Music
Music at Applemore aims to produce determined and ambitious students through a practical exploration of performance, composition and production. Students will develop their listening and analytical skills to be able to identify key features (DR SMITH) of music and playing styles, giving them transferable skills to focus and analyse specific features. Their performance skills will flourish through a safe and respectful learning environment, building their confidence and self-belief in the face of any challenge in life. Production and composition skills will grow as students explore and create music from a variety of genres, artists and composers.
Our Staff

Mr A Wickens
Enrichment
Instrumental Lessons
To support your music lessons students can also develop their musicianship further by taking small group or individual lessons on a specific instrument. For Rock and Pop instruments such as Singing, Drums, Guitar/Bass and Piano please click here to sign up on the Totally RAD website. For Classical instruments, such as Trumpet, Trombone, Violin, Clarinet, Saxophone as well as Music Tech lessons (learning how to use Logic Pro) please email Mr A Wickens above to sign up with Hampshire Music Service.
CONCERTS & MUSICALS
Every year we hold multiple concerts throughout the year, starting with a Year 7 concert at the end of the first term involving an all year 7 choir. Swiftly followed by the Christmas Concert where we celebrate Christmas in an Applemore fashion. We run a whole school Musical every year rehearsing between October and February with the performance before the Feb half term. We rehearse three times a week in preparation with lots of singing, dancing, acting and, most importantly, laughing.
This year we are adjusting Can Applemore Sing to become more inclusive and run an Applemore’s Got Talent. This happens in April in support of the House Charities. We end the year in the Summer Term with a Summer Showcase of the Creative Arts, celebrating the year gone and the progress our students have made.
Year 7
Pupils should build on their previous knowledge and skills through performing, composing and listening. They should develop their vocal and/or instrumental fluency,
accuracy and expressiveness; and understand musical structures, styles, genres and traditions, identifying the expressive use of musical dimensions. They should listen with increasing discrimination and awareness to inform their practice as musicians. They should use technologies appropriately and appreciate and understand a wide range of musical contexts and styles. Pupils should be taught to:
Term 1
Sign up
PERFORMING
Body Percussion
COMPOSING
Using musical notation
GENRES AND STYLES
Musical Theatre, Percussion
Term 2
African Rhythms
PRODUCING
Djembe drums and Percussion
COMPOSING
Use call and copy, polyrhythms and improvisation
GENRES AND STYLES
Traditional African
Songs
Composition
Term 3
Music Technology
PRODUCING
Live loops in Logic
COMPOSING
Use texture, structure and bass, drums and leads
GENRES AND STYLES
Electronic Dance Music
Songs
Composition
Term 4 and 5
Intro to Keyboard
PERFORMING
Keyboard
PRODUCING
MIDI Keyboard in Logic
GENRES AND STYLES
Modern Pop
SONGS
Shape of You (Ed Sheeran)
Term 5 and 6
Ukulele
PERFORMING
Ukulele
GENRES AND STYLES
Modern Pop
SONGS
Heathens (21 Pilots), Stitches (Shawn Mendez), Riptide (Vance Joy)
Year 8
Pupils should build on their previous knowledge and skills through performing, composing and listening. They should develop their vocal and/or instrumental fluency,
accuracy and expressiveness; and understand musical structures, styles, genres and traditions, identifying the expressive use of musical dimensions. They should listen with increasing discrimination and awareness to inform their practice as musicians. They should use technologies appropriately and appreciate and understand a wide range of musical contexts and styles. Pupils should be taught to:
Term 1
Stomp
PERFORMING
Body Percussion
COMPOSING
Using musical notation
GENRES AND STYLES
Musical Theatre, Percussion
Term 2
Film Music
PRODUCING
Film Music Features
COMPOSING
Using drone, leitmotif, mickey mousing
GENRES AND STYLES
Film Music, Orchestra
Term 3
Guitar
PERFORMING
Guitar
GENRES AND STYLES
Modern Pop
SONGS
Three Little Birds
Term 4
Four Chords in Music Tech
PRODUCING
Pop Features
COMPOSING
Using structure and texture
GENRES AND STYLES
Modern Pop
Term 5
Hall of the Mountain King
PERFORMING
Piano and Orchestra
PRODUCING
Orchestral Features
GENRES AND STYLES
Classical
SONGS
Hall of the Mountain King
Term 6
Whole Class Band
PERFORMING
Drums, Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Ukulele, Piano
GENRES AND STYLES
Modern Pop
SONGS
Crown (Stormzy)
Year 9
accuracy and expressiveness; and understand musical structures, styles, genres and traditions, identifying the expressive use of musical dimensions. They should listen with increasing discrimination and awareness to inform their practice as musicians. They should use technologies appropriately and appreciate and understand a wide range of musical contexts and styles. Pupils should be taught to:
Term 1
Making the Band
PERFORMING
Drums, Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Ukulele, Piano
GENRES AND STYLES
Modern Pop
SONGS
Blinding Lights
Term 2 and 3
Piano Blues
PERFORMING
Piano
COMPOSING
Improvise a melody using the Blues Scale
GENRES AND STYLES
The Blues
Term 3 and 4
Jazz
PERFORMING
Drums,Bass,Guitar,Voclas,Ukulele,Piano
GENRES AND STYLES
Jazz
Songs
Don’t Mean a Thing
Term 5
Songwriting (Pairs)
PRODUCING
Composing their own song on Logic
COMPOSING
Writing lyrics and chords
GENRES AND STYLES
Chosen by the Student
Term 6
Songwriting (Bands)
PERFORMING
Drums, Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Ukulele, Piano
COMPOSING
Arranging a song for group work
GENRES AND STYLES
Chosen by the student
Key Stage 4 – Y10/Y11
BTEC Music gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific applied knowledge and skills through realistic vocational contexts. The main focus is on four areas of equal importance, which cover the:
- development of key skills that prove learners’ aptitude in music, such as responding to a musical brief using musical skills and techniques
- processes that underpin effective ways of working in the music sector, such as the development of musical ideas, and using skills and techniques for rehearsal, creation,production and performance to respond to a music brief
- attitudes that are considered most important in the music sector, including personal management and communication
- knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, processes and attitudes in the sector, such as musical skills and styles.
Component 1
Exploring Music Products and Styles
PERFORMING
Students choose their own instruments to explore different genres and styles
PRODUCING
Students recap the basics of Logic and go into advanced topics such as synths, recording techniques, effects and mixing
COMPOSING
Students compose in different styles and genres
GENRES AND STYLES
1950s – 1960s (e.g. Rock n Roll)
1970s – 1980s (e.g. Synth Pop)
1990s – present (e.g. Drum n Bass)
Jazz/Blues, Film Music
DR SMITH
Comprehensive knowledge and understanding, and effective and creative application of the elements of music
Component 2
Music Skills Development
PERFORMING
Students can choose their own instrument to improve their musicianship
PRODUCING
Students can develop a plan of what skills and techniques to improve upon
COMPOSING
Students can develop a plan of what skills and techniques to improve upon
GENRES AND STYLES
Students choice
DR SMITH
Comprehensive development plan with effective refinement of musical and professional skills
Component 3
Responding to a Music Brief
PERFORMING
Students can use a variety of instruments to recreate a song in a different genre
PRODUCING
Students use Logic to recreate a song in a different genre
COMPOSING
Students add their own flair and arrangement of a song in a different genre
GENRES AND STYLES
Genres and songs chosen by the exam board
DR SMITH
Comprehensive plan, response and evaluation in regards to meeting a music brief