Curriculum
NASHEED (MUSIC)
Why study Nasheed (music)?
Nasheed (music) is instrumental in allowing pupils to engage and develop in academic, personal, faith and social development. It builds a stronger sense of self-identity, character and cultivates a better tolerance and respect of the diverse cultures that shape the world we live in.
By studying Nasheed, pupils acquire a deeper understanding of different music and increase their creativity, sense of achievement and understanding of the world around them. Nasheed stimulates young minds, providing an outlet for creative expression and enhancing learners’ experience in faith and character.
We will develop pupils’ understanding of Nasheed with learning that resonates with their faith and cultural contexts whilst ensuring that they have meaningful encounters and develop a thorough awareness of the rich musical contexts of the world around them. Pupils’ experiences in Nasheed will provide for them narratives that reverberate as lifelong experiences; unlocking their creative and performative talents.
How will I study Nasheed?
Nasheed will comprise of pupils being able to:
- Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods.
- Appreciate genres, styles and traditions, including the works of great composers and musicians.
- Learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others.
- Learn a musical instrument – such as a Duff – and use technology appropriately.
- Understand and explore how a Nasheed is created, produced and communicated.
What will I study at Key Stage 3?
In Year 7, pupils build upon musical knowledge they have from a primary level and develop a strong knowledge of melody, rhythm and musical structures. Pupils get to know the importance of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in Islam and utilise their creativity to compose and perform various Nasheeds about Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
In Year 8, pupils build on the previous year’s knowledge to know: the elements of music more deeply and melody and rhythm through a variety of composing, performing and listening tasks. Pupils develop a richer appreciation of Nasheed related to specific cultures through the exploration of key beliefs from Islam.
Year 9 pupils know about other musical features and devices that the great composers used to make music more interesting through time and place. They use their knowledge to compose, perform, listen to and appraise Nasheed based on specific cultural and social musical contexts, with an awareness of some key Islamic concepts.
Curriculum Overview
Year 7
| Migration | The Full Moon | Beloved |
|---|---|---|
|
Faith Through Music Pupils explore the concept of migration with specific exploration of the immigration of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Mecca to Madinah. Pupils create soundscapes with an awareness of the elements of music representing this migration Explicit Musical Concept Knowing about the elements of music Pupils learn about the elements of music through composing, performing, and listening and appraising tasks. They learn to know how the great composers have used the elements to create different moods |
Faith Through Music Pupils explore the description of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the love his companions had for him. Pupils sing and listen to a variety of anasheed describing Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and create their own nasheed lyrics with an awareness of rhythm and pulse Explicit Musical Concept Knowing about rhythm and pulse Pupils learn about rhythm and pulse through composing, performing, and listening and appraising, and learn to know how the great composers have used rhythm of varying complexities in their works |
Faith Through Music Pupils explore the deep love, and reverence Allah ﷻ has for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through singing a variety of anasheed from the ‘Salaat and Salaam’ genre. They subsequently create their own versions of ‘Salaam’ within the confinements of musical structures Explicit Musical Concept Knowing about musical structures Pupils learn about musical forms through composing, performing, and listening and appraising, and how the great composers have used form and structure to create intrigue and contrast in their works |
Year 8
| Salawaat | Asmaa Al-Husna | Qasidah Burdah |
|---|---|---|
|
Faith Through Music Pupils explore ‘Salawaat’ – Praising Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, in the form of chants and popular Anasheed, where they go on to create their own chants of Salwaat to a variety of musical scales
Explicit Musical Concept Knowing about the elements of music Pupils learn to know about musical scales through composing, performing, and listening and appraising, and how the great composers have used scales to create mood and effect in their works |
Faith Through Music Pupils learn about the Divine Names of Allah ﷻ and how they impact on a Muslim’s devotional lifestyle, and as a spiritual conduit between Lord and servant. Pupils use their knowledge of dynamics, instrumentation, music technology and how composers have created cosmic music to create their own rendition of Asmaa Al Husn Explicit Musical Concept Knowing about sounds, and dynamics and instrumentation Pupils learn to know about the connection between music and the cosmos through composing, performing, and listening and appraising, and how the great composers have manipulated musical features to create enigmatic effects in their work |
Faith Through Music Pupils learn about the Qasidah Burdah, a thirteenth-century ode praising Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which originated from the African continent. They sing, with percussion accompaniment, renditions of Qasidah Burdah utilising conventions of African music
Explicit Musical Concept Knowing about polyrhythms Pupils learn to know about rhythmic features and devices used in African music through composing, performing, and listening and appraising, and experience a rich repertoire created and/or inspired by African music |
Year 9
| Dhikr | The Call | Jamaal |
|---|---|---|
|
Faith Through Music Pupils know about ‘Dhikr’ chants as a genre within Islamic music and how this develops the connection between The Creator ﷻ and His creation. Pupils create their own Dhikr motifs based on the conventions of minimalistic music to stimulate a variety of moods. Explicit Musical Concept Knowing motifs, polyrhythms and repetition Pupils learn about the development and conventions of minimalist music through composing, performing, and listening and appraising, and how composers have used small rhythmic motifs to create a bigger piece |
Faith Through Music Pupils explore a fundamental belief in Islam, that of the Judgement Day, where one of its significant signs is the blowing of the trumpet by the archangel Israfil (AS). Pupils also investigate the Adhaan (Call to Prayer) and make links to knowing about music for special occasions such as Fanfares Explicit Musical Concept Knowing about music for special occasions Pupils learn about the history, origins and uses of Fanfares through composing, performing, and listening and appraising, and how the great composers have created a variety of Fanfares from different times and places |
Faith Through Music Pupils explore Jamaal (beauty), an appreciation of being different and empathy towards one another’s life journey. Using these concepts they compose and perform pieces of music, inspired by the Islamic faith, based on the conventions of musical variation Explicit Musical Concept Knowing ways to develop musical ideas Pupils develop their ability to recognise, explore and make creative use of the elements of music found in variation form. They learn about the concept of ground bass, as a type of variation form and explore how composers have used variation form in a selection of music from different times and place |
Assessment
Internal assessments take place every term.
Enrichment Offer
The Arts department offers subject-specific enrichment clubs and organises a range of educational visits throughout the year.
Within Nasheed, there is a ‘Nasheed’s club’ whereby pupils sing to celebrate different events in the calendar i.e., Ramadhan, Eid, New Year etc. The members of the club will perform as a choir in and out of school at many different venues such as opening evening at school and at care homes. This club is designed to increase pupils’ engagement and enhance their subject knowledge.
Careers
The study of Nasheed can lead to future careers ranging from becoming a video game composer or sound designer, Nasheed artist, composer or sound engineering technician. There is an array of famous Nasheed artists who have gone on to study at acclaimed colleges and universities.