Department Staff

• Rebecca Ellefsen - Head Of Department
• Kim Squire - Teacher of Music

About Music

The music department at Mascalls is vibrant and always noisy! We seek to improve and build on pupils' performance, listening and composing skills every lesson. Pupils are taught to respect and have an understanding of music from different cultures and genres outside their normal experiences as well as gaining a greater understanding of where our music has evolved from. .

Extra Curricular Teachers

Mascalls has an established history and culture of learning instruments. It is hoped that any pupil who wishes to learn an instrument would have that opportunity. If your child wants to start lessons on an instrument please request a letter from the music staff.

• Miss Jeffrey - Flute and Violin
• Mrs Foreman - Brass and Piano
• Mrs Hesketh - Piano and Bassoon
• Mr Howells- Drum Kit
• Mr Ferguson- Guitar
• Mr Allender- Saxophone and Clarinet
• Miss Metcalfe- Singing

All pupils taking GCSE music and/or having instrumental lessons are encouraged to attend one extra-curricular activity. Practise rooms are also available for lunchtime use although Y10-Y13 pupils have priority. The music department boasts a number of instruments which are available to play at lunchtime and are often performed on at concerts. In the lead up to the two major music concerts each year the Steel Pans, Samba drums, Djembe drums, Mascalls Singers and a saxophone quartet are amongst several groups which can all be heard practicing at lunchtimes. Pupils that are interested in getting involved should keep an eye out for further information throughout the year. Each year there are a vast number of performances for any pupils wishing to get involved in the musical life at Mascalls. Here are just a few; Christmas Concert, Summer Electric Music Night, Junior Presentation afternoon and Senior Presentation Evening, Remembrance Day Parade, Assemblies, The Summer Musical, Y11 GCSE Music Concert and at the request of local primary schools and groups.

Timetabling

• KS3 have three lessons a fortnight
• KS4 have seven lessons a fortnight
• KS5 have thirteen lessons a fortnight

KS3 Curriculum

Every semester we evaluate our schemes of work and adapt them to suit the classes and pupils. We are always developing new ideas to keep at the forefront of music education. Our Year 7 course focuses on embedding the key skills and vocabulary in music but within this a huge variety of Western and world music is explored. Topics covered include 'The elements of music', 'Scales of the World', 'The orchestra', 'Programme music' and 'Structure in music'. Our Year 8 course focuses on building the core skills and performing much more as an ensemble and starts off with 'Gamelan' and then delves deeper into other genres and styles such as 'Blues', 'African Drumming' and 'Renaissance music', structure in music is then touched upon again with a topic about 'Ostinatos' and then finally writing for film. Our Year 9 course focuses on developing the pupils own ideas and feelings about music by being quite creative. Over the year the pupils use their knowledge of dance styles to compose a Waltz or Tango, which is then followed by composing music for 'Gladiator' film trailer and the conventions which go with that. We then delve back into the history of music and structure and pupils come up with their own variations based on Pachelbel's Canon. Pupils then use their knowledge of snappy advert music to compose their own for Visit Britain, Visit Scotland or Ireland. The final topic sees the students composing their own songs in any pop genre.

GCSE

Composing 30%- two pieces to be recorded and written down, marked and externally moderated Performing 30%- one solo piece and one group piece to be recorded, marked and externally moderated. Listening and Analysing Exam 40%- knowledge of 12 set works

BTEC

• Exam Board; Edexcel
• Btec Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Music (Performing)

The course aims to give pupils the opportunity to continue with musical performances and understanding at a high level. The course is equivalent to an A-Level but enables us to cater for each pupil's interests and needs. The pupils cover six units across two years and these range from performing to understanding the music industry, the development of popular music and composition. The course has no exam and the pupils are assessed every step of the way through portfolio work.

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