Music
Welcome to the online home of the Ravensbourne School Music department, part of the Performing Arts Faculty.
Mon Sep 6 2010
Equipment and Facilities
The music department has recently seen huge investment in its equipment and facilities. This includes;
· The installation of a new recording studio (fitted out with state of the art recording equipment)
· The creation of a music technology suite.
· The development of a 4th music classroom.
· The purchase of good quality DJ equipment.
· The purchase of a portable school radio station.
· Numerous new instruments for students to use including guitars, amps, drum kits, and keyboards.
This new equipment has enabled the department to begin developing new ways of learning using music technology which has been well received by the students.
With this variety in quality musical equipment the department is able to offer an excellent musical education that stimulates and inspires all students.
The Music Curriculum
Key Stage 3 music lessons
The department aims to provide a variety in its approach to music education to appeal to the needs of all its students. Students will learn about a mixture of musical styles and have access to a different music equipment in order to compose and perform.
In years 7 and 8 the department delivers music lessons as part of the MediaArts rotation. The activities in lesson involve performing, composing, listening and appraising as prescribed by the national curriculum. Students receive 5 100 minute lessons over the course of 2 weeks during half a term. During each half term lessons revolve around a theme. In year 7 the theme is “Music for Special Events” in year 8 the theme is “Once Upon a Time”.
In year 9 students receive 1 100 minute lesson every weeks for the entire academic year. As per the year 7 and 8 lessons the activities involve performing, composing, listening and appraising as prescribed by the national curriculum. Each term the lessons revolve around a theme. In the first term the focus is on “film music”, in the second it is on “club dance music” and in the third it is on “pop music”.
Key Stage 4 (selecting music as an option) – Ages 14 - 16
Students must opt to take music from year 10 onwards. By selecting music as a subject students have the following benefits;
· The school will pay for ONE musical instrument or singing lesson per week.
· Students have priority access over the music department facilities and equipment. This includes the recording studio, practice rooms, instruments, music technology suite, radio equipment and DJ equipment.
The department runs two courses in years 10 and 11.
1) BTEC in Music Technology
2) GCSE in Music
The BTEC is a recent development since the large investment in industry standard music technology equipment. The department is due to have its first set of results published this academic year for the music technology course.
The department has been running the music GCSE course for a number of years and follows the Edexcel specification. The department always achieves excellent final music GCSE results, above the predicted grades of its students.
The courses run in years 10 and 11 provide the foundations for those wishing to apply to take music as an option post the age of 16. For more information on the BTEC in Music Technology or GCSE music course please email music@ravensbourne.info.
Key Stage 5 (selecting music as a further option) – Ages 16 – 19
As with the key stage 4 courses selecting to take music provides the students with a number of benefits. Students get;
· ONE musical instrument or singing lesson per week paid for.
· Priority access over the music department facilities and equipment. This includes the recording studio, practice rooms, instruments, music technology suite, radio equipment and DJ equipment.
· The use of the music block for independent study during any free periods.
The department is experienced in running the music A-Level course delivered, following the Edexcel specification. However, the department has recently begun running new course, a BTEC National Award in Music Technology (Recording). This BTEC is worth the equivalent of ONE A-Level.