will be a solo in any style and on any instrument/voice. The other performance may be one of your own compositions, but must be an ensemble piece (including other musicians). These performances may take place in the classroom, in a school concert, in school music groups, or outside school. You will also submit two compositions, one according to a brief written by the exam board, relating to one of the areas of study; the other may be a free composition.

Music at KS5

What kind of student is this course suitable for?

Anyone who has a keen interest in creating and listening to different styles of music and who wishes to broaden their experience and deepen their understanding of both live and recorded music. It is useful to have taken music at GCSE level, but this is not essential as long as you can already play a musical instrument to grade 5 standard, read notation and have a solid understanding of music theory.

What will I learn on this A level course?

The course presents performing, composing, listening and analytical skills in almost equal measure. You will improve your skills in performing and composing in a range of styles. You will listen to and analyse a wide variety of music and develop a more informed appreciation of how and why it was written and/or performed.

The A level qualification consists of the following three units and are all externally assessed:

Unit 1: Performing 30%

You will perform:

  • a minimum of one piece, performed live and uninterrupted as a recital in front of an audience, during the second year of your course
  • performance can be solo or as part of an ensemble
  • total performance time across the recital must be a minimum of 8 minutes of Grade 6+ standard music

Unit 2: Composing 30%

Students must submit:

  • two composition style tasks (notated using Sibelius or Logic Pro), of a combined duration of at least six minutes – one composition will be according to a brief set by Pearson or a free composition, and the other will be a technique task under controlled conditions from any of the following choices: Bach Chorale, Remix or Arrangement – set by Pearson

Unit 3: Developing Musical Understanding 40%

You will sit a listening/written exam including a musical dictation, listening questions based on aspects from set works and essay questions, one based on an unfamiliar piece and the second on one of the set works.

The set works will be taken from the following categories:

Vocal, Instrumental, Music for Film, Popular Music and Jazz, Fusions and New Directions

In addition to music being a highly valued subject on any UCAS application, we are proud to say that a large percentage of our A level music students go onto study music at undergraduate and postgraduate level; our students have also entered careers in music ranging from composers to renowned performers, sound engineers and music therapists.