In all years, the curriculum includes the three main components of performing, composing and listening.

YEAR 6

Year 6 pupils have two periods each week. They study the elements of music (including notation), instruments of the orchestra, programme music, gamelan and singing.

YEAR 7

Year 7 pupils have two periods each week. For one of these, in groups of three or four, they are given tuition on the violin/viola, cello/double bass, woodwind, brass and percussion, each for three weeks. In late January/early February they are then assigned to one of these instruments, on which they have tuition for the rest of the academic year. In the other lesson, they study keyboard music, scales, chords, forms/structures, and African music.

YEAR 8

Year 8 pupils have two periods each week. They study the dominant musical traditions of Western classical and African-American music, including the Blues, Caribbean music, and Soul.

YEAR 9

Music becomes an option in Year 9, and pupils have two periods each week. One of its aims is to prepare for the IGCSE course which starts in Year 10. The main elements of music are revisited, and there are particular studies of 20th century classical music, pop music, music and media, and free composition.

GCSE Music: Edexcel Specification

Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, and life to everything... Without music, life would be an error! (Plato, Ancient Greek Philosopher) 

Music has been one of the keys to human flourishing throughout history. Not only this, but embracing the breadth and rigour of GCSE Music will prepare you to understand and contribute to a dynamic and creative economy well into the Twenty First Century. Creative instincts, technical analysis, presentation skills, event management and self-expression; all are developed through the study of music and contribute decisively to your portfolio, no matter what direction you hope your future studies and career will take. 

Studying GCSE music builds your confidence as a musician, opening wide the opportunity for you to participate our flagship ensembles, for instance the Chamber Choir, Big Band, Folk Group, First Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Band.  

Pupils with a keen interest in both practical and academic music are encouraged to take Music. Grade 4/5 provides a useful benchmark for the standards of performance and theoretical understanding that are expected for a strong result in Year 11. The course will be most enjoyable for those who have a good understanding of music theory at the start of the course alongside a keen interest in a variety of musical genres, from musicals to classical music and pop. 

Those opting for Music will play a full part in the musical life of the school, including singing in one of our many choirs. 

The three modules of which the course consists are taken at the end of Year 11. 

1. Listening (40%) 

This is a written exam (1 hour and 45 minutes) which requires responses to extracts of music played on a CD. The extracts in Section A are based around the Areas of Study and Set Works:

In Section B, students will be asked to compare in detail an extract of one of the set works with an extract from an unfamiliar listening piece (related to one of the set works).

Students will hear the pieces and see the scores. This question will be worth 12 marks.

The exam is externally assessed

2. Performing (30%) 

Candidates must perform individually and as part of an ensemble. The performances are recorded, internally assessed and then externally moderated. 

3. Composing (c.30%) 

Two contrasting compositions must be submitted at the end of the course. They should be presented in written and recorded form. The compositions can be in any style and for any instrument or combination of instruments. They are internally assessed and externally moderated. 

A Level Music: OCR Specification

From 2021, students in Years 12 and 13 are following the OCR A Level Course. Classes are small so Schemes of Work are tailored precisely to the needs of individuals. An overview of the course is below. 

Students take components: 01, 03 and 05; OR 02, 04 and 05:

Content Overview	Assessment Overview
Recital – minimum 6 minutes and 2 contrasting pieces	Performing A (01) Recital 75 marks Externally assessed via audio-visual recording	25% of A Level
Recital – minimum 10 minutes and 3 contrasting pieces	Performing B (02) Recital 105 marks Externally assessed via audio-visual recording	35% of A Level
Compositions – with a combined duration of at least 8 minutes	Composing A (03) 105 marks Externally assessed via audio recordings plus score	35% of A Level
Compositions – with a combined duration of at least 4 minutes	Composing A (04) 75 marks Externally assessed via audio recordings plus score	25% of A Level
Listening and Appraising Analysing / evaluating music Familiar and unfamiliar works Prescribed works & aural extracts	Listening and Appraising (05) 120 marks Written exam including aural extracts 2 hour and 30 minutes written exam	40% of A Level

All students study Areas of Study 1 and 2 and any two of Areas of Study 3, 4, 5 or 6

AoS

1. Instrumental Music of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven
2. Popular Song: Blues, Jazz, Swing and Big Band
3. Developments in Instrumental Jazz 1910 to the present day
4. Religious Music of the Baroque Period
5. Programme Music 1820-1910
6. Innovations in Music 1900 to the present day

A Level students are encouraged to consult, or preferably purchase, A History of Western Music (Grout/Palisca). BG2 holds a complete set of Grove and other useful books. Early Jazz and The Swing Era, both by Schuller, are excellent foundational texts for the jazz topics.  

A large proportion of pupils receive individual instrumental lessons in school from our experienced and dedicated Visiting Music Teachers (VMTs). Many pupils also benefit from a selection of over 25 ensembles each week, including three orchestras, three choirs, two big bands, two large wind bands and a folk group, alongside numerous chamber ensembles. Highlights of our extensive concert schedule include: 

• The biennial school musical, for which the First Orchestra provides live musical accompaniment
• The LGS Big Band at Leicester’s Little Theatre
• Interactive GCSE and A Level concerts in partnership with Bardi Symphony Orchestra with concerto opportunities for pupils
• A choral extravaganza in which our musicians accompany the LGS Choral Society and perform alongside local primary school pupils. 

We are keen to share musical opportunities and performances with the local community. We raise money for local charities through concerts, take our leading instrumental ensembles on tours of local primary schools and our pupils frequently perform at events outside of school.  We also invite local schools to participate in masterclasses and instrumental taster days.