MUSIC IN S1
Learning in S1 Music
All S1 classes will get one period of Music every week.
The main focus in S1 will be on learning instruments, and performing individually and in groups. Young people will all be given the opportunity to try out the following instruments:
KEYBOARD
GUITAR
BASS GUITAR
DRUMKIT
TUNED PERCUSSION (XYLOPHONE AND GLOCKENSPIEL)
UKULELE
SINGING
The young people will be issued with a performance achievement record in which their progress on each instrument will be regularly tracked. This will encourage them to get into effective practice routines where they will develop their technique on each instrument as well as learning how to play a 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 learn about the instruments of the orchestra every week to develop their understanding about the different sounds instruments make and how these sounds are produced. This will also enhance their listening skills as they learn to listen more closely to the music they hear. They may also complete short composition tasks to start to build their confidence with creating their own pieces of music.
WIND BAND CLASS
Pupils in S1 who played an instrument in primary school will be invited to join our S1 wind band masterclass where they will be given the opportunity to continue 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 young people can play the following instruments:
WOODWIND: FLUTE CLARINET ALTO SAXOPHONE TENOR SAXOPHONE
BRASS: TRUMPET FRENCH HORN TROMBONE
RHYTHM: DRUMKIT AND PERCUSSION BASS GUITAR
Please note: Any young person who already plays one of these instruments in primary school and wishes to continue would be welcome to join our wind band class where free tuition would be provided. However, they would still have the option of continuing with individual lessons at a separate time if so desired, but the normal charges would still apply to any lessons outwith the wind band programme.
Homework in S1 Music
All S1 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 instruments and listening to specific examples of music and instruments. 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 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 at the materials attached to this page so you can see what the young people will be learning in Music.
