Music

Plymstock School Music Department

The Music department at Plymstock School is at a  particularly exciting stage right now, following the appointmentl of a new Head of Music in January 2010.

Curricular music lessons are practically based with an emphasis on learning through application – by the end of Year 9, all students are able to read music and play a keyboard.

A programme of study has been specifically designed to enable  students in Key Stage 3 to build upon previous musical skills and knowledge as the course progresses. Pupils take part in a new  project each half term, studying various musical styles which vary from classical theme and variations through to Hip Hop and R ‘n’ B.  We also study a variety of different world musical cultures and styles.  Each project focuses on appraisal, performance and composition and students are actively involved in setting their own targets for development.  Further to this, each unit of the programme of study at Key Stage 3 directly links and relates to the content of the AQA GCSE music syllabus studied here at Plymstock School during Key Stage 4.

The music block hosts two large teaching rooms and two large practice rooms. Each student in any class has access to a keyboard at any time, and we have an increasing range of other instruments for students to learn with ñ for example, when learning percussive music in the style of Samba or Calypso. There is also an attached suite which has computers with music-writing software.

Plymstock School music department has an ever-growing programme of extra-curricular activities open to all students from the school.  These include a singing ensemble which is currently preparing for local festivals and various instrumental ensembles including Samba bands and Rock bands.  There is also a keyboard club for students to be able to further develop skills learnt in the classroom, and a ‘drop-in’ surgery for students who need coursework support or extra practise for musical exams etc.

Included in the extra-curricular programme is the instrumental tuition by our superb peripatetic team.  Students are encouraged to continue with their instrumental tuition from primary school, and many students also choose to begin lessons when they arrive here at Plymstock.  Music request forms are available in the induction pack itself or from the school office.

Gifted and Talented

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