The National Curriculum

O-Generator fulfils the Key Stage 2 & 3 National Curriculum area of:

• Creating & developing musical ideas
• Composing skills

QCA Programmes of Study areas covered

O-Generator fulfils the Key Stage 2 & 3 National Curriculum area of:

• Knowledge, Skills and Understanding:
  Section 2b: choose, combine and organise musical ideas within musical structures.

• Responding & Reviewing – analysing skills:
  Section 3a: Analyse and compare sounds

• Listening and applying knowledge and understanding:
  Section a,b,c & d

• Breath of Study
  Sections a,b,c,d & e

Planning your year

Each part allows for 4 lessons per term. You do not need to do all the lessons. However, we recommend you do the first 3 lessons of each part. Pupils can work on their own outside lesson time if they wish, since the lessons are self contained.

Schemes of work

Part 1

This section covers Unit 4, 10 and 16 of the Key Stage 1 & 2 schemes of work. (Exploring pulse and rhythm, Exploring rhythmic patterns & Exploring Musical Cycles – cyclic patterns).

What this part is about
This part develops student’s ability to create simple rhythmic patterns.

Pupils extend their understanding of rhythmic patterns, and are introduced to basic musical terms.

They develop rhythmic patterns and play them separately and then in combination with other patterns.

They also explore and identify the different sounds made by instruments that contribute to providing rhythm in modern music.

The emphasis is on different sounds changing the mood and feel of the music.

Part 2

This section covers Unit 11 and 12 of the Key Stage 1 & 2 schemes of work. (Exploring the pentatonic scale & Exploring Arrangement)

This part explores melody.

It shows how major and minor chords combine with rhythm to produce a composition.

Pupils learn to arrange their music, and develop ideas.

They also explore different genres and the importance of contrast and variety in musical structures.

Part 3

This section covers Unit 6 & 13 of the Key Stage 1 & 2 schemes of work. (Exploring Instruments and Symbols: Exploring Sound Colours)

This part explores using the guitar.

During this part, pupils recognise and understand how composer’s use repeated melodic and rhythmic devices called riffs and hooks.

They explore riffs and hooks whilst exploring the different types of guitars, and consider the effect of using these in popular music.

Pupils also learn how hooks and riffs can be used to compose a song.

Part 4

This section covers Unit 19 of the Key Stage 1 & 2 schemes of work. (Song-writing)

This part explores writing lyrics.

This part develops children’s ability to compose a song with an awareness of the relationship between lyrics and melody and rhythm.

Students learn of the important role played by lyrics in songs. In particular they focus on the different functions of lyrics in conveying mood, expressing attitude or telling a story.

They employ simple techniques for composing lyrics of their own and setting these to melodies.

Links

National Curriculum online

BECTA - ICT in practice awards