Music
Music plays a fundamental role in the life of the College with slightly under half of the student body being involved in extra-curricular activities.
Welcome
Staff
Overview
Facilities
In the Classroom
Beyond the Classroom
Kevin Parker
Here in the music department we all strive to provide a warm, safe and welcoming environment where all students can develop knowledge, skills, expertise and confidence.
Department Staff
- Mrs T Bennett (Upper Strings)
- Mr K Butt (Guitar)
- Mr A Edwards (Brass)
- Mr J Heady (Percussion)
- Mrs A Morphy (Piano)
- Ms A Munson (Reeds)
- Ms H Riches (Flute)
- Ms R Slater-Lyons (Singing)
Department Overview
Music is introduced from Kindergarten and pupils can develop their abilities with a wide range of instruments available to them.
Facilities
We are well stocked with a variety of keyboards in the specialist keyboard laboratory, a good selection of percussion instruments, a number of teaching and practice rooms, a recording studio and a goodly number of computers which are equipped with the mighty Sibelius and Cubase programmes.
In the Classroom
In music classes we follow a mainly practical programme of study which leads in a natural way from Junior three classes to the GCSE course. Topics are studied in half- termly Units and usually end in a performance. Students are exposed to a wide variety of music styles from the distant past to the present day and from far off lands to British folk. Wherever possible, technology is used to enhance learning especially in the realm of composing.
GCSEs
We study the OCR course as it remains the most practically based of the available examination boards. Results have been uniformly excellent in the past, due mainly to the hard work of students and staff alike. Classes rarely number more than 10
AS Level
Over recent years we have been truly lucky to have been able to nurture some remarkably talented students who have left us with A and B grades at AS and A level to go to further musical education and who will no doubt go on to be successful musicians.
Beyond the Classroom
We have two thriving orchestras which meet to rehearse weekly, a choir numbering more than 30 and various smaller ensembles. Our regular concerts are showcases for the wealth of musical talent and never fail to show up some new, surprising performer or composer. In the wider world, students have been hugely successful in festivals, the choir is making a name for itself in the local area and we have played a significant role in the recent centenary celebrations of the Methodist Schools’ Association.
