Music

Beyond the joy of creating and appreciating music, students will develop a range of skills highly valued in diverse career paths.

Department Vision:

To provide an inspiring and fulfilling learning environment in which all students thrive through music education.

Department Aim:

To provide students with a challenging and enriching music curriculum and a thriving extra-curricular provision that enables all students to be passionate and inquisitive about music, to be confident musicians, and to develop a wide variety of skills that can be transferred into a wide variety of subjects, scenarios and career pathways.

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Examination Boards: Eduqas (GCSE C660QS/A-level A660QS)

The Music Department is a very exciting place. Our diverse and enriching curriculum in Key Stage 3 enables all students to develop their performing, composing and appraising skills independently, in pairs and in groups. Students study a wide variety of topics and learn a variety of musical instruments to approach each topic with creative confidence.

In Key Stage 4 and 5, students with a passion for music thrive whilst studying a challenging and enriching course. The Music Department follow exciting specifications, which challenge students to perform, compose, and appraise. In all these areas the department has high expectations of success. Though the appraising component is formally assessed in a listening exam, the curriculum engages with a variety of performing and composing tasks to enable students to explore a topic in greater depth. Students are regularly encouraged to share and perform their work.

There are two classrooms, a music technology suite (equipped with Sibelius and Ableton Live) and six practice rooms.

Beyond the classroom, the Music Department is a very busy and thriving environment to be part of. There are a wide variety of ensembles and rehearsals taking place throughout the week, including: Chamber Choir, Jazz Band, Rock and Pop Bands, Show Choir, String Ensemble, Wind Band. Wind Quintet and Year 7 Choir. The department has a very exciting calendar of events throughout the school year, taking place both in school and within the community.

The Music Department at Great Marlow School also has an excellent team of peripatetic music teachers, offering one-to-one music lessons throughout the week. Students can study a wide range of instruments, including:

Brass (trumpet, trombone, tuba)
Drum kit
Guitars (acoustic, bass, electric)
Piano
Strings (violin, viola, cello)
Voice
Woodwind (flute, clarinet, saxophone)

Learning Ladders

Click on the Learning Ladder to see a larger version. The Learning Ladder shows the subjects or topics that students will learn about each year. Click on any 'Year' roundel to view an in-depth Learning Journey for the year you have selected. This shows in more detail, what students will learn each term, with links to useful resources etc. (this applies to all roundels)

MUSIC KS3/4

View the Learning Ladder and the Learning Journey for this subject here.

MUSIC KS5

View the Learning Ladder and the Learning Journey for this subject here.

Wider Curriculum

The Wider Curriculum allows students to take a further interest in their subjects and subject related material they study at school. The Wider Curriculum also enables parents and carers to actively engage with the opportunities offered by each department.

WIDER CURRICULUM KS3

Each PDF is hyperlinked, so when you click on them, the links will take you to areas where you may read, view, listen, visit and be creative.

WIDER CURRICULUM KS4

Each PDF is hyperlinked, so when you click on them, the links will take you to areas where you may read, view, listen, visit and be creative.

WIDER CURRICULUM KS5

Each PDF is hyperlinked, so when you click on them, the links will take you to areas where you may read, view, listen, visit and be creative.

Instrumental or Vocal Lessons at Great Marlow School

Music is key part of life for many students at Great Marlow School. Great Marlow School has its own visiting Music Teacher programme for students wishing to study one-to-one or group instrumental or vocal lessons.

Our highly skilled visiting music teachers are a key part of the Music Department and school, offering music tuition for a variety of musical instruments, including:

• Brass (trumpet, trombone, tuba)
• Drum kit
• Guitars (acoustic, bass, electric)
• Piano
• Strings (violin, viola, cello)
• Voice (classical, musical theatre and popular)
• Woodwind (clarinet, flute, saxophone)

Lessons cost in the region of £20 for 30-minutes. Great Marlow School is delighted to announce that pupil premium students are eligible for free music lessons to study one musical instrument.

The Music Department offers a variety of instruments that are available to loan. Buckinghamshire Music Trust also provide an instrument loan scheme.

If you would like your child to start instrumental or vocal lessons at Great Marlow School, please submit an application form and you will be contacted by the relevant music teacher to confirm lesson arrangements.

For further information about instrumental or vocal lessons, please contact: music@gms.bucks.sch.uk

Career Options in Music

These are some examples of career paths available if you study this subject:

Arranger; Composer; Conductor; Copyright Lawyer; DJ; Journalist; Lawyer; Manager; Music Therapist; Performer; Peripatetic Teacher; Producer; Publicist; Radio Producer; Recording Engineer; Session Musician; Songwriter; Sound Engineer; Teacher