Music forms part of every individual's identity. Positive interaction with music can develop students competence as learners and increase their self-esteem. It brings together intellect, reflection and emotional development as well as reflection and emotional development.

Key Stage 3

There are a variety of key concepts that underpin the study of music. These include the integration of practice; developing knowledge, skills and understanding through the integration of performing, composing and listening, a cultural understanding of music, creativity and a theoretical knowledge so as to advance their ability to perform when given a musical piece.

Pupils should also be able to: perform with control of instrument specific techniques and musical expression practice, rehearse and perform with awareness of the different parts and improvise, explore and develop musical ideas when performing. Pupils will also learn the skills necessary to communicate ideas and feelings about music using expressive language and musical vocabulary to justify their opinions.

Technical skills are tackled too, and emphasis is placed on pupils being familiar with pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture and silence. In addition to this, pupils will be expected to grow in confidence when dealing with major and minor keys, atonality, modulation and different types of scales.