As pupils deepen and extend their own musical interests and skills in Key Stage 3 music, they perform and compose music in different styles with increasing understanding of musical devices, processes and contextual influences.

Your child will work individually and in groups of different sizes and become increasingly aware of the different roles and contributions of each member of the group.

They will actively explore specific genres, styles and traditions of music from different times and cultures with increasing ability to discriminate, think critically and make connections between different areas of knowledge.

By the end of Key Stage 3, your child should be able to show that they understand musical devices, how music reflects time and place and different musical processes.

Lesson examples

Here’s what your KS3 child might get up to in music class:

• Year 7 pupils take turns using their voice to create ‘sound images’ for abstracts, such as ‘a windswept hill', ‘an eerie space' and ‘a humming machine'. Afterwards they try creating the same ‘sound images’ using instruments.
   
• Year 8 pupils play examples of African dance music as part of a lesson on African genres. They explore the conventions used within them and learn how master drummers take many years to perfect the playing of rhythmic patterns.
   
• Year 9 pupils look at the way music is used to influence emotions, for example in advertisements. The pupils list places they hear music, such as television, radio, films, shops and, aeroplanes and then explore the purpose of such music. They’ll ask questions such as, “What is it trying to achieve?” and “How does it make you feel?”

Help your child at home

• Try to expose your child to as wide a variety of music as you can. Attend music concerts of all types and introduce your child to choirs and orchestras.
   
• Ask your child to listen to the music played while you are out in shops, restaurants and other public places. Do they notice any differences between the types of music played in different places?
   
• Play music while your child is doing homework, chores, completing a puzzle or other similar activities. Ask your child to choose what music they think is most appropriate for each type of activity.
   
• Encourage your child to learn to play a musical instrument.
   
• Why not suggest that your child rewrites the words to a favourite song? The process involves the same composition skills they will use at school.