Welcome to the Music Department of St John the Baptist College!

Few people are unaffected by music. It pervades everyday life and is an integral part of social culture. Within the school curriculum, music can enrich the lives of individual pupils, providing opportunities for their personal, intellectual, social and cultural growth. It cannot be emphasised enough that children gain musical knowledge, understanding and skill by actively taking part in musical experiences.

The Department provides opportunities for all pupils from Years 8-10 to come together to enjoy and perform music both in and out of the classroom. Here, diversity is celebrated within the department by holding and attending different events and productions.

Music is an area of the curriculum that develops pupils sensitivities to many aspects of everyday life and prepares them for a very wide range of stimulating and challenging activities. It plays a central role in the development of pupils' understanding, being concerned with the education of feeling; exploration of values; practical and perceptual skills and intellectual and aesthetic development.

Our Music Department aims to do this by:

• To recognise the potential of career opportunities
• To enable pupils to discover, in all shapes and forms, as a medium of expression
• To provide practical experience of music for all pupils
• To develop aural perception and imagination
• To enable pupils to experience enjoyment and satisfaction through participation in both ensemble and individual music making activities
• To enable pupils to extend their musical experience through their own initiative
• To develop social skills, decision making and self-confidence in the pupils
• To create an atmosphere where pupils, whatever their musical ability, can contribute to and learn from the class that is both enjoyable and stimulating
• To contribute to children's personal and social development and the development of positive attitudes to self and others
• To learn to appreciate the enjoyable and worthwhile nature of leisure

Key Stage 3

We also aim to produce a secure, nurturing environment to learn Music and for pupils to enjoy extra curricular experiences within the realms of Music Practice and Musical Theatre.

The department works to develop the pupils’ appreciation and enjoyment through performing, composing and listening activities.

In Year 8 we cover:

Unit 1: The Elements of Music

Unit 2: Keyboard Skills

Unit 3: Instruments of the Orchestra

Unit 4: African Drumming

Unit 5: GarageBand 

In Year 9 we explore:

Unit 1: Keyboard skills

Unit 2: Film Music

Unit 3: Rhythm

Unit 4: GarageBand

Unit 5: World Music

In Year 10 we study:

Unit 1: Performance Skills

Unit 2: What makes a good song?

Unit 3: Music for life