Year 8 Music

Term 

What are we learning 

1 

World Rhythms (Saharan Sounds)  

Students in this unit will revisit the key terms rhythm and pulse in their continuing journey as a developing musician. This time, students will study the rhythms and music of West Africa and use Djembe drums to perform and compose music using West African influences.  

2 

Minimalism  

Students will learn about more unusual and experimental types of music. Students will explore and study the composers and main characteristics of minimalism music, learning to compose and perform using the features with classroom instruments and ICT.     

3 

Tonality and Structure 

Students will explore and learn about how music is put together into different structures including binary and ternary form – through composing, appraising and performing activities. The unit also explores the difference between major and minor tonality – ensuring students have a solid understanding of how tonalities affect the mood of a piece of music.  

4 & 5

Black Music in America

In this unit, students go back through the history of black music in America, beginning with the ring shout and cake walk – both invented by Black slaves. Students will explore and understand the structure of the 12 bar blues and listen to, perform and compose music using the key features of the style including: Walking bass line, 12 bar blues, chords, blues scale, improvising and call and response.

6 

Performing Together 

Using all the skills studied in previous units, students will form bands and put together a performance of a popular song using classroom instruments like the Bass Guitar, Keyboard, Voice, Ukulele and Drum Kit. This is a fun unit where students can develop and refine their ensemble skills.  

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