Teaching Staff: Mrs J Palmer
Edexcel BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Music
This is a one year course with six hours of lessons per week. It is equivalent to two GCSEs at grades A*– C.
This is an exciting new course that aims to prepare pupils for work in the music industry. It caters for a wide range of pupils, whether or not they sing or play an instrument.
Pupils will use the school’s recording studio, digital audio workstations (DAWs), and be involved in all aspects of staging concerts and performances.
It is a largely practical course, where pupils gain hands on experience. Pupils will also develop their musical composition skills, enabling them to further develop their instrumental, vocal or computer-based musical ability.
All pupils will study the following units:
- Working in the Music Industry. Pupils will gain a broad knowledge of employment opportunities in the music industry and the jobs undertaken by those who work in it.
- Professional Development in the Music Industry. Pupils will explore a range of career opportunities with a view to their own professional development within the music industry.
- Exploring Musical Composition. Pupils will gain an insight into the fundamentals of some musical composition techniques. The knowledge gained will allow them to develop their compositional ideas in a structured and purposeful way. Pupils who neither sing nor play an instrument will develop their skills as a music producer, composing computer-based music.
Pupils will choose one of the following units which are planned to be offered:
- Working as a Musical Ensemble. Pupils will gain a knowledge of, and develop the skills required by, members of a musical ensemble or group.
- Solo Musical Performance. Pupils will develop some of the skills required by a solo musician.
- Planning and Creating a Musical Product. Pupils will apply skills to plan and develop a music product of their choice using skills appropriate for both the planning and production of the piece. Pupils may focus on live performance, or adopt a more technical role as the producer of a music CD.
Assessment is by assignments and practical activities. There are no examinations.
Further information may be obtained from: Mrs Palmer
Forthcoming production - Olivia - December 2011
This week, the Expressive Arts Faculty announced that its next full-scale production is to be Olivia. The musical is based on Oliver, and will involve about 250 students and staff. The process of finding the stars of the show, including Olivia herself, starts in earnest next week with a series of auditions. Competition will be fierce with around 70 students from Years 7 to 10 attempting to impress the show’s Director, Mrs Hollis, for one of the 20 main parts.
The announcement to students was made by Mrs Palmer, the show’s Producer, via two special assemblies held on Monday and Tuesday, which were followed up by sign-up sessions in The Zone, where a total of 135 students expressed their wish to be involved in many different aspects of the show including dance, stage crew, construction and catering.
Students and parents are encouraged to ‘Like’ the official show Facebook page at http://facebook.com/KingsburyOlivia2011. This will enable them to receive regular updates about the show.
Olivia will be performed in December 2011.
- Link to Olivia facebook page: http://facebook.com/kingsburyolivia2011
- Link to Olivia sharepoint site: https://portal.kingsburyschool.co.uk/expressivearts/olivia2011/default.aspx
