Music is considered to be a very important aspect of learning and life at Windsor and it operates within the Expressive Arts Faculty alongside Drama, Art and Dance.
Rationale
We are an extremely busy and committed department who believe that 'Music is for All' regardless of age, gender, ability and interests. We believe that Music offers unparallel opportunities for the development of imagination, sensitivity, inventiveness and essential elements that make up a balanced curriculum.
Our aims provide opportunities for pupils to:
- Stimulate their imagination and encourage the desire to participate in music making of any kind.
- Develop pupils' individual aural perception and ability to understand and appreciate a wide range of music in order to promote an awareness of oneself, our world and its cultures thus aiding social integration.
- Encourage an appreciation of the importance the role of Music has in a modern society and how it is used to manipulate the emotions of the individual.
- Develop the capacity to express ideas and feelings practically, verbally and symbolically through the medium of sound.
- Develop an awareness of musical traditions and developments and allow individuals to explore their musical skills through composing, performing, listening and appraising.
- Encourage musical performance in the classroom and outside the school curriculum and build links with the wider community.
- Encourage pupils to take responsibility in the department by taking on roles as Music Senior Leaders, Deputy Leaders and Mentors.
Accommodation & Resources
The Music block was completed in December 2005 and is situated above the Dance studio.
Music is taught in two main classrooms. In addition to this, our visiting instrumental teachers use accompanying practice rooms to teach specific instrumental lessons and these rooms are also accessible for our own pupils to practice in during lessons times as well as lunch and after school times.
The complete department consists of two main teaching classrooms, a store room and four practice rooms.
All main classrooms contain interactive whiteboards and a vast collection of equipment including keyboards, percussion instruments, recording equipment and ICT music software, microphones, amplifiers, music text resources, TV, CDs / DVDs, ipod docks and other music equipment.
The curriculum
At Key Stage 3, Students receive one lesson per week lasting 50 minutes. At Key Stage 4, Students receive three lessons per week, each lasting 50 minutes.
At key stage 5, students will receive 6 lessons of Music for either AS or A2 each lasting for 50 minutes. These are often arranged as double periods (100 minute) lessons to allow for effective teaching and learning.
Please note that any Students who receive instrumental lessons from visiting teachers of 'Dudley Performing Arts' or by Windsor staff will be allocated a specific lesson time per week on their chosen instrument. All organisation of theses lessons including registering for music tuition and payments of lessons are monitored directly by the music department.
At both Key Stages 3 and 4, Students are organised into mixed ability groups. For general classroom work they are seated boy / girl as this has been proven to be an effective method to facilitate good teaching and learning and ensure high standards are met.
The Key Stage 3 Scheme of Work is divided into 6 annual topics which are studied in depth. These are designed and organised in such a way that they enable Students to build on their strengths and develop their musicianship year on year.
At Key Stage 4, Students study GCSE Music according to the OCR syllabus. Our exam results are always above the national average.
At Key Stage 5 students study AS and A level Music according to the Edexcel syllabus.
Extra-curricular activities
A large number of our students are involved in our music clubs. These operate on a weekly basis and range from classical instrumental ensembles through to choirs and rock bands.
Each term, our music clubs are reviewed by staff and extra – curricular timetables are published and sent out to tutor groups and are advertised in the school newsletter. We are constantly reviewing our music groups to cater for the interests of both our staff and Students.
Concerts take place on a regular basis and range from talent contests, concerts, GCSE Recital Evenings, Christmas activities for the Senior Citizens and joint concerts with other organisations / schools and with the Dance department at Windsor, as well as performances in the community and with Dudley Performing Arts.
In addition to this, we also offer opportunities for Students to involve themselves in Music Workshops such as African drumming, Salsa, Blues Performance, Jazz Masterclasses, DJ mixing etc.
See the list below of some of our music events that have taken place this academic year from September 2010 – July 2011
Music Events 2010 – 2011
- Performances at Music Intake Evenings
- Awards Evenings
- Senior Citizen’s Xmas Concert
- ‘Lighting of the Xmas Tree in Halesowen’ music event
- St Margaret’s Church, Hasbury Xmas Carol Service
- Performances at Xmas Fayre and Summer Fun Day
- School Production of ‘My Fair Lady’
- Assemblies
- Opening of Sixth Form Music Performances
- Dudley Performing Arts ‘Songsurge’ Event
- Performer’s Platform – weekly summer outdoor performances
- Rock Gig
- History of Pop Music Seminar at Dudley College
- ‘Loick Essien – pop singer performed at Windsor and reached number 2 in the official pop charts 2 weeks later
- Former Windsor Students ‘Postgraduate in Music’ visited Windsor to do a lecture on 20thth century classical music to G.C.S.E and AS students.