Music

In the Lower School pupils are encouraged to develop their understanding of a broad range of musical styles. The emphasis is very much on practical work; both performing and creating music.

The activities are designed to develop the skills necessary to progress through to GCSE and A Level music and also to encourage a broader participation in the extra-curricular music programme. The course is delivered using a specially designed Brighton College Music Workbook.

Lower 3rd (Year 7)

Topics covered in Michaelmas include Concepts of music such as Pitch, Dynamics, Duration, Timbre, Texture and Tempo.  We also study Rhythm and Pitch, developing understanding of notation through practical performing activities using simple percussion pieces, body percussion and movement.  This is followed by study of the instruments of the orchestra and exploring the human voice and keyboard instruments. We complete the term listening to Samba music and performing a basic samba piece.  In the lent term we study music opf the Baroque, Classical, Romatic and Modern Period linking the styles of music with social and historical context. During the Summer Term we study the development of Musicals and learn to perform a variety of songs from the genre.  This is linked with the performance of the Lower School Musical at the end of the Summer Term.

Upper 3rd (Year 8)

Topics covered in the Michaelmas Term include Understanding Form and Structure.This includes composition exercises in Binary, Ternary, Rondo and Canon.  We also study triads and simple chord progressions and melody writing.  The term culminates in a composition project using Sibelius Software as a notation tool.  In the Lent Term we study music from different areas of the world including folk music, Indonesian Gamelan, Indian Music and African Music. In the Summer term we study Jazz and Blues and the development of Pop Music.

Please, click here for information about extra-curricular music.