Welcome to the Music Department!
Music is taught at Key Stage 3, GCSE and AS and A2 levels here at St. Joseph’s College, and is a popular subject within the Performing Arts Department.
The department consists of a large main teaching classroom, fully equipped with keyboards, interactive whiteboard and a wide range of percussion instruments. We also have a separate computer suite for use by all pupils, but especially GCSE and A level students, which have Sibelius and Cubase software for use in composition work.
Pupils are also given the opportunity to learn an instrument while at the college, and we currently have teachers who visit the school to give lessons in Woodwind, Brass, Strings, Guitar and Keyboard / Piano.
There are many extra-curricular activities to get involved in at the College. We have a lower school Ensemble who meet weekly and perform in concerts, as well as the Sixth Form band. Many pupils also take part in the annual school show, both in the cast and as musicians. There are also informal concerts where pupils can showcase their talents, rehearse for music examinations or perform just for fun!
The Music Department has strong ties with the Music Department of the Diocese of Leeds, and the Bradford Girls’ Choir, one of the Diocese elite choirs, rehearses twice weekly at the College. Over half of this choir is made up of students from the College. They were awarded 1stplace recently in the Youth Choir class at the North Wales Choral Festival, and regularly sing for Masses, concerts and other events both in the college and around the Diocese.
KS3
At Key Stage 3, music is taught in a carousel to all pupils, and everyone gets to take part in performing, composition and listening tasks during their lessons. Topics covered include Rhythm and Pulse, Samba, Film Music, Chinese Music and Blues, but to name just a few!
KS4
Pupils at Key Stage 4 follow the AQA GCSE syllabus, and students receive 5 hours fortnightly teaching time. All GCSE musicians are encouraged to perform as often as possible, both in and out of school. Sibelius software is used to aid composition coursework, and pupils study important listening skills to help them with the final listening examination in Year 11, which covers a wide range of different musical styles and genres, from the Classical tradition to World music and popular song.
KS5
Pupils at Key Stage 5 follow the Edexcel syllabus, and receive 5 hours a week teaching time. All AS and A2 musicians are active musicians, who play in and out of school frequently. The focus of the course is centred on the main strands of performing, composing and analysis of music, and pupils are taught to look more deeply at music to discover interesting areas of harmony, texture, structure, style and purpose, to name but a few.
