Music

Curriculum Intent

Mrs. Vicky Finch
Head of Performing Arts
vicky.finch@lct.education

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

CURRICULUM MAP

"To practice any art, no matter how well or how badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it! "Kurt Vonnegut

Performing Arts are at the heart of HLC’s ethos with all students studying Dance, Drama & Music at KS3. We are incredibly proud of our students who we nurture to achieve their personal best in all three disciplines.

The Performing Arts Team seek to inspire a love for the Arts and capture the imagination of our students by introducing them to a rich diet of culture and diverse traditions, whilst developing confident and caring individuals who are equipped to deal with the world in which we live. Our students enjoy learning through practical activities which encompass a wide range of dance, acting and musical styles. They learn creative ways to express themselves and will use their senses, perceptions, feelings and values to communicate ideas, emotions and experiences. Development of critical faculties enables them to effectively evaluate their own work and that of others.

Through a safe and respectful environment, students learn to trust their ideas and abilities and grow in confidence whilst honing teamwork and cooperation skills. Through the study of specific skills and techniques, students will develop their resilience, self-discipline, health and wellbeing in order to overcome challenges and learn how to present themselves going into real life situations.

All students are encouraged to develop their skills further through our extensive range of enrichment activities, including instrumental lessons, which provide numerous opportunities for students of all abilities to perform in a range of events. Students with a talent and passion for our subjects are pushed to perform at the highest level. We ensure to provide professional opportunities and experiences which will prepare them for further study and a potential career in the industry.

Key Stage 3 students are set tasks relevant to their current scheme of work. This may involve practising material introduced in the lesson or it could be a research, appreciation or evaluation task. Homework tasks are handed out in lessons and published on Teams.

Key Stage 4 Performing Arts students are set work each week that relates to the current BTEC or RSL unit being studied. This can include individual practice with subsequent reflection on their skill development and progress. It may be research into specific professional works which support the learning in lessons. Tasks and resources are always distributed in lessons as well as being published on Teams.

We run an extensive extra-curricular programme designed to appeal to students with a variety of tastes, experiences and abilities. e.g.

DANCE: KS3 club, KS4 club, Boys Dance Project, Dance Company & Company Select for our G & T Dancers.

DRAMA: KS3 Club, Schools’ Shakespeare Festival, KS4 club.

MUSIC: Vocal Group, KS3 Club, Steel Band, Ukulele Club & Instrumental lessons taught during the school day.

Christmas Showcase: A celebration of all that taken place in Performing Arts through the autumn term.

Musical Production: Recent productions have included All Shook Up 2020 and West Side Story 2019 which was performed at Oakengates Theatre to great acclaim.

Dance Fest: This is an annual performance that takes place at Oakengates Theatre. As well as featuring KS4 exam work and performances from our extra-curricular groups, we invite dancers from schools across the Learning Community Trust and other local dance groups to participate.

Trips: We frequently run trips to theatres in Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Birmingham to watch professional live theatre & performances. This could be linked to students’ exam work, a reward trip for those who contribute at a high level to our subjects or purely for entertainment.

We also run an annual residential trip to London for students who are considering continuing to study the Performing Arts at KS4 and beyond. We watch two West End shows and take part in a workshop led by a professional cast member. We sometimes run a second trip for KS4 P. Arts students.

Other Enrichment opportunities:

We run in-house workshops with professional artists such as Flexus & Motion House Dance Companies. BTEC Drama students have also taken part in a professional workshop with Tim Ford.

We frequently take our students to perform in the local community, including in conjunction with other schools in the Trust.

Our Dance Company takes part in an annual national competition and have always reached the finals stage.

Our Vocal Group have performed at Birmingham Conservatoire with whom we have a partnership. The Conservatoire have also run an in-house opera workshop. Further visits for other instrumentalists are being planned.

We are currently running an Aspire to Higher Education project involving thirty year 9 & 10 students in conjunction with The Birmingham Conservatoire.

The skills and qualities that students learn and develop through studying the Performing Arts will stand them in good stead for any career path and can equip them for many of life’s challenges.

Through the discipline of learning a specific skill, such as learning to play a musical instrument or studying a dance style, we develop student’s resilience.
We help to build self-esteem, confidence and respect for each other through the sharing our performance work and through the study of diverse cultures and traditions.
Performing Arts helps students to develop personal presentation and communication skills as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Students develop creativity, imagination whilst exploring and reflecting on their own character and opinions.
All KS4 Performing Arts courses include exploration of the various job roles and careers that make up the industry e.g. BTEC Music unit 1: The Music Industry.

Several of our students continue to study A level and BTEC Performing Arts courses at post 16 providers, both at our local 6th form colleges and further afield. We are proud that our students tell us how well prepared they feel to take this step and are delighted that a significant few have progressed onto some of the most prestigious Performing Arts academies in the country.

A degree in Performing Arts subjects can lead in numerous directions; far too many to list here. As well as being an actor, dancer or musician, other possible careers include screenwriter, sound technician, choreographer, director, music therapist, stage manager, arts administrator and, of course, teacher.