Music

SUBJECT OVERVIEW 

 Welcome to the Redhill Music Department page! We are a very busy department with something going on all the time – from our large ensemble rehearsals like Orchestra and Choir, to our smaller chamber groups and student led ensembles. We have something for everyone – for those who have never touched an instrument before, to those pupils who have been learning for years and have achieved a high standard on their instrument, and everything in between. 

The department has its own purpose built performing arts block, which has three specialist rooms and three rehearsal rooms. The department also has a suite of chromebooks specially for composing and arranging. 

Music can open all sorts of doors and create opportunities for developing skills that can benefit a wide range of subjects and our curriculum design, which is tailored to meet the needs of individual groups, ensures that all students make progress towards successful outcomes in year 11 and are fully prepared to further their music studies post-16. 

Intent 

Our intent for Music at Redhill is to produce confident, well-rounded musicians who are articulate in their learning and are able to go on to study music at a higher level. At Redhill School we place a high value on music lessons because it is a powerful and unique form of communication that can impact and change the way students act, feel and think. Research shows that teaching music links the body and the mind and helps them to work better together. Opportunities are embedded throughout our curriculum for students to hone and develop the practical aspects of our key threshold concepts of performance, composition and appraising. Equally important is the ability to understand how the development of life skills, such as confidence, self-awareness, perseverance and discipline give them a holistic experience that they can take beyond their musical studies. Students will learn these skills through a wide range of western musical styles well as music from other parts of the world, exposing them to styles and genres that may be outside of their everyday listening. Above all, music should capture and inspire young people and start them on a creative journey they take with them long after their schooling has finished.  

The GCSE Music syllabus is currently with OCR, specification code: J536, Qualification number: 601/8216/7  

Wider School Opportunities 

The music department regularly visit Symphony Hall in Birmingham, with each keystage having their own trips at least once a year. In February we take all of Year 7 to Symphony Hall to watch a specially designed Key stage 3 concert.   

We also run theatre trips to Wolverhampton Grand, The Alexandra Theatre and Birmingham Hippodrome to watch a variety of performances.  

We also have good links with local primaries, providing both Music and Performing Arts Days where our students lead workshops for Years 5 and 6. We also have a primary matinee in July where local schools come to watch the annual production.  

We have also built up links with a local nursing home and we take our choir to sing regularly with the residents.