Options for Year 9 Students 2020/21 – information for students and parents.
In Year 9 the Creative Arts and Design are offered in a series of modules. During the year, you will study three different modules. A weekly double period for a term is allocated to each module.
In 2020/21 modules will be offered as follows:
Design
- Architecture (D1)
- 3D Design (D2)
- Sustainable Design (D3)
Music
- Song Writing (M1)
- Music in Performance (M2)
- Composing for Film (M3)
Theatre
- Drama (Backstage) (T1)
- Drama - Performance (Text) (T2)
- Drama - Performance (Movement) (T3)
Visual Arts
- Art and Music (A1)
- Creative Communication and Graphics and Issues (A2)
- Reduction Technique Printmaking (A3)
Choosing your modules
1. Identify the three areas that you would like to choose (from Art, Design, Drama and Music) in order, with the most important first.
2. For each of the areas identify your preferred course and a reserve choice (in case your first choice is not possible).
3. It is important to read the course descriptions carefully before making your choices.
4. Note that there are minimum and maximum group sizes for each module. We cannot guarantee that every module will run.
5. Note that there is a proficiency requirement for M2.
Course descriptions:
Design
Architecture (D1)
Bridge design is becoming an increasingly important aspect of modern urban development. Feature bridges can become an iconic centre piece to a city as well as a vital communication link. Students will develop their CAD skills to design a new bridge for a specific brief developed by the students after researching the topic. The course may include some fieldwork around Cambridge to help the students understand the context of the project.
3D design (d2)
In 3D Design, students will develop a household product from a specific theme. Recently, the students have worked with the theme 'sound and light'. This course will give students the opportunity to write their own brief and to develop their skills in designing and making gained from previous years. Students will be expected to consider a range of materials and how to problem solve to reach engineering solutions for shaping, forming or joining problems. Students will consolidate their understanding of different circuit designs to create very exciting and original outcomes.
sustainable design (D3)
The Sustainable design module is about researching sustainable materials and designing and making a product; to develop a much greater awareness of environmental issues when designing our future. Students will study new ways of designing buildings, systems and products, they will generate their own brief for a new product. They will study ways of using materials more economically, upcycling products and generally developing a more environmental approach when creating new designs. 
Music
Song writing (M1)
In this module you will investigate how different pop songs are constructed and write and record your own songs, using apps such as GarageBand. No instrumental experience is required, but if you do play instruments such as piano or guitar, you can choose to use these skills within this module. You will not need to sing on your own, but please be prepared to sing in a small group. However, if you do enjoy singing individually you will get plenty of opportunities when recording your own songs!
music in performance (M2)
If you take individual instrumental lessons and would like to develop your performance skills further, this module will give you the opportunity to rehearse and perform in small groups. If you would like to learn more about composing for your own instrument or arranging music for other instruments, the module will be flexible enough to allow for this too. This module is appropriate for instrumentalists of Grade 3+ standard (Grade 4+ for pianists who don't play another instrument).
composing for film (M3)
Music plays a vital part in creating the atmosphere in films. In this module you will investigate the techniques film composers use to make you feel nervous and frightened – or happy and cheerful! You will make your own short film using apps such as iMovie and then use music technology to record its sound track. No instrumental experience is required, but if you do play an instrument you can choose to use these skills within this module.
Theatre
Drama (Backstage) (T1)
In this module you will consider the roles of theatre makers who work behind the scenes, designing and making for productions. Possible areas of study include prop making, set design, costume design, makeup design and puppet construction. You will also consider how the different design disciplines work alongside each other. You will explore the work of current professional theatre makers and consider their contribution to different styles of live theatre production. The course will also involve a range of practical tasks where you will experiment with different making materials and you will design and make your own articles. There may also be opportunities to help design and make specific items for school productions.
Drama - Performance (text) (T2)
On this course you will develop your performance skills through exploring and workshopping a range of different playtexts. You will consider the work of current theatre practitioners and the techniques they employ. You will work in groups to interpret and stage extracts from a variety of different contemporary scripts, both serious and comedic. You will consider the role of the director and you will also consider how to enhance your performance work through the addition of sound and lighting. There may be an opportunity to work towards an informal performance at the end of the course.
Drama - Performance (movement)(T3)
On this course you will develop your skills as a performer through a series of practical workshops exploring a range of movement-based performance techniques employed by current theatre practitioners. These may include mask work, physical theatre, musical theatre, stage combat and puppetry. You will work with existing playtexts to explore how movement can be incorporated to add meaning and you will devise your own original pieces of performance. You will consider the role of the director and you will also consider how to enhance your performance work through the addition of sound and lighting. There may be an opportunity to work towards an informal performance at the end of the course.
Visual Arts
Fine Art Creative Module ECW
Art & Music (A1)
What is the relationship between Art and Music? In this project you will choose music that excites you to inspire drawn, painted and mixed media outcomes. We will look closely at how artists both past and contemporary have used music to create great Art. Understand how music style can affect drawing pace and mark-making. You will generate your own photography, use images from the internet and iPad apps to make imaginative responses to music that you enjoy. How can colour, line, tone, texture and other visual elements help communicate ideas to an audience? You will learn about composition, processes and concepts in Art. Working on canvas, you will use oil, acrylic paints or mixed media to express visual ideas. Abstract and representational styles can be used with guided tasks and 1:1 tuition for all abilities, encouraging you to achieve your creative potential.
Digital Media Creative Modules JSH
Creative Communication and Graphics and Issues (A2)
For those who are interested in drawing, learning to create an epic digital ‘painting’ using a drawing tablet or apple pen may suit your audience best! Incorporating your own ‘street’ photography into the work may be your digital signature. There are guided tasks and 1-1 tuition and many tutorials to choose from online as well. You will use a blog and a sketchbook to record your process.
Printmaking Creative Module JWH
Reduction Technique Printmaking (A3)
Using the technique of reduction printing, you will produce a professional looking print made up of four colours using the process of either lino or silk screen based methods. With some guidance, you will have the freedom to select your own image, that you will then reproduce using specialised printmaking techniques.
Teaching will focus on the technical procedures of creating your print stage by stage in order to produce an accomplished and professional outcome.
You will develop your initial ideas through artists research in order to influence your ideas, themes, style, size and scale.
This course provides an excellent technical grounding in order to facilitate the GCSE Art course.
