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Music

Igs033Music is a very important part of life at Invicta Grammar and we are very proud of the dedicated and enthusiastic students that make up this talented department. The Music department offers opportunities for students to experience a wide variety of musical styles and runs 15 rehearsals a week for ensembles including three choirs, a 60 piece Orchestra, a Samba Group, five 'house' bands, a Big Band, a Wind Band and a String Orchestra.   

At Invicta we believe Music is fundamental in developing students’ self-confidence, cognitive abilities, self-expression and cultural understanding. Students are able to perform on at least a termly basis in the popular music department concert, as well as at many other events including the Christmas Carol Concert, Informal Soloists Concert and numerous outreach performances.

We would encourage every student to get involved with the Music department. Numerous opportunities are available which cater for the most developed musician right through to the complete beginner. The department is well-resourced with a purpose built Music Auditorium, seven practice rooms, two music classrooms, and a piano studio. We have twenty-two visiting peripatetic teachers covering a wide range of musical instruments. We also provide students with classroom lessons throughout Key Stage 3, as well as an option at GCSE and A Level.

Key Stage 3

The Music curriculum at Key Stage 3 promotes a strong love of learning Music through engaging practical activity. Lessons are accessible and challenging, regardless of the level of previous experience each student has. Activities are scaffolded to support and challenge all abilities. Our students become confident and articulate performers and composers of music, developing the ability to read basic music notation and apply this to a wide range of contexts throughout Years 7 and 8.

Students explore a wide range of topics and genres in Key Stage 3:

Year 7 - The Baroque Period, the Classical Period, the Romantic Period.
Year 8 - The Blues, Jazz, Rock ‘n’ Roll, music for film and song writing.

Through studying these, a wide musical vocabulary is developed which students can apply to appraising music both in lessons and further at GCSE and A Level. Students also develop understanding of musical links between these topics, as well as beginning to understand how music has developed and changed over time. Students perform and compose through singing, playing the ukulele, keyboard and percussion. There is an abundance of wider musical opportunities for students to engage in beyond the classroom, including School Choir, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, School Orchestra, String Orchestra, Big Band, Guitar Ensemble, Wind Band, School Productions, House Bands.

Timetable

Over a fortnightly timetable, students receive:

  • 2 hours of guided classroom learning.

Enrichment and Extra Curricular

To Read

  • Welcome to Symphony: A Musical Exploration Of The Orchestra: Carolyn Sloan
  • Who Was Louis Armstrong?: Yona Zeldis McDonough
  • A History Of Music For Children: Mary Richards

To Watch

To Listen

  • Handel – Music For The Royal Fireworks
  • Bach – Fugue in D Minor
  • Mozart – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
  • Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata
  • Elgar – Nimrod
  • Clara Schumann – Piano Concerto in A minor
  • Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries
  • Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker
  • John Williams – Harry Potter
  • Natalie Holt - Paddington
  • Hans Zimmer – The Dark Knight Rises
  • Muddy Waters – Hoochie Coochie Man
  • Ella Fitzgerald – It Don’t Mean A Thing
  • BB King – The Thrill is Gone
  • Dave Brubeck – Take Five
  • Duke Ellington – Take The “A” Train
  • Herbie Hancock – Watermelon Man
  • Duffy – Mercy
  • The Beatles – Twist and Shout

To Research

  • How have the blues influenced popular music that we listen to today?
  • What was John Williams’ musical background and how did this affect the style in which he wrote his film music?

To Do

  • Using Garageband, compose a short piece for two instruments in a ternary structure.
  • Using a piano, compose a short piece of music using the minor pentatonic in a binary structure, with a focus on dynamic contrast.

Year 9 - Foundation Year

Our Year 9 Music Curriculum focuses on the development of key musical skills students have developed in Key Stage 3. This year gives students the exciting opportunity to push beyond the scope of topics studied in Years 7 and 8 to further broaden their understanding of musical innovation and development. Through the study of a diverse and exciting range of topics, including Video Game music and Women Composers in Music History, students will become critical thinkers and will discuss key issues in current musical thought and scholarship.  

Building on a knowledge of melodic, harmonic, rhythmic and structural devices gained in Years 7 and 8, students will learn to place developments in music composition and performance within these new topic areas in their wider historic context. They will also understand the implications of wider socio-cultural factors on music’s development over time. Our students will become increasingly confident performers and imaginative composers by consistently seeking opportunities to put new musical devices into practice in their own music-making. Most importantly, students will be encouraged to develop their own innate love of music and to examine their own musical preferences to grow their overall understanding and appreciation of music through time. 

Timetable

Over a fortnightly timetable, students receive:

  • 5 hours of guided classroom learning 
  • 5 x 20 minutes of guided independent instrument practice 

Enrichment and Extra Curricular

To Read 

To Watch

To Listen

To Research

To Do

  • Make sure you have joined at least 1 of the Music Department’s fantastic choirs and ensembles!
  • Keep your eyes peeled for any upcoming concerts featuring the work of a lesser-known female composer to hear their music for yourself! 

Key Stage 4

DSC 5702 GCSE Music builds upon the core composites learnt in Year 9, with performance, composition and appraising music becoming the core units within the course. Lessons endeavour to be as musically engaging with a continued focus on practical music making where possible.

Students deepen their understanding of historical, cultural and musical knowledge covering a wide range of topics. These include Music for Stage and Screen (Schwartz’s Defying Gravity and Williams’s Star Wars), Vocal Music (Purcell’s Music for a While and Queen’s Killer Queen), Fusions (Spalding’s Samba Em Preludio and Afro Celt Sound System’s Release) and Instrumental Music (Beethoven’s Pathetique and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto). Students build upon, and develop, their composing skills completing both a free composition, and a composition to a brief, under the guidance of a composition tutor at a staff to student ratio of 1:4. Students also continue to develop performance skills on their chosen instrument, with an eventual group and ensemble performance in Year 11.

Examination Board/Qualification:     Edexcel - GCSE 

  • Listening Paper at the end of Year 11
  • Controlled assessment to be completed at the end of Year 11

Timetable

Over a fortnightly timetable, students receive:

  • 5 hours of guided classroom learning 
  • 5 x 20 minutes of guided independent instrument practice

Enrichment and Extra Curricular

To Read 

To Watch 

To Listen

BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week:  

  • Bach in Cothen  
  • Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 2, 4 and 5  
  • Henry Purcell (1659 – 1695)  
  • Purcell: Songs  
  • Ludwig Van Beethoven: Transforming the legacy of Haydn and Mozart   

Wider Listening:  

  • Vivaldi: The Four Seasons  
  • Mozart: Piano Sonata in C major K.545, 1st movement  
  • Handel: ‘Rejoice Greatly’ from Messiah 
  • Purcell: ‘When I am Laid in Earth’ from Dido and Aeneas 
  • Beach Boys: ‘God Only Knows’  
  • Minchin ‘Naughty’ from Matilda The Musical  
  • Shore: ‘Concerning Hobbits’ from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 
  • Capercaillie: Beautiful Wasteland 
  • Dizzy Gillespie and Machito: Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods 

To Research 

To Do 

Music courses including:  

Attend concerts:  

Key Stage 5

A Level Music allows students to develop an acute understanding of the development of Music from many styles and genres. This is achieved through the study of the three disciplines of performance, composition and appraising. Students will hone their performance skills to produce a high-level recital which demonstrates their technical proficiency and musicality. Individual support is provided for composition, where students are encouraged to research and develop ideas in a style which they have selected, supported by a range of music technology programmes. Underpinning this is the study of harmony through Bach chorale exercises, which provide a secure foundation for composition and analysis. The diverse range of set works studied for the appraising section of the course enables appreciation of many styles and genres, from the choral music of J.S Bach to the fusion of Indian classical music and western dance genres in the work of Anoushka Shankar. Critical to success in this part of the course is the exploration of music beyond the prescribed set works and development of understanding of social, political and historical context. A Level Music students gain a high level of aural analytical skills as well the ability to write critical essays in which to articulate their musical understanding. They also form an integral part of Music Department ensembles and benefit from a wide range of performing opportunities. The confidence, musical vocabulary and critical thinking skills which are developed in Music A Level serve our students well in their future careers, whether in Music or in other areas.  

Examination Board/Qualification:    Edexcel - A Level 

  • Performance: 8-minute recital at Grade 7 standard. 30% of qualification.
  • Composition: One 4-minute free-choice composition. 2 Bach chorale harmonisations in a controlled assessment. 30% of qualification 
  • Appraising: One 2hr 10 min paper at the end of Year 13. 40% of qualification. 100 marks 
    • Section A: 
    • Three listening questions based on set works studied with audio track and skeleton score [15 marks each]
    • One dictation [8 marks]
    • Section B: 
    • One essay on an unfamiliar piece of music, related to the set works, audio track provided. [20 marks]
    • One essay from a choice of four set works [30 marks]

Timetable

Over a fortnightly timetable, students receive:

  • 8 hours of guided classroom learning
  • 8 hours of guided independent homework/Instrument Practice

Enrichment and Extra Curricular

To Read 

  • Burkholder, Grout & Palisca: A History of Western Music (2009)  
  • Nicolas Cook:  Music: A Very Short Introduction (1998)  
  • Alex Ross: The Rest is Noise: Listening to the 20th Century (2007)  
  • Ted Gioia: The History of Jazz  
  • Hector Berlioz: Memoirs  

To Watch 

To Listen

  • BBC Radio 3 – Composer of the Week  
  • BBC Radio 3: ‘The Music of Kaija Saariaho’ from The Listening Service 
  • BBC Sounds ‘Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique’ from The Story of Music in 50 Pieces 
  • BBC Sounds ‘Debussy: Estampes’ from The Story of Music in 50 Pieces 
  • BBC Sounds ‘Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring’ from The Story of Music in 50 Pieces 

To Research 

To Do 

Music courses including:  

Attend concerts:  

Careers

We have a wealth of information on our Careers page - Please click here to visit. 

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04/09/24

Join us for an exciting series of Transition Workshops this term, ranging from Young Philosophers to Music and Science. Spaces are limited, so be sure to secure your spot today by booking through our Eventbrite page via the link below!https://t.co/0P43MLFL8P#TransitionWorkshop pic.twitter.com/lEceBcnwRK

19/06/24

Winner of the Junior Science Award is Taliah Rothschild from . Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/3IhcXuCOAF

19/06/24

Betsy Ellis from has won the Future in Aviation Award. Congratulations Betsy! pic.twitter.com/WVK4L1LSDE

04/06/24

We are currently recruiting for several support staff positions. If you're passionate about education and looking to make a difference, we want to hear from you! To apply, please visit our website or follow the link below:https://t.co/Wp92LBvxMR pic.twitter.com/AKPSnemZDI

10/05/24

Last week, our Orchestra had their final rehearsal before Year 13 began their study leave, marking the occasion with a photo capturing all the instruments in harmony🎼 We look forward to welcoming back the full Orchestra with the Year 13 members for the upcoming Summer Concert! pic.twitter.com/Am4loN20Vk

09/05/24

Only a few hours left until Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 take on the Maidstone Football Finals at the Gallagher Stadium tonight! - Our Year 7 team will be playing in two weeks. Year 8 Kick Off: 3:45pm Year 9 Kick Off: 5:30pm Year 10 Kick Off: 6:45pm We hope to see you there🌟 pic.twitter.com/RnVjcild4T

29/04/24

We are proud to announce this year's production will be James and the Giant Peach! 🍑 Rehearsals are underway, and we can't wait to bring this beloved story to life on stage. Keep your eyes peeled as we will be sharing sneak peeks of rehearsals in the coming weeks!#RoaldDahl pic.twitter.com/umRTEJFoC0

09/04/24

With Earth Day less than two weeks away, here are some ways to be more eco-friendly and better look after our Earth!#EarthDay pic.twitter.com/2wpO09fPoq

21/03/24

Spring has sprung at Invicta and yesterday our Year 7 and 8 POP Photography students enjoyed the first day of spring by focussing on natural textures!#Photography pic.twitter.com/VXK4Zh7tNz

20/03/24

KS2 enjoyed participating in language workshops on Tuesday morning, focusing on German, French and Spanish with some students from pic.twitter.com/seA6XOjMYz

20/03/24

KS2 enjoyed participating in language workshops on Tuesday morning, focusing on German, French and Spanish with some students from pic.twitter.com/seA6XOjMYz

14/03/24

Today is International Day of Mathematics🎉 At Invicta, we're passionate about empowering our students with the boundless potential of mathematics both in and outside the classroom! Join us as we discover the magic of numbers in everyday life! pic.twitter.com/uhDfB1ToUy

12/03/24

Last week marked a significant moment in Invicta's history as we gathered for our whole school photo, a rare event that takes place only once every 7 years. Here are some behind-the-scenes photos from the day, showcasing the infectious excitement and sense of community! pic.twitter.com/Y5RDLffV0C

08/03/24

Today we are capturing a moment in time with a whole school photo!📸 pic.twitter.com/Hya2nGJX2H

04/03/24

Students had a fantastic time during last week's POP sessions (Personal Opportunities Program)! We saw students engage with a host of new and familiar favourite activities including, Chess, Coding, Minecraft, Photography, Yoga, Crochet, Nature Walks and so many more! pic.twitter.com/bSmEMQ0Yo5

29/02/24

Our upcoming non-uniform day supports FIGS, our parent-teacher association. The theme is "Be Active!" It's a day to dress sporty and promote physical activity and wellness. Let's show our support for FIGS while staying active and healthy!#NonUniform pic.twitter.com/MZ6ljDx4TN

26/02/24

I had a lovely morning visit to today. The year 8s have been studying the movement & some of the specific stories I explore in my book, of Kent. It was lovely to talk about who grew up in pic.twitter.com/e5GiWrX4zb

22/02/24

I had a lovely morning visit to today. The year 8s have been studying the movement & some of the specific stories I explore in my book, of Kent. It was lovely to talk about who grew up in pic.twitter.com/e5GiWrX4zb

21/02/24

World Book Day is just over 2 weeks away now! What are some of your favourite books that you've read so far this year, who are your favourite authors... We'd love to hear your thoughts on reading, books and literature!#WorldBookDay pic.twitter.com/tZnX6Fd8WS

21/02/24

Join us for fab line up of Live Talks for 4-9 Mar delivered by aimed at https://t.co/3zmmUzLLnQ pic.twitter.com/G7sQFjiTQf

19/02/24

Join us for fab line up of Live Talks for 4-9 Mar delivered by aimed at https://t.co/3zmmUzLLnQ pic.twitter.com/G7sQFjiTQf

19/02/24

Last term, our Year 9 photographers explored aperture, depth of field and composition in their work to create these stunning photographs of miniature cars, inspired by the works of Kim Leuenberger! pic.twitter.com/jYOG8pXoS1

06/02/24

We currently have several vacancies available including a Teacher of MFL Spanish, a Receptionist and a Careers Advisor. If you are looking to join a friendly and encouraging team, please submit an application using the link below!https://t.co/Wp92LBuZXj pic.twitter.com/mLyLvveSza

30/01/24

Last week marked the Primary Literacy Challenge! Thanks to all the teams who attended, we hope you had a great time! See you at our Primary STEM challenge next term! Congratulations to for winning! 🏆🎉 pic.twitter.com/ILU5YmABv1

30/01/24

A reminder to students and parents that next Monday, 5 February is a non-uniform day and students are encouraged to wear something blue or nature-themed if they have items in their wardrobe to support and raise awareness for The Marine Conservation Society 💙 pic.twitter.com/bNElZCXC2h