Overview

Music is hugely important – spanning cultures, time spans and beliefs. It can provide a unique and special joy, and often form an emotional outlet for performers and listeners. In addition, studies have shown that Music boosts cognitive skills such as memory and math, improves creativity, discipline, and self-esteem, and develops crucial social skills such as teamwork and communication, while also serving as a powerful outlet for emotional expression, helping with stress relief and overall wellbeing.

In addition the music industry is a vibrant, exciting and highly competitive industry that contributed a record £8 billion to the UK economy in 2024, up 5% from £7.6 billion in 2023, supporting 220,000 jobs and generating £4.8 billion in exports This significant growth reflects rising revenues from recordings, publishing, live events, and tourism, showcasing the sector's vital role and potential for further expansion. The music industry is constantly evolving and offers many different and exciting new work opportunities. 

Our mission is to build confidence and encourage independent learning to equip learners with the skills and qualifications to become the next generation of creative practitioners. Our intent is to provide an exciting, broad and engaging musical curriculum with a focus on practical learning underpinned by a foundational musical theory. We intend to explore a range of popular, classical and modern genres and develop a variety of musical performance, listening and compositional skills.

Outline of course content

In year 7 learners will explore a range of instruments (keyboard, vocals, ukulele, guitar) to develop their musical instrumental skills. Performance, Listening and Compositional skills are developed in a variety of styles both independently and in groups. This will provide a skills and knowledge foundation to allow greater exploration in year 8.

In year 8 learners continue to develop the three core skills of Performing, Composing and Listening, expanding their repertoire and theoretical knowledge through exploration of scales and harmony, music from around the world and different genres. The year culminates with a compositional project around Music and the Moving image, introducing learners to the digital audio workstation software Ableton Live.

In year 9 Performance, Listening and Compositional skills continue to be developed in a variety of styles both independently and in groups, providing the essential knowledge and skills needed to succeed in all components of BTEC Music.

In years 10 and 11 learners study the BTEC Tech Award L1/2 in Music Practice and complete 3 components:

• Component 1 - Exploring Music Products and Styles (internal assessment through set assignments), 60 marks 30%
• Component 2 - Music Skills Development (internal assessment through set assignments), 60 marks 30%
• Component 3 - Responding to a Music Brief (external synoptic), 60 marks 40%

The Tech Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific applied knowledge and skills through realistic vocational contexts. The main focus is on four areas of equal importance, which cover the: 

• development of key skills that prove learners’ aptitude in music, such as responding to a musical brief using musical skills and techniques 
• processes that underpin effective ways of working in the music sector, such as the development of musical ideas, and using skills and techniques for rehearsal, creation, production and performance to respond to a music brief 
• attitudes that are considered most important in the music sector, including personal management and communication 
• knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, processes and attitudes in the sector, such as musical skills and styles.

BTEC Music is a Level 2 qualification (equivalent to GCSE); the grades range from Level 2 P to Level 2 D*. Learners who do not achieve at Level 2 may be graded at Level 1P, L1M or L1D. Learners whose level of achievement is below a Level 1 will receive an unclassified (U) result.

• Level 1 Pass - equivalent to grade 1.25 at GCSE 
• Level 1 Merit - equivalent to grade 2 at GCSE
• Level 1 Distinction - equivalent to grade 3 at GCSE
• Level 2 Pass - equivalent to grade 4 at GCSE  
• Level 2 Merit - equivalent to grade 5.5 at GCSE  
• Level 2 Distinction - equivalent to grade 7 at GCSE  
• Level 2 Distinction* - equivalent to grade 8.5 at GCSE

Extracurricular and Enrichment Opportunities

Outside of lesson time there are opportunities to engage in musical activities such as extra-curricular instrumental lessons, creative workshops, school trips and performances in a variety of school and non-school events.

This year there has been a weekly Samba Drumming Club open to all year groups.

As part of the Creatives Department we offer after school Creative Workshops which are open to all learners at UBHS. We also offer an annual residential trip to London so learners can visit a range of places to enhance their subject knowledge. Our recent London trip included a visit to the Tate Art Gallery, Design Museum and the opportunity to see a West End show. 

Other information:

Visits to concerts, rehearsal studios and other musical environments are an excellent way to encourage a love of and engage with the huge musical world that exists in society. Parents/carers can also support their child by:

• Encouraging them to take instrumental lessons.
• Taking an interest in your child’s musical work and ensuring that they are spending an appropriate amount of time on it.
• Encouraging your child to attend concerts, engage in extra-curricular music activities, watch programs on TV etc.
• Encouraging any form of music work for pleasure (songwriting, singing, practising, arranging, DJing, playing music).
• Providing musical materials at home for them to use and explore.