Music

MEMBERS OF DEPARTMENT:
Miss L Eunson

Mr J Stewart



COURSE INFORMATION
 

STANDARD GRADE

The aims of the course are:
 

• To enrich the lives of pupils and to contribute to their personal, social, cultural and intellectual growth.
• To encourage pupils to realise their musical potential and to respond positively to music.
• To develop an informed interest in music in whatever ways appeal to them.
• To encourage pupils’ confidence and to encourage them to take responsibility for their own learning.

The course covers the three elements of Performing, Inventing and Listening.

PERFORMING

Pupils have the opportunity to play different instruments, focusing on two main instruments (one of which may be voice). Pupils perform solo and in a group.

INVENTING

Develops musical initiative and creativity through experimenting with sound, via improvising, arranging or simple composition in a wide range of styles.

LISTENING

1. Listening to music ranging over a variety of periods and styles with emphasis on music of the 20th century (Classical, Popular, Jazz, Blues and Vocal music).

2. Styles which are directly related to the traditional music of Scotland.

 

HIGHER

Purpose

To provide experience in:
 

• Solo and/or Group Performing, Inventing or Listening
• an option of the student’s choice.

Recommended Entry

While entry is at the discretion of the school, students would normally be expected to have
attained:
 

• Standard Grade at Credit level
• units or a course in Music at Intermediate 2; or equivalent.

Course Details

One mandatory 80 hour unit and one optional 40 hour unit, plus 40 hours of flexible time.

Unit - Title, Length and Brief Description

Mandatory:
Performing, Inventing and Listening (H) 80 hours
The unit will offer opportunities to:
 

• perform music from a wide range of styles in a solo and/or group situation on one instrument
• invent original music with evidence of originality, creativity, planning and good use of
• compositional techniques such as the deployment of selected concepts; arranging and
• improvising may be included where appropriate
• listen to music which is relevant, related to practical experiences and based on a conceptual
• approach.

The emphasis on practical musical activity across the three elements will allow for the
development of aural perception, musical imagination, sensitivity and discrimination.

Optional: One from the following six optional units:

Accompanying (H) 40 hours
This unit will allow students to extend performing and musicianship skills on an instrument chosen from a prescribed list. Content will take account of the necessity to cater for development of the musician and will ensure progression of skills in the areas of accompanying, sight-reading,
transposition and harmonisation.

Inventing: Extension (H) 40 hours
This unit will allow students to broaden and deepen their creative skills and to build upon the work experienced in the 80 hour unit in order to attain at a higher level. They may also take an optional paper in techniques of composition.

Listening: Extension (H) 40 hours
This unit will allow students to broaden and deepen their listening skills and to build upon the work experienced in the 80 hour unit in order to attain at a higher level. Students will demonstrate enhanced ability to relate sound to printed music and select two or more works for study in greater depth.

Performing: Extension (H) 40 hours
This unit will be taken on an instrument (or voice) from a different category to that professed in the mandatory unit. Performing at this level will allow for a more in-depth musical experience through the extension of technical ability and associated musical skills with attainment at a higher level.

Progression

Students who achieve Higher Music might progress to:
 

• further additional units at the same level or at the level above
• Advanced Higher in Music
• degree courses in music
• HNC or HND courses in Music
• other degree and higher education courses which use Higher Music as a general entry qualification.

INTERMEDIATE 2

Purpose

To provide experience in:
· Solo and/or Group Performing, Inventing or Listening
· an option of the student’s choice.

Recommended Entry

While entry is at the discretion of the school, students would normally be expected to have attained:
 

• Standard Grade music at General Level
• units or a course at Intermediate 1; or equivalent.

Course Details

One mandatory 80 hour unit and one optional 40 hour unit, plus 40 hours of flexible time.

Unit - Title, Length and Brief Description

Mandatory:
Performing, Inventing and Listening (Int 2) 80 hours
The unit will offer opportunities to:
 

• perform music from a wide range of styles in a solo and/or group situation on one instrument
• invent original music with evidence of originality, creativity, planning and good use of compositional techniques such as the deployment of selected concepts; arranging and improvising may be included where appropriate
• listen to music which is relevant, related to practical experiences and based on a conceptual approach.
   

The emphasis on practical musical activity across the three elements will allow for the development of aural perception, musical imagination, sensitivity and discrimination.

Optional: One from the following six optional units:

Accompanying (Int 2) 40 hours
This unit will allow students to extend performing and musicianship skills on an instrument chosen from a prescribed list. Content will take account of the necessity to cater for development of the musician and will ensure progression of skills in the areas of accompanying, sight reading, transposition and harmonisation.

Inventing: Extension (Int 2) 40 hours
This unit will allow students to broaden and deepen their creative skills and to build upon work experienced in the 80 hour unit in order to attain at a higher level.

Listening: Extension (Int 2) 40 hours
This unit will allow students to broaden and deepen their listening skills to build upon work experienced in the 80 hour unit in order to attain at a higher level.

Performing: Extension (Int 2) 40 hours
Second instrument at the same level. Performing on a second contrasting instrument in a solo and/or group situation will allow for a broadening of musical experience through development of technical ability and associated musical skills on a different instrument but with attainment at the same level.

Progression

Students who achieve Intermediate 2 Music might progress to:
 

• further additional units at the same level or the level above
• a course or units in music at Higher
• after further study to HNC or HND or to degree and higher education courses which use Intermediate 2 Music as a general entry qualification