Music

Curriculum Intent

We exist to give children every possible life chance through musical experiences. 

At Unity College, we believe that every young person has the potential to achieve great things in music. Our music curriculum is designed to be broad, rich and challenging, whilst providing students with a solid foundation in music theory, performance skills and composition. We aim to facilitate a love of learning and an appreciation for music in all its forms.

Unity College’s music community is characterised by an ethos of inclusivity, tolerance, and respect. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in music regardless of their background, ability or experience. Our music curriculum is designed to be accessible for all students and to promote diversity and inclusion. 

Our music curriculum has the following goals: 

1. To provide students with a solid foundation in music theory, performance skills and composition 
2. To foster a love of learning and an appreciation for music in all its forms 
3. To encourage students to participate in music beyond the classroom
4. To promote diversity and inclusivity in music

We believe that music is an important part of college life and that, in addition to the classroom curriculum, students should be involved in every aspect of music beyond the classroom with our enhanced curriculum. This includes participating in school concerts, joining music clubs, and collaborating with other students and staff members to create music for special events. 

Music Development Plan Summary 2024

Staff

Contact the Music Department: music@unity.lancs.sch.uk 

Key Stage 3 

In Music at Key Stage 3, students will be taught to:

• play and perform confidently in a range of solo and ensemble contexts using their voice, playing instruments musically, fluently and with accuracy and expression
• improvise and compose and extend and develop musical ideas by drawing on a range of musical structure, styles, genres and traditions
• use staff and other relevant notations appropriately and accurately in a range of musical styles, genres and traditions
• identify and use the interrelated dimensions of music expressively and with increasing sophistication, including use of tonalities, different types of scales and other musical devices 
• listen with increasing discrimination to a wide range of music from great composers and musicians
• develop a deepening understanding of the music that they perform and to which they listen, and its history 

Curriculum Overviews

Key Stage 4 Music

The WJEC Edugas GCSE in Music offers a broad and coherent course of study which encourages students to: 

• engage actively in the process of music study
• develop performing skills individually and in groups to communicate musically with fluency and control of the resources used
• develop composing skills to organise musical ideas and make use of appropriate resources
• recognise links between the integrated activities of performing, composing and appraising and how this informs the development of music 
• broaden musical experience and interests, develop imagination and foster creativity 
• develop knowledge, understanding and skills needed to communicate effectively as musicians 
• develop awareness of a variety of instruments, styles and approaches to performing and composing 
• develop awareness of music technologies and their use in the creation and presentation of music
• recognise contrasting genres, styles and traditions of music, and develop some awareness of musical chronology 
• develop as effective and independent learners with enquiring minds 
• reflect upon and evaluate their own and others’ music 
• engage with and appreciate the diverse heritage of music, in order to promote personal, social, intellectual and cultural development  

Key Stage 4 Music Technology 

The NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Music Technology offers a broad and coherent course of study, in which students will:

• understand the place of music technology within the music business 
• understand hardware components and software functions of a digital audio workstation (DAW) 
• use DAW software to produce musical projects 
• understand how music is composed through the study and analysis of musical elements 
• analyse the developments in musical style enabled by technology 
• select and apply musical elements to create stylistically appropriate musical outcomes 
• use sound creation in different forms of media 
• apply sound creation to achieve an outcome 
• understand planning and undertake multitrack recording and mixing 
• use recording equipment to capture and store multitrack audio recordings 

Content Area Knowledge Organisers 

Content Area 1 Knowledge Organiser

Content Area 2 Knowledge Organiser

Content Area 3 Knowledge Organiser

Content Area 4 Knowledge Organiser

Content Area 5 Knowledge Organiser

Instrumental and Vocal Lessons

In addition to our extra-curricular activities, we have a number of visiting instrumental and vocal teachers who tutor students each week. Lessons run throughout the school day on a rotation so that students do not miss the same lesson each week. If you are interested in learning to play one of these instruments, please click the links below for more details and to sign your child up for lessons.