Performing Arts Curriculum

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Music

Rhythm and Pulse: The importance of a pulse in music and how to notate and compose rhythms in a 4/4 time signature. Students develop awareness of key techniques such as: call and response; layering rhythms and unison.

Melodies (Keyboard Skills):

Building on unit 1, student learn how to read melodies as well as rhythmic notation. Students learn technique of how to play the keyboard effectively.

Samba: The history and context of Samba music, as well as developing whole class ensemble skills. Building on unit 1, students develop their rhythmic technique.

Composing to a Stimulus: Students compose their own music using stimuli to inspire their creative ideas. They experiment with different instrumental sounds, melodic ideas and musical elements to develop their compositions.

Dance

Basic dance actions and parkour: Students learn the basic dance actions, terminology and create their own dances using this knowledge to support.

Superheroes: Students will develop their knowledge and choreography in dance and be able to begin to appreciate dance by analysing movement.

A sporting chance: Students will be introduced to technical skills and more choreographic devices to be able to develop their choreography to a higher level.

Drama

Introduction to Drama and skills: An introduction to what Drama is, the people who help create Drama and the basic skills used in Drama.

Pantomime: Students learn the basics of pantomime and create their own performances using this knowledge.

Shakespeare: An introduction to who Shakespeare is, the words he created and his famous plays, with practical tasks to secure knowledge.

Roald Dahl: Exploring well known characters using drama skills and to start exploring script work.

Haunted school: Exploring melodrama and soundscapes to create a number of short scenes all relating to a haunted school.

Devising to a stimulus: Students will create their own performances from a number of different stimuluses giving them an opportunity to showcase skills they have learnt throughout the year.

Year 8

Music

Blues: Students learn about the history of the Blues and why it is such an influential genre of music. They learn about the different stylistic features of the Blues such as 12 bar blues chord structure; walking bass; and improvisation.

Soundtracks: Students learn about the purpose of music in media such as films. For example, how music can create an emotional response or a connection to a character. They learn about stylistic features of different types of film music and how it can create a specific atmosphere.

Soundtrack composition: Building on topic 2, students compose their own soundtracks, using the skills that they have learnt.

World Music: Students explore music from around the world to show them how different areas of the world have their own styles and the key features of these. Examples include Reggae and African Music.

Dance

Dance around the world: This unit explores dance from different parts of the world, allowing students to create their own dances inspired by different dance styles.

Into the Hoods: Students will create their own choreography based on fairy tales and will explore the choreographic process.

Choreographing to a stimulus: Students will explore a range of stimuli to learn how to show a theme through dance using ASDR and choreographic devices.

Drama

Physical and vocal skills: Students will have an opportunity to recap their basic drama skills and use in practical performances

Elves: Using scripts students will explore how to use characterisation through their drama skills and also start to develop on their ability to learn lines

Persecution: Using real world issues and past events students will focus on producing more serious drama using techniques like freeze frames mime and spoken word

Musicals: An introduction to musical theatre, how drama is specifically used and influences from other jobs such as costume designer

Devising to a stimulus: Students will create their own performances from a number of different stimuluses giving them an opportunity to showcase skills they have learnt throughout the year

Year 9

Performance

Musicals– students will study scripts, dance repertoire and instrumental/vocal music from a chosen musical.

Practitioners– students will develop their knowledge of different dance, drama and music practitioners looking at key techniques and elements of their work.

Devising Drama, Choreographing Dance and Creating Music– students will use a brief to choreograph, devise or create their own performance.