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Music Development Plan
Overview
Academic Year 2024-2025 – Published in September 2024
Summary to be reviewed in July 2025
School Music Lead: Nicola Fulker
Local Music Hub: Purbeck and Lytchett through Dorset Music Service
Partnerships: Youth Music Wessex and The Cecil Trust
Curriculum music
Music Curriculum Key Stage 3
Students are offered a wide variety of styles, settings and instruments to use in Key Stage 3. With the details of the topics studied below. At Lytchett we have a well-resourced and thriving music department, including access to music technology. At Key Stage 3 all year groups have opportunities to sing, perform solo or in ensembles using a variety of instruments. They also have the opportunity to learn the basics of music theory through practical and listening activities. All students are also introduced to music technology and given the opportunity to create and compose their own ideas. Students have regular opportunities to perform and understand their progress through topics and musicianship skills across the different year groups.
Year 7 – students have access to 3 hours per fortnight of curriculum music and topics include: singing in an ensemble; playing percussion in an ensemble; understanding sonority and structure. There are 6 contrasting topics overall.
Year 8 - students have access to 2 hour per fortnight of curriculum music and topics include: singing in an ensemble; blues music; sonority and film music, reggae. There are 5 contrasting topics overall.
Year 9 – students have access to 2 hour per fortnight of curriculum music and topics include: dance music through music tech; band project; sonority and film music. There are 5 contrasting topics overall. We also start to encourage understanding of the pathways in music for further study or career progression.
SEND students are supported with a team of specialist TA’s who work exclusively in the performing and creative arts department, they understand the music curriculum and help to adapt as needed the environment, resources and topics we study.
Music Curriculum Key Stage 4
We study GCSE music at year 10 and 11, which is an option. Current exam board is Edexcel which means that students study a broad range of music for a listening exam, also producing coursework in performance and composition. The coursework is 60% of the final grade and is teacher-assessed.
Music Curriculum Key Stage 5
We study A-level music at year 12 and 13, which is an option. Current exam board is Edexcel which follows the GCSE curriculum model closely, students are preferred to have completed GCSE music but this is not essential and support for theory is offered within our theory clubs.
Extra-curricular music
There are many varied opportunities for students to take part music outside of the music timetabled curriculum at Lytchett. These range from some formal groups; access to performances; peripatetic lessons and spaces to use to allow them to express and rehearse independently. We generally have 3 formal music concerts in the year, a band competition performance and involvement with the whole school production and groups performing in a variety of school events throughout the year.
Peripatetic Lessons
We offer a wide range of instruments that students can apply to learn, details of prices are available on the website, but currently students can apply to learn:
Piano - Keyboard – Voice – Violin/Viola – Cello – Double Bass – Drum Kit – Guitar (all types) – Flute – Clarinet- Saxophone – Bassoon – Oboe – Trumpet – Trombone
Lessons are not subsidised but we do run a music scholarship scheme. We also loan instruments to all scholars and this is available to all students who want to learn if we have the instrument available.
Students have the opportunity to take ABRSM music exams in the school once a year and their teacher supports them with the preparation for this.
Music Scholarship Programme
In partnership with the Cecil Trust, which is a local charity, we are able to offer 15 students a year’s free tuition on an instrument. Year 7 students are chosen during the year who may be suitable, they complete some testing, then once space becomes available they can then be awarded a place and supported through school with lessons. This allows dedicated and talented students to be recognised and encouraged to perhaps make music a key part of their life at Lytchett, it is also a way to support parents who find the cost of music lessons a struggle. As part of this programme students are expected to take part in the music ensembles and also are given free theory lessons.
Extra-Curricular Groups
There are a wide variety of music groups which are all free:
String Orchestra – Junior Band – Junior Choir – Senior Band – Senior Choir – Jazz Band
We also form different ensembles throughout the year to support different events and productions.
Music Theory Clubs
A new offering for this year will be music theory clubs for three different ability levels. This used to be only on offer to scholars but now will be available to all students who want to progress their knowledge of music theory, enabling them to achieve higher ABRSM music grades or supporting their studies at GCSE or A Level music. There will be a small charge for theory books.
Practice Rooms
Students also have the opportunity to use practice rooms outside of lesson time, either for solo rehearsal or for rehearsal in small ensembles. There are resources for them to use and students regularly borrow and look after the equipment on offer.
Youth Music Wessex
This organisation uses the music facilities and theatre on Saturdays and it is a brilliant opportunity for our musicians to transition into an external music ensemble. Regular concerts are held at school and elsewhere locally. Many of our students are involved in the groups.
Music Hub
There is a growing interest and support for the music hub since the pandemic and this connection with other local schools and organisations is one that continues to develop.
Musical experiences
Students are offered a wide range of opportunities in school but we also try to take students into the wider musical world. There is a trip to see a musical most years, this is initially offered to the students who are involved in the extra-curricular groups, as a reward trip. The music department subsidise the cost of the travel for this trip from concert funds.
Students studying GCSE and A level music are offered a trip to see the BSO in Poole to support their understanding of orchestral and choral music, last year it was also linked to the Dance department with a performance of the ‘Rite of Spring’ Ballet by Stravinsky, with a dance company.
Future plans include trips for younger students, opportunities to perform outside school and firmer links with the feeder schools to support.
Students who do get financial support from school are supported with the cost of concert tickets.
Students are offered regular opportunities to perform in concerts, events and in class.
In the future
Currently we are updating our music curriculum across Key Stage 3, looking at progress and supporting students understanding of the elements needed for Key Stage 4. Hopefully, allowing more students of varying abilities to be able to choose music confidently as an option subject.
The music department are also looking at more opportunities for our younger students to perform, either through visits to feeder schools or arranging for music workshops in school.
Further information
Nicola Fulker – Head of Music Lytchett
Youth Wessex Music
Dorset Music Service