Music Department
|  | Aims of the Department To provide pupils with the opportunity to explore their imagination and musical creativity, develop their practical skills and enjoy making music! |
Key Stage 3
Music is taught throughout the school. In years 7 to 9, pupils are encouraged to develop their performing skills using voice, electronic keyboard and other instrumental resources. They are helped to develop their own musical ideas through composition and improvisation. By listening to various styles and traditions of music, pupils improve their aural awareness and musical knowledge. All these activities fulfil the requirements of National Curriculum Key Stage 3.
Facilities available within the department are a fully equipped keyboard room, a computer room with twelve PC computers running specialist music software and an instrumental teaching/practice room.
Home-learning is not set on a regular basis as most of the work is of a practical nature and pupils may not have facilities at home for this. Occasionally a factual learning homework may be set.
Key Stage 4
Pupils in years 10 and 11 who opt to continue with Music follow a course of study leading to GCSE. This comprises of three main areas of work - Listening, Solo and Ensemble Performance, and Composing, studied through developing an understanding of rhythm and metre, harmony and tonality, texture and melody, timbre and dynamics, structure and form.
NCFE Level 2 Music Technology is currently offered to pupils who wish to gain practical qualification in this relatively new area. The course consists of a choice of units covering multi-track audio recording, sound mixing techniques, dance-music production, microphone use in music production and the operation of audio/midi sequencing software.
Facilities available within the department consist of a fully equipped keyboard room, a computer room with twelve PC computers running specialist music software and an instrumental teaching/practice roomExtra-curricular activities include Wind Band, Music Theory Club and Vocal Goup. These groups, along with other ensembles and soloists, play an important part in a number of events, especially our Christmas Concert. In addition to providing school-based activities, the Music Department aims to promote links with other schools and the local community.
There is the opportunity for pupils to receive instrumental tuition from visiting specialist teachers. Half hourly lessons are available on woodwind and brass instruments, guitar (acoustic, bass and electric) and drumkit. Parents make a monetary contribution to the cost of these lessons and an instrument may be borrowed from the music department for the first few months. Pupils who reach the required standards in instrumental performance are entered for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music graded examinations.
Every two years there is a major School Musical Production. Recent productions have been “Bugsy Malone”, "The Wiz" and "Oliver"
The School Band goes on a residential rehearsal week-end in July each year.
Music Staff (full-time):
Mrs H.Dean. (Head of Dept)
Music Staff (part-time):
Mr A Hallsworth (Music Technology)
Instrumental Teachers (part-time):
Mr P.Gibbins (Brass), Mr M. Sutton (Percussion and Drumkit)
Mr S Webster (Guitar) Mr J McDernott (Woodwind)