Year 8

	Topic(s)	Key content to be learned	Assessment
Autumn Term	Practical Topic Reggae	Band Skills Common themes in Reggae music Developing stage presence further Exploring Jamaica and the Caribbean Exploring genres related to reggae music Independent instrument practice Instrument free choice Performance, self-evaluation and feedback Practical skills development Political song writing Understanding the context of Reggae Understanding the meaning of lyrics Working with others in ensembles	An ensemble (minimum 4 members) performance of Bob Marley - Three Little Birds.
Autumn Term	Tech Topic Drum Sequencing and Bass Lines	Adjusting note pitch and duration Constructing basic drum beats Creating bass lines using a virtual instrument ICT skill development Playing notes using qwerty keyboards Quantising your notes Using virtual drum machines What is a bassline?	Compose an original composition with a focus on drum and bass instrument tracks created using a DAW.
Spring Term	Practical Topic African Drumming	African drumming techniques Developing band leadership skills Exploring West African culture Recognising and playing different note values Performance, self-evaluation and feedback Performing in multiple parts Rhythm and timing Understanding rhythm grids Working with others in ensembles	An ensemble (minimum 4 members) performance of an original piece using Djembe drums.
Spring Term	Tech Topic Introduction to Production	Adjusting note pitch and duration Audio Effects Editing virtual instruments History of recorded sound and MIDI ICT skill development Music before electricity Music sequencing revisited Physical and digital audio formats Recording audio Working with imported audio ‘stems’	End of Term production: Use stems to create remix of an existing piece using a DAW.
Summer Term	Practical Topic Samba	Samba drumming techniques Developing band leadership skills Exploring Brazillian culture Performance, self-evaluation and feedback Performing as a class Practical skill development Recognising and playing different rhythms Rhythm and timing	End of term performance: A class performance of a Samba piece.
Summer Term	Tech Topic Creating a Remix	Automating volume and panning Creating a fade out ICT skill development Music sequencing revisited Using and editing audio samples Using arpeggiators in DAWs Working with imported audio ‘stems’	Throughout the term: Create a remix including sequenced drum beat, stems/loops and given samples.

Year ​8

Year 8