Key Stage 3 Music - Pop Music

In this topic you will learn the musical features found in Pop Music. You will also learn how Pop Music includes many different genres and how it has developed from the 1950's –the present day.

During this unit you will:

• Learn pop songs belonging to different genres through singing and playing instruments.
• Learn and understand the musical features of pop music, including structure, melody, chords, hooks and riffs through practical and listening tasks.
• Plan and arrange your own ensemble performance of a pop song for an assessment.
• Peer-assess each other’s ensemble performances and evaluate your own performance.

By the end of this topic, you will be able to:

• Perform several pop songs as part of an ensemble (including small groups and class bands).
• Arrange your own "Mash Up" of recent pop music.
• Play an accompaniment (chords, bass line) to support a melody line.
• Identify musical features found in Pop Music through listening/performing and understand that Pop Music is made up of many genres.

Understanding

• Understand the key devices that are regularly used in Pop Music.
• Understand how musical devices are used to create an expressive Pop song in a typical style.
• Compare a range of Pop styles and identify the musical devices used.
• Describe, compare and evaluate the music in different genres of pop.

Skills - Music Making

• Perform simple parts to a steady pulse (e.g. rhythm/melody)
• Choose sounds carefully and order sounds within a simple structure.
• Combine some musical elements and devices to create a successful pop song.
• Maintain your own part in your Pop ensemble performance performing by ear or from simple notations.
• Maintain your own part with awareness of how the different parts fit together and adapt your part for the need to achieve an effective pop song.
• Combine musical elements and devices and develop ideas stylistically within musical structures.
• Perform significant parts from memory and from notations, with awareness of your own contribution such as leading others, taking a solo part or providing rhythmic support.
• Combine musical elements and devices and develop ideas stylistically, with interpretation and flair.