Music homework topics

KS4 HOMEWORK TOPICS

GCSE Music

• 1. Research Assignments on specific styles or genres within an area of study - On average 3 every half term
• 2. Instrument rehearsal both for solo and ensemble performances - on going - class performances to take place at least once every half term. Students are also encouraged to take part in the 3 concerts that take place each year - The World of Music, The Rock, Pop, Rhythm and Blues Spectacular and the Key Stage 4 Concert - (dates found on the school calendar).
• 3. Developing ideas for composition - on going. Students are welcome to work after school if they do not have the software at home. The target is 3 completed compositions a year and work is started in class. Compositions also require annotations (detailed written descriptions that explain the composers intentions). This is set as homework in year 11.
• 4. Revision towards Mock exams and smaller listening tests in class. Mock exam takes place once a year in year 10 and twice in Year 11.

BTEC MUSIC

• 1. Unit 6 -Working as a Musical Ensemble - ongoing weekly rehearsal of instrument for practical group performances. These are often performed on keyboards and the Music department has facilities for students to rehearse after school. At other times students should rehearse music on instruments of their choice for ensemble performances.
• 2. Unit 6 -Working as a Musical Ensemble- research work for the assignment Task 4. Evaluation. his task requires students to research information for a PowerPoint Presentation on what an ensemble is. The task is carried out from January in Year 10.
• 3. Unit 2 - Exploring the Music Profession - There are four assignments which students must complete for this unit. Each of these has 3 - 4 tasks which all require research in order to complete a set of worksheets. The tasks should be carried out throughout Year 11 from the end of September until May. Some of the tasks included are:
• Produce a spider diagram that describes in detail the roles required to organise a concert tour.
• Complete the work sheet on the different kinds of record companies and identify the different roles within a record company
• Complete the work sheet on Professional Organisations in the Music Industry identifying the MCPS-PRS Alliance and describe the role it serves.
• Complete the work sheet on Linking Areas of the Profession to explain how the above areas of the music industry relate to the recording artist and to the role of the producer.
• 4. Core Units - Other research work will be given during study of the Core units as they arise. These will also include composing activates and writing up notes and preparing PowerPoint presentations for evaluation tasks in the units of study. This is ongoing work. Students in Year 10 and Year 11 are likely to have at least one task related to BTEC Music which needs further work out of school hours.

Copies of the BTEC Assignments are placed on the VLE under Music - BTEC Music 1^st Diploma. Full details of tasks required form completion can be found there.

KS5 HOMEWORK TOPICS

AS and A level Music

• 1. Research and analysis homework - once a week - linked to the specific areas of study we are exploring.
• 2. Essay practise once every 3 weeks in Yr 12, every 2 weeks in Yr 13.
• 3. Instrument/s rehearsal bothtwo chosen performance disciplines- on going - class performances to take place at least once every half term. Students are also encouraged to take part in the4 concerts that take place each year - The World of Music, The Rock, Pop, Rhythm and Blues Spectacular and thetwo 6th Form Recitals- (dates found on the school calendar).
• 4. Developing ideas for composition - on going. Students are welcome to work after school if they do not have the software at home. Students have to write several composition ideas in the 1st half of the year as they develop their composing skills. The final compositon must be producedunder controlled time (under the supervision of a teacher) but their ideas can be developed at home. Compositions that are not notated require detailed annotations (detailed written descriptions that explain the composers intentions). For the final composition this must take place within the controlled time but for the practise composition ideas it can be completed as homework.

Feb 2010