MUSIC IN S2
Learning in S2 Music
The young people in S2 will be given the option to choose Music or Music Technology as a subject if they have enjoyed it in S1 and wish to continue learning it. Each S2 Music and Music Technology class will get three periods of Music every week.
The main focus in S2 Music will continue to be on performing individually and in groups. Young people will all be asked to choose two of the following instruments to learn in more depth:
KEYBOARD
GUITAR
BASS GUITAR
DRUMKIT
TUNED PERCUSSION (XYLOPHONE AND GLOCKENSPIEL)
UKULELE
SINGING
The young people will continue to use their performance achievement record to track their progress on each instrument. They will build on the effective practice routines started in S1 and will further develop their technique on their chosen instruments, as well as learning how to play a more complex variety of different music. Learning musical instruments will also enhance their concentration, confidence and focus as well as enabling them to develop a growth mindset through persistence, resilience and responsibility.
The young people will continue to develop their understanding of music by learning more about the features of different styles of music through listening, discussion and composition tasks. These will be completed in an Understanding Music workbook which will be issued to each individual at the start of the year. The topics studied in S2 are:
MUSIC AND THE MEDIA
MUSIC FOR CULTURE AND CELEBRATION
MUSIC FOR ENTERTAINMENT
Pupils in Music Technology will be given the opportunity to learn about a variety of recording techniques and how to use music software.
MUSIC MASTERCLASSES
This year we are delighted to offer two masterclasses in Music. These are:
WIND BAND
MUSICAL THEATRE
The young people in S2 will be given the opportunity to choose 3 different masterclasses this year and each one will run for 12 weeks. Miss Maguire will be responsible for the Musical Theatre masterclass and the Wind Band masterclass will be taken by Miss McPherson.
WIND BAND CLASS
Every young person in S2 will be invited to join our S2 wind band masterclass where they will be given the opportunity to learn a woodwind or brass instrument and rehearse together as a wind band. The classes are taken by a Music Teacher and are supported by a team of instructors in woodwind, brass and percussion. We have also built links with the University of Aberdeen Music Department and welcome a variety of Music students to come along and help out with our wind band classes. All instruments, music and tuition are provided completely free of cost.
The instruments will be demonstrated to every young person in S2 at the beginning of the new session in August 2017. They will then be able to sign up for "try outs" for any of the instruments they are interested in. The final selection is based on the sound the young people get out of the instruments and their desire and enthusiasm to learn.
The young people can choose to try out for the following instruments:
WOODWIND: FLUTE CLARINET ALTO SAXOPHONE TENOR SAXOPHONE
BRASS: TRUMPET FRENCH HORN TROMBONE
RHYTHM: DRUMKIT AND PERCUSSION BASS GUITAR
Homework in S2 Music
All S2 classes will be allocated to a Google Classroom class which can be accessed online. Homework tasks will mainly be issued on these classrooms and will include a variety of short tasks involving researching musical concepts covered in class, short musical literacy tasks and listening to specific examples of music in a variety of styles. Some of these can be completed on smartphones if they have internet access. If any of the young people do not have access to a computer or internet, they are more than welcome to use the computers in the department at lunch times or after school to complete homework tasks.
How you can help
You can help the young people to make the most of their learning in Music by encouraging them to regularly check in with their Google Classroom to see if they have any homework due in, and making sure that they submit it on time. A free app for Google Classroom can be downloaded onto most smartphones so you can ask the young people to get this and set it up to receive notifications. This way reminders of homework tasks can be sent out. You can also remind them to ask their Music teacher if they have any problems with or questions about homework or work in class.
Young people should try to engage with music by listening to it and trying to pick out the different instruments and concepts they can hear which they can then discuss with you. If they have access to instruments outside school you can ask them to let you hear what they have been learning and encourage them to establish a practice routine. We would advise 4 practice sessions of around 15 -30 minutes per week where possible.
There are also many music apps now available where young people can work out tunes and create their own music too, so you can encourage them to have fun with these and enjoy music. Finally, please have a look through the materials attached to this page so you can see what the young people will be learning in Music.
