Department Overview
Music at Biddenham is inclusive, creative and academic. At key stage 3 all students take part in weekly, one hour music lessons and at key stage 4 students can elect to study Eduqas GCSE Music.
Our department consists of four practice rooms all of which are equipped with pianos and our performance venue includes a Kuwai grand piano. We have class sets of MIDI keyboards, tuned percussion, ukuleles, guitars, trombones, recorders and fifes. Students have access to cloud-based music packages on their Chromebooks to support music technology study and allow working for home to prepare our students for future careers in the music industry.
We also excel at providing inclusive extra-curricular opportunities including choirs and bands, whilst also encouraging student-led music making at breaks and lunchtimes. We offer free and heavily subsidised instrumental and vocal tuition in collaboration with Bedford Music Cooperative. In addition we have creative links with The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Orchestras for All, Bedford Orchestral and Choral Societies and Music for Bedford Borough.
To find out more about instrumental and vocal tuition in schools and to book your lesson or instrument hire visit www.bedsmusic.coop.
Subject Learning Journey
Visit our Instagram page to view a gallery of our students’ work.
Who to contact for extra information:
Mrs Williams
ginny.williams@biddenham.beds.sch.uk
Assessments
| Key Stage 3 | Key Stage 4 |
|
Year 7
Autumn 1 Focus: Musical elements – applying their knowledge of musical elements to the listening task of Peter and the Wolf Autumn 2 Focus: I’ve Got Rhythm (theory and listening assessment) Spring 1 Focus: Grade 1 Rhythm Assessment
Spring 2 Focus: Florence Price Performance Assessment Summer
Do Re Mi Notation Assessment Pentatonic Pizza Assessment Year 8
Autumn 1 Focus: Play Bach’s minuet in G major on a glockenspiel Autumn 2 Focus: Google Listening and Theory Quiz Tuned Percussion Performance Assessment Spring Focus: Performance Assessment
Summer Focus: Shotgun Assessment |
Component 1: Performing – at least two performance pieces, including one ensemble and one linked to area of study (4-6 minutes, non-exam assessment, 30%)
Component 2: Composing – two compositions, one in response to a set brief (2-6 minutes, non-exam assessment, 30%)
Component 3: Appraising (listening exam, 1 hour 15 minutes, 40%) |
Exam Board Information
