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Autumn Term
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Practical Topic
Reggae
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- 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
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An ensemble (minimum 4 members) performance of Bob Marley - Three Little Birds.
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Tech Topic
Working with MIDI and Audio |
- Adjusting note pitch and duration
- Automating volume and panning
- Creating a fade out
- 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 files
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An arrangement of Three Little Birds created using a DAW. |
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Spring Term
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Practical Topic
African Drumming
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- 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
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An ensemble (minimum 4 members) performance of an original piece using Djembe drums.
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Tech Topic
Drum Sequencing and Basslines |
- 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 bass?
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An original composition with a focus on drum and bass instrument tracks created using a DAW. |
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Summer Term
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Practical Topic
Musicals
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- Characterisation through singing
- Character song / action song
- Cross curricular opportunities with Drama
- Developing vocal skills
- Each class to learn a song from a musical
- Genre in musical theatre
- Improving stage presence
- Researching different types of musicals
- Singing in harmony
- Singing in parts, solo/duet
- Understanding how music facilitates plot lines
- Using your full vocal range - Head and Chest voice
- What are the roles in a musical?
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A class performance of Seasons of Love from Rent AND a song from Sweeny Todd
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Tech Topic
Drum Sequencing and Basslines
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- Brief history of remixing
- BPM revisited
- Controllerism
- Editing audio
- Equalisation
- Famous remixers
- Looping revisited
- Texture revisited
- Turntablism
- Sound frequency / sine wave
- What does a DJ actually do?
- Working with Samples
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A remix including sequenced drum beat, stems/loops and given samples. |
