The Music Department motto is “Give It a Go” and everyone is welcome to join in the activities on offer with choirs, orchestra, concert band, string ensemble, jazz group and whole school performance opportunities including the House Music competition. A major musical is produced each year in conjunction with the Drama Department. Our choirs have performed in cathedrals in London, Paris, Vienna, Rome and Santiago di Compostella. It is our aim that students should have the opportunity to develop their full potential as musicians and music scholarships are offered at 11+ and 13+. GCSE Music is open to all interested musicians/vocalists and examination results are consistently high.
We have impressive facilities including a computer-based composition studio, a recording studio and a number of sound-proof teaching/practice rooms. Performance venues include a start-of-the-art theatre, a recital room and a Chapel with magnificent acoustics. Involvement in learning an instrument or voice is open to all students. Our peripatetic staff provide specialist teaching skills with a wealth of performance experience and enter students for ABRSM, Trinity and Music Theatre exams with consistently excellent results.
Classroom music lessons are provided for all pupils Years 7 to 9, encouraging practical music making. For example, students try out orchestral instruments in Year 7, they learn to play drum kit in Year 8 and as part of Year 9 music they are introduced to a variety of composition genres, such as Club Dance and film music. A new venture is to raise the profile of Music Technology throughout the music curriculum.
