Music

Staff: Mrs Mitchell 

Aims

The aims of the Music Department in Malone College are to involve all the pupils in music-making activities and nurture every pupil to fulfil their musical potential in a dynamic, vibrant and exciting environment. Pupils will learn to value music as an enriching and inspiring experience in their lives. Currently, the department has one full-time teacher and one part-time teacher.

Music at Malone College plays a tremendously important role in the life of the College and every student gets to learn musical instruments in class. We provide opportunities for students to explore music making, from being a song writer/composer to being a performer. We aim to provide students with the right environment to discover their musical talent.

Recorder, ukulele, guitar. keyboard, African Drumming, singing and classroom percussion are all experienced in timetabled music classes throughout Key Stage 3. Pupils use iPads and compose music using  GarageBand and Sibelius. They listen to a broad spectrum of music.

Those who wish to pursue music further can do so at Key Stage 4 and beyond and follow courses such as CCEA Performing Skills, CCEA GCSE Music and CCEA A Level Music.

Our facilities include 8 practice rooms and 2 large classrooms. We offer time to practice and excellent instrumental workshops. We are constantly reviewing our repertoire to challenge and inspire our pupils.

In the Music Department there are many performing groups.

These include:

• The Choir - meets at lunchtimes and afterschool
• The Junior and Senior Instrumental Groups - meet in the mornings, lunchtimes and afterschool
• The Recorder Group & Ukulele Group - meet at lunchtimes
• African Drumming Groups –meet at lunchtimes
• The Guitar Group meets afterschool and lunchtimes
• The Keyboard Group meets at lunchtimes

Key Stage 3

Year 8

Term 1:

• The Elements of Music and ostinato.
• Recorder Skills,
• Keyboard Skills, Ukulele Skills and Basic Notation.
• Danse Macabre
• Garage Band composing tasks including Ringtone Composition.
• Assessment 1: Hallowe’en
• Recorder
• Assessment 2: Christmas
• Theory and Listening Assessment

Term 2:

• Instruments of the Orchestra including Carnival of the Animals.
• Recorder Skills,
• Keyboard Skills, Ukulele Skills and Basic Notation.
• Garage Band and related composition tasks.
• Assessment 3: Easter
• Composition Task

Term 3:

• Peter and the Wolf and
• Sorcerer's Apprentice.
• World Music.
• Recorder Skills,
• Keyboard Skills, Ukulele Skills and Basic Notation
• Garage Band and composition tasks
• Assessment 4: Summer
• Theory and Listening Exam.
• Composing and Performing Assessments

Year 9

 Term 1:

• Elements of Music, Accidentals, Form and Tonality. Continuing to develop
• Recorder Skills,
• Keyboard Skills, Ukulele Skills and Basic Notation.
• Jazz Vocal Music & Pop Vocal Music
• Vltava
• Garage Band composing tasks
• Assessment 1: Hallowe’en
•  Recorder
• Assessment 2: 
• Christmas
• Theory and Listening Assessment

Term 2:

• Reggae Music
• Mozart
• Continuing to develop
• Recorder Skills,
• Keyboard Skills, Ukulele Skills and Basic Notation.
• Garage Band composing tasks
• Assessment 3: Easter
• Composition Task

Term 3:

• Music for Film & Gaming.
• Vocal Music - Focus on Musicals.
• Continuing to develop
• Recorder Skills,
• Keyboard Skills, Ukulele Skills and Basic Notation.
• Garage Band composing tasks
• Assessment 4: Summer
• Theory and Listening Exam.
• Composing and Performing Assessments

Year 10

 Term 1:

• Twentieth Century Music - Holst
• Popular Music – song structure, chords etc.
• Continuing to develop - Recorder Skills,
• Keyboard Skills, Ukulele Skills and Basic Notation.
• Garage Band composing tasks.
• Careers in Music
• Assessment 1: Hallowe’en
• Recorder
• Assessment 2: Christmas
• Theory and Listening Assessment

Term 2:

• Blues, Ragtime and Jazz. Chords
• Popular Music – Eurythmics, Queen etc.
• Continuing to develop
• Recorder Skills,
• Keyboard Skills, Ukulele Skills and Basic Notation.
• Garage Band composing tasks.
• Assessment 3: Easter
• Composition Task

Term 3:

• Popular Music - Queen, Adelle etc.
• Continuing to develop
• Recorder Skills,
• Keyboard Skills, Ukulele Skills and Basic Notation.
• Garage Band composing tasks.
• Assessment 4: Summer
• Theory and Listening Exam.
• Composing and Performing Assessments

Key Stage 4

We have thriving GCSE classes who are studying the CCEA syllabus. Students continue to develop their performing, listening and composing skills which equips our musicians with the necessary skills to further their education and development at university and the expanding music industry.

Year 11

Term 1:

September

• Composing Techniques: melody writing
• Theory Grade 1
• Introduction to Popular Music
• Eurythmics ‘Sweet Dreams’
• Performance

October

• Composition techniques continued (assessed)
• Theory Grade 2
• Ash ‘Burn Baby Burn’
• Florence and the Machine ‘Cosmic Love’

November

• Theory Grade 3
• Introduction to Music Traditions in Ireland
• Start Christmas Composition
• Set Works revision for exams

December

• Listening Exam
• Theory Test
• Performance Exam
• Composition deadline

Term 2:

January

• Composition (chords and texture)
• Beoga
• Stonewall
• Start ensemble performances

February

• Composition Accompaniments
• Introduction to Film Music
• Dam Busters
• Ensemble Performance

March

• Start GCSE Composition
• Superman

April

• Complete 1st Section of Composition
• The Amazing Spiderman

Term 3:

May

• Revision of Set Works
• Complete Second section of Composition

June

• Listening exam, solo and ensemble performances

Year 12

Term 1:

September

• Introduction to Baroque Music
• Handel ‘For Unto Us A Child is Born’ from the Messiah
• Revision/extended writing: ‘Sweet Dreams’ and ‘Burn Baby Burn’
• Unseen listening practice 2 questions
• Finalise performance pieces - solo and ensemble (minimum 2 minutes each). Copies of accompaniments need to be handed in.
• Composition stimulus issued and work begins on composition 2

October

• Introduction to Classical Music
• Mozart - Horn Concerto no.4, 3rd movement
• Revision/extended writing:Williams-’Cosmic Love’ and ‘Dambusters’
• Unseen listening practice 2 questions
• Performance Hallowe’en assessment date TBA
• Composition work continues

November

• Introduction to Romantic Music
• Berlioz -Symphonie Fantastique, 4th movement
• Revision/prep for extended writing: Superman and Spiderman
• Unseen listening practice 2 questions
• Performance discussion prepared in writing for solo or ensemble performance.
• Composition work continues.

December

• Mock Listening Exam based on above set works and unseen questions
• Solo, ensemble performances for Winter Assessment to be performed and discussion also assessed.
• Composition work continues.

Term 2:

January

• Revision/prep for extended writing Beoga and Stonewall. Further unseen practice.
• Composition work continues

February- May

• Revision/prep for extended writing: Handel, Mozart and Berlioz.
• Past exam questions/exam technique.
• Revision of all set works.
• CCEA assessed performance exam held in April (date known by the end of March).
• Composition controlled assessment deadline February.

Term 3:

 See Above

Groups

Ensemble involvement is a fundamental aspect of the life of any student at Malone College who performs music and we are fortunate to be able to offer such a wide variety of activities and also to be able to react to change and student intake. With any ensemble comes the opportunity to perform and there are many events throughout the year where even the student-organised activity can shine. There are many opportunities for chamber music with a number of rehearsal rooms available.

Instrumental Groups

The Instrumental groups are very popular musical groups in Malone and are supported by afterschool workshops.

The Instrumental Groups start in September, getting to grips with new members and new pieces in order to be ready for the first big performance: Presentation Afternoon, Christmas and various other events and performances throughout the year.

Band members enjoy letting their hair down during their breaktimes, lunchtimes and afterschool.

There are a number of highlights throughout the year proving very popular. Rehearsals are fun, slightly less formal than class. Lunchtime recitals in the music department allow the groups to perform favourites perfected throughout the year and allow students to prepare for examinations.

Choir

The Choir is where many of Malone’s talented singers begin their performing careers. The year begins in September before the choir settles into the serious business of rehearsals under the supervision of Mrs Mitchell.

The first event for the choir is the Presentation Afternoon which is followed by a number of events in the lead up to Christmas.  These performances range from challenging pieces to traditional French/German/Spanish carols as well as plenty of festive favourites! We perform in the community on many occasions during this term.

Welcoming in the New Year, the choir begins its rehearsals straight away. Songs from music theatre and popular music are chosen by Mrs Mitchell and the choir members to tie in with current trends.

Lively performance of Coleman’s ‘The Rhythm of Life’ (from Sweet Charity): a challenging, technical piece, but one which the pupils thoroughly enjoy singing, Jar of Hearts, All of Me, Rodger and Hammerstein’s Broadway Medley and Disney Dazzle are all part of our repertoire for this year.

Recorder Ensemble

The Recorder Group is a lively ensemble which meets during lunchtimes at the College, currently boasting up to twenty members from Year 8 upwards.

The range of music played is sure to impress the listening audience including anything from popular melodies to festive tunes and West-End musicals! 

The ensemble is a committed group who are keen to welcome new members dedicated to getting the most out of this humble instrument.

The Keyboard Group

This ensemble enjoys a growing popularity, with well in excess of twenty members. Budding keyboard players meet at lunchtimes in Term 2 to improve their keyboard skills.

Workshops

There are a series of weekly workshops in the College from November to February which offer expert tuition with a focus on guitar, drum-kit, keyboard and vocals. This leads to the formation/ development of bands in the College and a number of showcase concerts.