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Music

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Chiswick Music Department is an award-winning department and has something to offer to everyone.


KS3 Music

All KS3 students receive 55 minutes a week of music from year 7 - 9. The curriculum is traditional, knowledge rich, and intentionally narrow: we don’t switch instruments every term, we focus relentlessly on piano, with the belief that it’s better to be really good at one thing, rather than slightly good at many things. 

The KS3 curriculum is founded on three documents.

  1. The Chiswick Canon. 30 pieces that every child is expected to know by the end of year 9. Each KS3 lesson begins with listening to an excerpt from one of the Chiswick Canon pieces. By the end of year 9, they are expected to know the name, date, composer, and style of all 30 pieces. 

  2. The KS3 piano booklet. This booklet covers notation, improvisation, and chord reading exercises, from beginner to Year 7. There are plenty of stretch pieces for those who have piano lessons outside of school. Every child is expected to perform solo in class at least once a term, and many choose to perform much more frequently.

  3. The Chiswick Theory Curriculum. This is all music theory information we expect every child to know by the end of year 9. This is tested through regular Do Now exercises at the start of lessons. 

KS4 Music 

We teach Edexcel GCSE Music. As part of their final grade, students are expected to 

  1. Submit a recording of themselves record performing two pieces of at least a grade 3/4 standard, one solo and one as part of an group of two or more musicians

  2. Submit two pieces that they have written, either on Logic Pro or Musescore (no prior experience is required). One of these compositions must be in response to a est brief by Edexcel

  3. Complete a written exam, where they are tested on their theory knowledge, as well as knowledge of 8 set works

Those who wish to study GCSE music must have some prior ability to sing/play an instrument in order to be accepted onto the course

KS5 Music

We teach Edexcel A Level Music. The course is structured almost identically to GCSE. The changes are. 

  1. Two compositions must be submitted, one must be either free, or set to a brief, and the other must be a technical composition from one of four briefs released on 1 April of year 2 and due on 15 May of Year 2

  2. The performance must be 8 minutes, and recorded in 1 single take in front of an audience of at least two people. 

  3. The written paper has 13 set works, rather than 8


If you want to hear more about what happens outside the classroom, please click here

The headlines are: 17 music ensembles, 23 different rehearsals a week and 55 public performances in the academic year 22-23. Check out our YouTube channel for more

Staff

  • Mr. Zac Moxon  - Head of Music
  • Mr. Samuel Dubois - Music Teacher and Steel Pan Tutor
  • Mr. Perry Banks - Music Teacher

Visiting Music Teachers

  • Ms. Celia James - Vocal teacher
  • Mr. Adam Everard - Guitar Teacher
  • Mr. Matthew Coulton - Violin/Viola/Cello Teacher
  • Mr. Stuart Ashton - Flute/Clarinet/Saxophone teacher
  • Ms. Yoanita Dharmawa - Piano Teacher
  • Mr. Sam Eastmond - Trumpet/Trombone/Horn Teacher
  • Mr. Alex Grinyer - Piano/Horn Teacher
  • Mr. Martin James - Drum Teacher
  • Mr. Alan Sutch - Drum Teacher

Please click on the links below to view the Curriculum Maps for Music.

KS3 Music Curriculum Map

KS4 Music Curriculum Map

KS5 Music Curriculum Map

Music Curriculum Intent 2023-4

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