Building Bricks:

Pupils learn about Pitch, Dynamics, Duration, Tempo, Texture, Timbre or Sonority, Articulation and Silence and are introduced to Graphic Notation and Graphic Scores.

Rhythm and Pulse:

This unit develops pupils’ awareness of the importance of pulse as a fundamental upon which music is built and performed.

Ladders/Scales:

This unit is all about Scales! 

Pupils begin with the Pentatonic scale and learn and explore this through activities of listening, performing, composing and improvising. 

Chinese Music:

This links directly with the previous scheme due to the Pentatonic element.

Instruments of the Orchestra and Programme Music:

This unit develops pupils’ understanding about orchestral instruments and families/sections of orchestral instruments. 

Hooks and Riffs:

This unit explores music based on repeated musical patterns through the genres of Popular Music (Hooks and Riffs) and Music from the Western Classical Tradition (Ostinatos).

Jazz and Blues:

This unit develops pupils’ understanding of bass lines and chords as a harmonic foundation upon which a melody can be constructed and as a foundation for improvisation.

Rock ‘n’ Roll (1950’s) and Music of the 1960’s including the Beatles.

This unit introduces pupils to the genre of Rock ‘n’ Roll and its emergence in the 1950’s. 

African Music/Polyrhythms:

This unit explores the main rhythmic musical features and devices used in African music. 

Samba/use of polyrhythms and improvisation:

The unit introduces the polyrhythmic style of Latin-American Samba and identifies its roots in African and Spanish/Portuguese music. 

Variations:

This unit develops pupils’ ability to recognise, explore and make creative use of the elements of music found in variation form.

Ground Bass:

Pupils learn about the concept of Ground Bass, as a type of Variation Form.

Film Music:

This unit explores the challenges and musical devices used in film soundtrack composition.

Reggae Music:

This unit explores reggae music and the culture it comes from.  After exploring that reggae music is one of a number of different styles of Caribbean music, pupils learn about the importance of bass lines in reggae music and how offbeat chords are a key feature of music of this genre.

Popular Song:

In this unit, pupils explore the genre of popular song.

Pupils learn about different musical devices used in popular songs.

Minimalism:

This unit develops pupils’ understanding of polyrhythmic music and contemporary minimalist styles. 

Musicals:

This unit explores songs and music from the stage, beginning with an exploration into “What makes up a musical?” 

Fanfares – Music for a Special Occasion:

This unit begins by exploring the history, origins and various uses of Fanfares.