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Year 10

Curriculum Map

This curriculum map provides an overview of the music journey students will experience throughout the academic year. It outlines the sequence of musical styles, composition techniques, and performance opportunities alongside key assessment points designed to monitor and support student progress. The curriculum is carefully sequenced to build knowledge progressively, with each unit providing the foundation for future learning, ensuring all students develop musical understanding, practical skills, and creative expression appropriate to their age and stage. 

Half Term Unit(s) of Work Key Assessments
Autumn 1

Introduction

Solo Performance

Composition 1

Exam Preparation

Students on arrival will record the overview of the Eduqas GCSE Music Spec.

In brief…

2 performances – one as a solo and one as an ensemble (minimum group of 3). Minimum 4 minutes and a maximum of 6, penalty scale applies down to 0:30 with no mark given for a performance below this time. 30% of the total grade. Penalty scale also applies for performances which are less than ABRSM grade 3 standards in difficulty. 

2 compositions – one as a free composition done in year 10 and one as a response to a set brief released by the exam board on the 1st September of the examination year. Compositions again must meet 4 minutes together as a pair and not be over 6 minutes. Compositions cannot access the top boxes of the mark scheme if they are below time.

Written appraising exam, based upon 4 areas of study. 40% of the total qualification.

The students will then start to work towards meeting the above requirements. This will include making sure the students have right support networks around them such as peripatetic lessons.

Autumn 2

Solo Performance

Composition 1

Exam Preparation

Students will now settle into gradually completing quality work which focuses specifically on learning a solo performance which will satisfy the exam board requirements as well as gain a mark in relation to their targets. 

Students will also be expected to have their initial first composition ideas developing, with the view of taking a minimum of 3 ideas and further developing these into a fully submitted composition of which the students will respond to the brief they have set. 
 

Students will also touch briefly on the musical elements and how they are used in appraising music. The Acronym to be explored is DR SMITH (Dynamics, rhythm, structure, melody, instrumentation, tempo, texture, timbre, harmony) with appraising lessons be based around one of these elements. 

Eduqas exam board criteria are now being applied to assessments. 

Spring 1

Ensemble
Performance

Composition 1

Exam Preparation

The students now need to start looking at ensemble performance and the skills needed to complete.

Ensembles will be only be selected if they fully meet the exam board criteria.

Composition 1 should be fairly developed at this point of the year, with improvements and feedback being driven from the exam board assessment schemes.  

Appraising starters and lessons will continue following the Dr Smith musical elements pattern.

Spring 2

Ensemble
Performance

Composition 1

Exam Preparation

The students should at this point have fairly developed ensemble performances which are of the appropriate length and standard to meet the exam board requirements.

The student’s composition 1 should be well developed at this point of the course and being refined to reach the appropriate mark scheme boxes.

Any students who are falling away from the required progress points will have contact with home and be offered after school catch up sessions to get back on track. 

Appraising starters and lessons will continue following the Dr Smith musical elements pattern.

Summer 1

Performance

Composition 1

Composition 1 Log

Exam Preparation

At this point of the year, the students will be refining which ever task, and/or area, is creating weakness in their GCSE music. 

For example, those with weak solo performances will need to reengage with this, and for those with weak ensembles, they will need to reengage with that aspect etc. 

Those with compositions nearing competition can start to work on their composition log sheet.

Any students who are falling away from the required progress points will have contact with home and be offered after school catch up sessions to get back on track. 

Appraising starters and lessons will continue following the Dr Smith musical elements pattern and will now starting to introduce exam board questions.

Summer2

Performance

Composition 1

Composition 1 Log

Exam Preparation

The students will continue to refine which ever area is weakest. The overall aim for the end of the year 10 is for each student to:

•    Have an assessment ready solo performance which meets the exam board requirements
•    Have an assessment ready ensemble performance which meets the exam board requirements
•    Have a submission ready composition 1 which meets the exam board requirements
•    Have a completed composition 1 log sheet

Appraising will continue and if time remains, this will start to take a deeper focus based upon tackling exam board questions.