Music

Welcome to Music at Dixie Grammar School - a vibrant, high-energy department where pupils embark on a sophisticated journey through composition, performance, and appraisal allowing creativity to meet technical excellence.

From the rhythmic pulse of Samba and the iconic Film Music of Harry Potter in Years 6–8 to our specialist Year 9 option group and OCR GCSE pathway, music at Dixie is a journey of discovery. Whether mastering industry-standard software like Sibelius and GarageBand, exploring the Concerto Through Time, or developing skills on the keyboard, our students are challenged to find their unique musical voice.

Beyond the classroom, music is a lived experience; from our expert one-to-one tuition in voice, piano, or orchestral instruments, weekly Ensembles, the spotlight of Assembly Music, spectacular whole school Musical or the firework-lit stages of Dixie Fest, we provide a creative platform for every performer to shine.

Curriculum Music

Years 6, 7, and 8

In Years 6, 7, and 8, all pupils enjoy a double period of Music each week. This dedicated time allows for deep dives into the Elements of Music, ensuring pupils don't just hear music, but understand how it is built. Our curriculum balances three core pillars:

Listening and Appraising: Analysing masterpieces and modern hits alike.
Composition: Creating original works from scratch.
Performance: Developing confidence on various instruments and through voice.

The Musical Journey: pupils explore a diverse range of genres and traditions, including:

Samba: Rhythmic energy and ensemble coordination.
12 Bar Blues: The roots of modern music and improvisation.
The Orchestra: Exploring the power and texture of classical ensembles.
Film Music: Understanding how sound creates emotion and narrative.
Popular Song: Deconstructing the hits pupils love to listen to.

In Years 7 and 8, we introduce pupils to Sibelius, the industry-standard notation software. This allows them to see their musical ideas come to life on the page, bridging the gap between imagination and professional score-writing.

Year 9: Specialist Pathways

As pupils reach the end of Year 8, they have the opportunity to choose a more focused programme of study. Music is a popular Option Class in Year 9, designed for those who wish to refine their craft and delve deeper into the technical side of the art form. In Year 9, the curriculum evolves to include:

Advanced Performance: A focus on both Solo and Ensemble work, helping pupils find their unique voice while learning the art of collaboration.
Music Technology: Pupils expand their digital toolkit, mastering GarageBand for production and continuing their sophisticated work in Sibelius.
Thematic Studies: Our learning is driven by two major pillars: Film Music and the Conventions of Pop. These themes guide all performance, composition, and appraisal tasks, ensuring the work is contemporary, relevant, and engaging.

GCSE Music (OCR Specification)

For those wishing to take their musical journey further, we follow the OCR GCSE Music specification. This course is designed to celebrate personal musical interests while broadening horizons through five diverse Areas of Study:

My Music: A focus on the pupil’s own instrument and performance style.
The Concerto Through Time: Exploring the evolution of the solo virtuoso from the Baroque to the Romantic era.
Rhythms of the World: Discovering traditional music from Africa, India, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Film Music: Analysing how music is used to support and enhance the moving image.
Conventions of Pop: Studying the development of popular music from the 1950s to the present day.

Course Structure & Assessment The GCSE is highly practical, with 60% of the final grade based on coursework (Non-Exam Assessment). This allows pupils to manage their workload consistently over the two-year period.

Performance (30%): Pupils submit one Solo Performance and one Ensemble Performance.
Composition (30%): Pupils write two original compositions—one to a brief set by OCR and one "free" composition.
Listening Exam (40%): A written paper at the end of Year 11 assessing knowledge of the five Areas of Study through recorded extracts.

With four periods per week, pupils have ample time to master music theory, refine their technical skills on their chosen instrument, and utilize our music technology suite for their compositions.