Music
In Key Stage 3 students receive 1 period of Music each week taught in a mixed ability groups. During their Music lessons, students will develop practical skills in listening, composing and performing using a range of resources including keyboard, voice and percussion. Practical activities include individual, group and whole-class performances within the following topics:
Year 7:
- Musical Elements
- Pitch and Graphic Notation
- Instruments of the Orchestra
- Rhythm and Pulse
- Latin American Music
Year 8:
- World Music
- Music and the Media
- 19th and 20th Century Composing Styles
Year 9:
- Musical Theatre
- Popular Music Styles and the Blues.
Music is an option at Key Stage 4. If students choose to continue their musical studies, they receive 3 periods of Music each week taught in a mixed ability group and follow the AQA Music GCSE course. During the course students develop their practical skills in performance, composition and listening and analysis. The areas of study for the GCSE course are Rhythm and Metre, Harmony and Tonality, Texture and Melody, Timbre and Dynamics and Structure and Form. These are explored through three Strands: Western Classical Music, Popular Music of the 20th and 21st centuries and World Music.
At Key Stage 5, students can choose to study Music at Level 3. Currently at Coppice, both the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma in Music Performance and A Level (AQA Specification) are available. Students have 6 timetabled lessons per week.
Throughout their life at Coppice students have the opportunity to learn at least one musical instrument and we have 6 peripatetic staff teaching performance skills on Strings, Woodwind, Brass, Drum Kit, Piano, Voice and Guitar. These lessons last approximately 30 minutes and take place on the same day each week.
We have a thriving extra-curricular schedule including instrumental and vocal ensembles. All the ensembles perform at a Christmas and Summer Concert each year and have the opportunity to attend a weekend residential at Ingestre Hall in the summer term. The ensembles currently running are:
| ENSEMBLE | REHEARSAL TIME |
|---|---|
| ORCHESTRA | MONDAY LUNCHTIME |
| JUNIOR CHOIR | TUESDAY LUNCHTIME |
| 6TH FORM BAND | WEDNESDAY LUNCHTIME |
| GOSPEL CHOIR | THURSDAY LUNCHTIME |
| SENIOR VOCAL GROUP | FRIDAY LUNCHTIME |
| SMALLER INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES | VARIOUS |
Facilities
- Peripatetic music tuition offered in voice, piano, guitar, upper and lower strings , woodwind, brass, drum kit
- Music room with keyboard suite, computer suite/composition software/interactive whiteboard
- 2 practice rooms
- Second music classroom (Shared facility)
Musical Productions
- 2004 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
- 2005 Grease
- 2006 Les Misérables School Edition
- 2006 Les Misérables School Edition (Performed at The Grand Theatre)
- 2007 Jesus Christ Superstar
- 2008 Schools Will Rock You (Performed at The Grand Theatre, W'ton)
- 2009 Fame - The Musical
- 2010 Footloose - The Musical
- (2011): Our House - The Madness Musical
Recent Community Music Projects
- Wolverhampton Grand Theatre:
- Les Misérables (2006)
- Schools Will Rock You (2008)
- English National Opera: House On The Moon (2007) performed at The Grand Theatre
- W'ton Wolverhampton Civic Centre Mayor's Parlour: Special event performances (2006, 2008, 2010)
- Wolverhampton Civic Hall: Royal Marines Massed Bands Concerts (2007, 2008)
- St Thomas' Church Wednesfield: Annual Christmas Concerts Westcroft Special School: We Will Rock You workshop (2008), Mamma Mia Performance (2009)
- Wolverhampton Music Festival at Wulfrun Hall (2010)
- Performance at BSF launch Event at Dunstall Park (2010)
- Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School (Year 3) - music projects lead by Coppice Performing Arts School Staff