Aims of the course
To provide a broad foundation of musical knowledge and experience

Summary overview of the programme

Term 1

Unit 1 – African Music

• Introduction to African music and its place in music history. Listening to African drumming. Polyrhythms and syncopation. Class drumming.
• Group composition; drumming. Rehearse and perform.
• Group composition; polyrhythmic mixed African ensemble. Rehearse and perform
• Group composition; pentatonic scales. Rehearse and perform.
• Listening to African vocal call and response. Group composition; call and response vocally led. Rehearse and perform.
• Rhythmic recognition. African music posters
• Finish African music posters

Unit 2 – Spirituals and Worksongs

• Class singing – spiritual or worksongs
• Group composition; spiritual or worksong. Write lyrics and tune.
• Rehearse and perform spiritual/worksong composition.
• Solo Performance

Term 2

Unit 3 – Ragtime

• Listening to examples of Ragtime piano music. History of Ragtime. Learn Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer”on keyboards
• Practice “The Entertainer”. Perform individually (as much as possible)
• Practice and perform individually the whole piece.

Unit 4 – The Blues

• Listen to examples of Blues. History of the Blues. Learn Blues scale and 12 bar blues chord pattern in C
• Composition: blues on the keyboard (pairs or individual). Rehearse and perform on the keyboard.
• Blues singing. Going round the class, each student tries improvising vocally to given lyrics with a blues accompaniment. Group composition: The Blues. Write Blues lyrics
• Compose and rehearse Blues composition
• Rehearse and perform Blues composition
• Evaluation of Group compositions this year

Term 3

Unit 5 – More New Developments

• History of the Drumkit. Drumkit technique. Group composition. Human drumkit. Rehearse and perform.
• History of Jazz. What is Improvisation.
• Class free improvisation session.
• Development of Popular Music. Pop Music song structure.
• Class singing.
• Reggae and Bob Marley

Unit 6 – Music Research Project

• Each student selects a band, solo artist or style of music etc. to research. Suggested chapter headings are discussed and methods of research.
• Project Research
• Preparation of presentation
• Presentation of project either as powerpoint or speech

Assessment
Students are assessed according to the following framework:

• Listening assignments
• Practical assignments
• Written work
• Group work
• End of Year Examination