Music is a vibrant department with many opportunities for students.
Everyone enjoys listening to or making music, whether on their own or in a group. The philosophy for the department is that learning works best when young people are making music, and when their existing passion for music is reflected and built upon in the classroom.
The department consists of two large teaching rooms, five practice rooms, office and storage areas. In addition to this we use the school hall with its fine original pipe organ. Two rooms are equipped with keyboard suites and class sets of computers. Students have the opportunity to use Sibelius, Cubasis, Cubase and Audacity software to support their musical studies.
Students in Years 7-9 follow a course that meets the requirements of the National Curriculum, involving singing, performing, composing and improvising. Students are encouraged to learn about musical style and gain an understanding of music by developing skills in musicianship.
Our enrichment opportunities include:
- School choir
- Chamber choir
- Recorder club
- Training Band
- Senior Band / Production Orchestra
- Clarinet Ensemble
- Grade 5 theory club
Students are able to take part in a wide range of performance opportunities including:
- End of term concerts (Christmas, Spring and Summer)
- Battle of the Bands competition
- Recital evenings
- Whole school musical
- Young Musician of the Year Competition
- Assemblies, church services and community performances
Our instrumental team are able to offer instrumental and vocal provision on all orchestral instruments (strings, woodwind, brass and percussion), piano, keyboard, voice, electric guitar, bass guitar, acoustic guitar and saxophone. Students are regularly entered for music exams with all the large music exam boards. Lessons are organized on a rota basis so that students learning musical instruments experience minimal disruption to their other timetabled lessons.
Key Stage 3
Our KS3 curriculum offers a diverse musical experience to all girls and covers a wide range of projects. We encourage students to become independent learners and to be able to reflect and discuss music from a wide range of genres and cultural origins. Projects include:
- Singing, harmonising and vocal arrangements
- Group ensemble performances
- Latin American rhythms
- West African drumming
- Film Music and orchestral clichés
- Notation and using ‘Sibelius’.
- Composing and improvising
- Minimalism
- Structures in music
In Year 9 we follow Musical Futures, a fun, practical, personalised learning approach to the curriculum.
Key Stage 4 GCSE Music
Large numbers of students choose to take Music to GCSE in Years 10 and 11. The new AQA specification was introduced in September 2009. The four components of the course are: Performing, Listening, Composing and Appraising.
During the course the features of music are studied and skills developed in composition, performance and listening through assignments in a series of modules. Most of this is practical work. Coursework is completed under controlled conditions and consists of two compositions, one solo performance and one ensemble performance. The GCSE course provides a suitable foundation for further study such as AS and A Level Music.
Sixth Form
AS Music – Edexcel
The AS course in Music aims to:
- encourage candidates to extend the skills, knowledge and understanding to communicate through music and take part in music making;
- encourage candidates to engage in, and extend their appreciation of the diverse and dynamic heritage of music, promoting spiritual and cultural development;
- encourage candidates to develop particular strengths and interests, encouraging lifelong learning and providing access to music-related careers;
- provide a worthwhile, satisfying and complete course of study which broadens experience, develops imagination, fosters creativity and promotes personal and social development.
The AS Level course is of one year’s duration and is assessed in the following areas:
- Performing
- Composing
- Developing Musical Understanding
- Set works include Instrumental Music and Vocal Music.
A Level Music – Edexcel, code 9Mu01
The A2 course aims to extend the skills, knowledge and understanding developed in the AS level and to provide a suitable foundation for further study. In the A2 course students complete three units of study:
- Extended Performance
- Composition and Technical Study
- Further Musical Understanding
The set works for A2 include Applied Music and Instrumental Music.