Music

Music Key Stage 3
Music Key Stage 4

Music Key Stage 3

What can students do to develop their skills in this subject area?

Music is not just learning to play an instrument or singing. Music links to every curriculum subject and naturally the subject itself encourages students to stretch and challenge themselves on a daily basis when they engage with it.

In the Academy:

There are lots of lunchtime and extra-curricular clubs available in the Music Curriculum Area for all tastes and genres (see extra-curricular timetable).
There are opportunities for students to lead aspects of rehearsals within extra-curricular ensembles. These skills not only develop musicianship, but also leadership skills.
Students do not just contribute musically to our concerts at Louth Academy; students also help with the logistics of putting on a concert: choreography, backstage, staging and set etc.
Inter-House Music Competition: Students enter this as a solo artist. This is an opportunity for students to stretch themselves in confidence, discipline and time management, to prepare solo repertoire for a live performance in front of an audience and staff judges.
The Music Curriculum Area has a wealth of instruments that students can explore. They range from common instruments found in the west, to rarer eastern instruments. Why not challenge yourself to play an instrument that is similar to your own - what are the similarities and what are the differences/new difficulties?
As well as our instruments we have a collection of scores (sheet music) and CDs from genres ranging from the Renaissance period right up to Contemporary music and music from varying cultures. How does music evolve through the centuries?

Out of the Academy:

Lincolnshire Music Service hosts a range of musical ensembles and groups that students can become involved in, giving an opportunity for students to build their social skills and develop their musical abilities. Louth is host to the Louth Children’s Choir which is run in association with the Louth Choral Society and is open to children from year 3 – 8. There is also the Louth Strings Orchestra which rehearses every week at King Edward VI Grammar School and is open to students of all abilities. In the wider community Boston hosts an area Wind Band for musicians who play a wind instrument at Grade 3 and above; a Youth Pop Choir open to KS3 & 4 students; and the Boston Youth Jazz Orchestra for students to audition annually for a place.
For students of an exceptional instrumental ability, Lincolnshire also hosts the county ensemble groups the Lincs Youth Symphony Orchestra, Lincs Youth Wind Orchestra and Lincs Youth Concert Orchestra for students of a minimum of Grade 4 on their instrument. Rehearsals run monthly in Lincoln.
The Louth Riverhead Theatre is host to many musical productions, who are always on the lookout for young musicians and performers to take part in the choruses or as their leading roles – why not pop in and ask about audition opportunities?
Louth is also home to the fabulous Pump House Recording Studio, bursting with musical opportunities from music tuition by professional musicians, professional studio recording sessions, song writing and production workshops and performances from worldwide bands and artists. Why not take a stroll down and say hi to Tom the owner, and check out the amazing insight to the world of the music industry?
The Louth Community has lots of established musicians and bands that you can watch, listen to, join, meet new people and make music together. With venues such as The British Legion, The Jazz Club, The Town Hall and Spout Yard hosting many concerts and gigs, music can always be accessed in this town. If there is nothing already out there that takes your fancy, why not make your own band and take to the stage?
In North East Lincolnshire there is lots of music making taking place. An obvious venue where a variety of music events take place is Grimsby Auditorium. The Auditorium features acts ranging from ‘The Foo Fighters’ to Big Jazz Bands to ‘The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’.

What else can be accessed to support the curriculum?

Some Music apps are particularly useful:

YouTube
Deezer / Spotify
Garageband
Audacity
Figure (Make Music and Remix Beats)
EarWizard
Yousician
ABRSM Sight-Reader Trainer
ABRSM Aural Trainer
ABRSM Practice Partners (Piano, Violin etc.)

What websites could students visit to support the curriculum?

www.youtube.com
www.spotify.com
www.deezer.com
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/
www.classicfm.com
www.naxosmusiclibrary.com - (speak to your teacher regarding logon information)
www.sfskids.org
www.sphinxkids.org

How can parents/carers help and what can be done at home?

Speak to your son or daughter about how music has evolved in your lifetime. Music is so accessible now and it is difficult for them to understand when music was not instantaneous.
Attend a variety of local and wider field concerts. Encourage students to research the contextual background behind the pieces they have experienced at the concert - even better do it retrospectively, then students can engage more with the music.
Encourage students to involve themselves musically in the community. Lincs Music Service and MAPAS are specialists in this field.
Share likes and dislikes in music and justify them. We find students struggle to justify their preferences and resort to the opinion that ‘it’s on the radio’ or ‘my friends like it’.
Most importantly, have a variety of music playing in the house.

Music Key Stage 4