Music

Our Vision

All students at KLB receive a well-rounded and exciting musical education. They are immersed in a wide variety of styles and genres which promote the importance of culture, place, and people, whilst learning fundamental technical skills in performing, composing, and appraising, as laid out in the National Curriculum for Music. Sharing a love and appreciation of music, both practically and theoretically, is our primary aim.

Key Stage 3

In Year 7 Pupils will develop a set of fundamental music skills including timing and ensemble work, song writing, reading notation, DAW composition, and performing on keyboards and ukuleles. The skills which are introduced in Year 7 are important foundations for their continued development throughout Key Stage 3.

In Year 8 students will build on knowledge and specific skills learned in Year 7 through exploring topics such as the Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, film music, Reggae, and Calypso. Through these units, we continue to revisit crucial instrumental and compositional skills.

The Year 9 curriculum sees an increase in creative freedom. Content continues to develop performing, composing, and listening skills by embarking on topics such as Hip Hop and rap, musical theatre, theme and variations, and DAW composition.

Key Stage 4

We follow the Eduqas specification for GCSE Music, which builds on and enhances students’ knowledge and skills learned at Key Stage 3. This specification covers the three key strands of performing, composing, and appraising, and covers areas of study in Musical Forms & Devices, Music for Ensemble, Film Music, and Popular Music.

Key Stage 5

We follow the Eduqas specification for A Level Music, which digs deep into important areas of the subject and prepares students for a future in music. As well as a strong emphasis on performing and composition coursework, the course covers Western Classical Music, Jazz from 1910 to 1960, Impressionism, Expressionism, and Neo-Classical music.

Instrumental Lessons

The Music Department offers tuition in:

  • Strings (violin, viola, cello)
  • Woodwind (flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, bassoon)
  • Brass (trumpet, cornet, horn, euphonium, trombone, tuba)
  • Classical, electric and bass guitar
  • Piano and keyboard
  • Drums and orchestral percussion
  • Voice

All lessons are individual and take place in school time, following a rota to minimise the effect on the academic timetable. They are of 20 or 30 minutes duration – the longer lessons being offered to students who are working beyond Grade 3.

Instruments can be hired from Gloucestershire Music Service for approx £30.00 per term. Currently nearly 10% of the school’s roll is receiving such tuition through the Music Department.

Extra-curricular

We are very proud of the many instrumental and vocal groups that rehearse for various events, from small informal recitals to large concerts. In the course of the academic year music groups that rehearse in the school include:

  • Orchestra
  • Jazz Band
  • Ukulele Group
  • Choir
  • Samba Drumming
  • Various Rock Groups

Our regular programme of events is published on the school’s website. Regular events include:

  • Year 7 Welcome Concert
  • Carol Service
  • Senior Recital Evening
  • Spring Concert
  • House Music Festival
  • Summer Concert

As well as these events, the Jazz Band and Samba Band are often asked to play at local functions, vocal groups sing to local care home residents (especially at Christmas), and some of the Rock groups that practise in the Music Department put on charity gigs in school and locally. There is even the occasional Battle of the Bands competition.

Every few years the joint orchestras perform a “Last Night of the Proms” Concert, and choristers have occasionally been involved in local performances of choral classics such as Mozart’s Requiem and Mendelssohn’s Elijah.

The Music Department works regularly with the Drama Department to put on the school’s Productions – “West Side Story”, “Oliver” and “Chicago” are among recent shows put on.

Many students take part in these activities and students learning orchestral instruments at KLB are certainly encouraged to participate where appropriate.

Menu
  • Curriculum

  • Information