Creative Arts

Subjects 

The Creative Arts Faculty teaches the following subjects:

Art and Design 

Photography

Music

Music Tech

S4 students will get 4 periods a week to plan, shoot and evaluate their work in outdoor and indoor locations, as well as learning post-production techniques using Adobe Photoshop. There is no exam for this course.

The Higher Photography course, is designed to inspire and challenge students. Candidates are required to represent their personal thoughts visually through the medium of photography in a personal project, which is worth 100 marks and assessed by SQA. The project uses an integrated approach to learning, students plan, develop and produce imaginative photographs.

They also must develop their skills in photographic analysis and techniques for a written exam worth 30 marks. All pupils’ projects are kept on their own Google Drives online so pupils can access the course work from home.

Students use creative and technical problem-solving skills, and are required to reflect critically on their own work and that of others. The learning experiences in the course are flexible and adaptable, with opportunities for personalisation and choice. 

MUSIC

BGE 

S1 Music 

Pupils will learn performing skills on Keyboard, Guitar, Ukulele, Drumkit and Tuned Percussion throughout S1. In S2 pupils will choose 2 instruments from those listed above to be their specialist instruments.

We will also cover the following ‘Understanding Music’ units where pupils will learn key musical styles, terms and features:

Unit 1: Musical Notation

Unit 2: Instruments of the Orchestra

Unit 3: Scottish & World Music

Unit 4: Popular Music 

S2 Music

Pupils will develop performing skills on 2 chosen instruments by playing a variety styles and genres.

We will also cover the following ‘Understanding Music’ units where pupils will learn key musical styles, terms and features:

Unit 1: Musicals

Unit 2: Introduction to Music Technology

Unit 3: Popular Music

Unit 4: Jazz & Blues

Music Technology

Pupils will continue to develop their technology skills and apply them to a variety of songs/genres and tasks. They will

• Plan with appropriate detail

• Select and use appropriate input devices

• Apply appropriate microphone placement and techniques

• Construct the signal path for multiple inputs

• Set appropriate input gain and monitoring levels

• Overdub a track

• Apply creative EQ

• Apply time domain and other effects

• Apply a range of mixing techniques

• Edit tracks

• Mix down to an audio master in appropriate formats

• Use a send track to edit specific parts of a track (HIGHER ONLY)

Pupils’ technology skills will then be applied to a final assignment which contributes to 70% of the final grade for Music Technology. Pupils will PLAN, IMPLEMENT & EVALUATE their assignment and the final production and session log will be sent to SQA in March/April. 

The assignment briefs:

National 5

Pupils must complete 2 assignments, lasting no more than 3 minutes each.

• Pupils will complete a radio show, including an opening jingle and a top 5 segment.

• Pupils will choose to create EITHER a multitrack recording of their chosen song, or an audio book including voices, sound effects and music.

Higher

Pupils must complete a radio show which lasts no more than 7 minutes. The show must include an electronic multitrack, a multitrack of their chosen song, a top 5 segment and the use of a stereo recording technique.

We will also cover the following ‘Understanding 20th & 21st Century Music’ units where pupils will learn key musical styles, terms and features, as well as technological developments and controls, FX and processes:

Unit 1: Intellectual Property Court Case

Unit 2: Controls, FX and Processes

Unit 3: Styles