Welcome to the Music Department
The Music department is situated in one of the newest buildings of the school, along with the sixth form common room. We are lucky to have two top-class teaching rooms, three practice rooms and a bank of computers running software for music and video editing. This is especially relevant to GCSE and A Level students, and the teaching of music in our modern technological age.
Our strong association with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra continues and last term our Year 10 GCSE students produced a CD of songs they had composed based on the story of ‘Duke Bluebeard’s Castle’. We have also been taking students to BSO concerts on Wednesday evenings and these continue to be popular with students.
KS3
In years 8 and 9 girls study the theory of music and are taught the basics of playing the keyboard. Girls are also encouraged to continue or begin playing a musical instrument with lessons within school time. More information can be found out about the many music groups and orchestras at Parkstone on the extra-curricular music page.
GCSE Music
Music at GCSE covers the three main areas of performing, composing and listening and each student has some flexibility to give greater emphasis to the musical activity which they most enjoy. 30% of the final grade is based on an assessment of performing skills and to gain a good grade students need to reach a minimum standard of Grade 5 by the end of year 11.
Students have the opportunity to take part in ensemble and solo performances at the Spring Concert, on which they are assessed. Composition is also an important section of the course, and students are asked to write two pieces of their own, including one for their main instrument. They also study a broad sweep of musical history from 1550 to the present day that covers a wide range of genres including pop, folk, jazz, ethnic and classical.
A Level Music
The AS and A Level music courses extend the GCSE skills of performing, composing and listening in a way which emphasise their interdependence.
There are no limits to the instruments and types of repertoire presented in performance and students are encouraged to study the widest possible range of music from folk, popular and classical tradition to those of jazz and non-listen.
Click here to view the examination board syllabus
