Music
Subject intent
Music at John Ferneley College is based around developing musical skills through practical music making, collaboration and enjoyment of music. Students spend the majority of their lessons building performance or composition skills whilst listening discriminatively to music in order to be able to discuss musical features when listening to a variety of styles of music. Over the three years of Key Stage 3, students learn to play the keyboard through various pieces from different composers and styles; Classical to jazz, Beethoven to Norton. Students also work in pairs to develop their compositional skills. Predominantly working on Musescore on the computers, they learn to write music using chords, broken chords, bassline, melodies and drums amongst other features and elements of music. Students receive one hour of music per week throughout the year.
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4, students have the option to take their musical studies further and take GCSE music. The John Ferneley College Music department follows the Eduqas specification with great success. GCSE music students are required to be able to perform on an instrument or through vocals and will need to have had experience of composition and study a variety of styles of music for the listening exam from Baroque chamber music through to contemporary musical theatre and rock and pop music.
Every student at John Ferneley College is encouraged to take up extra-curricular activities within the department including Ukulele club, the school band, various singing groups, as well as getting involved in one of our many productions and concerts throughout the year, both locally and in the wider area, as well as taking up an instrument to learn with our various peripatetic music teachers. Lessons are taught by dedicated subject specialists from across the county and focus on what the students wish to learn, whether that is exams or playing for pleasure.
The department has recently been accredited with the Music Mark (The UK Association for Music Education that collaborates with ABRSM). Leicestershire Schools Music Service nominated the department for membership in recognition of the work we do to ensure that our students are able to access and engage with a high-quality music education. The department has also been awarded the Gold Quality Music Mark by Leicestershire Music.
