Curriculum

Curriculum Roadmap

Topics

• Rehearsal skills and live music performance.
• Planning a career in music.
• Session musician.
• Lead performer.
• Studio sound recording.

Music development plan

Schools are asked to publish a music development plan that captures their curricular and co-curricular offer and sets out how it will be staffed and funded. The Eckington School music development plan is available below:

Eckington School Music Development Plan

Skills and requirements

Subject entry requirements

• Grade 5 in GCSE music or level 2 pass in RSL music. Students who have not studied GCSE or RSL music can still opt for level 3 RSL music subject to an audition.

Sixth Form entry requirements

• 4 A-levels over 2 years: for students who have achieved 5 or more grade 7s or above including English and maths (grade 5 or above).
• 3 A-levels over 2 years: for students who have achieved 5 grade 5s or above including English and maths.
• Level 3 vocational courses: for students who have achieved 5 grade 4s or above including English and maths.

Skills learned

The music practitioners qualification is designed to provide a vocationally-relevant education in contemporary music, aimed at beginners through to semi-professionals. Whether students are aspiring performers, composers, entrepreneurs or a combination of all of these, this qualification gives them the opportunity to apply their creativity in a practically-focused setting.

The pathways are common to all three levels and there are elements of each to be found in all. For non-instrumentalists, the technology and business pathways provide a route towards working in the music industry. Each pathway embodies a specific profile of study and this informs the unit choices, which students are guided to make. There are no pre-requisites which will compel learners to choose one pathway within a level and learners are at liberty to choose a different pathway when moving from level to level. The aim of the various pathways (performance, technology, business, and composition) are to equip students with various music industry relevant skills.

Performance students will:

• Perform effectively on their instrument/voice.
• Rehearse and display musicianship skills.
• Initiate and develop repertoire.
• Rehearse effectively and perform music live.
• Understand contextual issues relating to music style, audience and the music industry.
• Understand relevant aspects of music technology.

Technology students will demonstrate:

• Sound recording skills.
• Mixing and mastering skills.
• Sequencing and production skills.
• Live sound skills.
• Radio programming skills.
• Video production skills.
• Understanding of contextual issues relating to music technology.

Business students will demonstrate:

• Sound business and financial skills.
• Marketing skills.
• Understanding of music contracts.
• Media communication skills.
• Freelance practice.
• Artist management and artist representation skills.
• Event management skills.

Composition students will:

• Compose and arrange music.
• Initiate and develop repertoire.
• Develop musicianship skills through using a harmony instrument.
• Use computers and sequencing and recording software/hardware.
• Understand contextual issues relating to music style, audience and the music industry.

These skills will form a skill-set whereby the successful student at level 3, will be able to work in a near professional capacity (i.e. be a recording and performing artist, music producer, composer or entrepreneur/industry professional etc.).

Beyond the classroom

Future pathways

This course develops skills that are attractive to employers and universities in many areas. Some of these include:

• Working within the music industry.
• Music production
• Live performing
• Sound engineer
• Music events organiser