Key Stage 3 Music - Reggae Overview

During this unit you will

• Learn Reggae songs through singing and playing instruments.
• Learn and understand the musical features of Reggae music, including structure, rhythm, melody, chords, hooks and riffs through practical and listening tasks.
• Plan your own ensemble performance of a Reggae 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 Reggae songs as part of an ensemble (including small groups and class bands).
• Play an accompaniment (chords, bass line) to support a melody line.
• Identify musical features found in Reggae Music through listening/performing and understand how Reggae Music evolved from a fusion of other styles.

Understanding

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

How will I show my understanding?

You will show your understanding through practical and listening tasks and group/class discussions. Performances will be filmed to show evidence of your understanding.

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 Reggae song.
• Maintain your own part in your Reggae 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 Reggae 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.

How will I show my music making skills?

You will show your musical ability and creative skills through performance and group tasks. There will be opportunities for you to perform as a soloist too. All work will be filmed using the class Ipad to show progress throughout this unit. You can access this via MyHighcliffe - Video Feedback. Make sure you become familiar with where this is as we will be using it a lot! You are encouraged to show this to your parents too so they can see what progress you are making in Music.