Head of Department:  Mr P Dowd

Music contributes to the development of pupils and to the school curriculum by providing a powerful and distinctive form of communication and expression.  Music can change the way children feel, think and act.  It affects emotion and moods providing opportunity for personal expression, reflection and emotional wellbeing.  It develops thinking, increasing perception, imagination, creativity and physical co-ordination: skills which can be transferred to other areas of experience and learning.  Music enables children to define themselves in relation to others, their friends, social groups and to the culture in which they live.  Music is an integral part of culture, past and present.

The teaching of music extends everyday experiences, providing opportunities and links between home, school and other outside agencies.  It develops the ability to focus listening and analyse what is heard.  It introduces pupils to different forms of music-making and encourages objective judgement of musical quality.  Music stimulates the acquisition of the skills, attitudes and attributes needed for life such as listening skills, concentration, aural memory, presentation and teamwork.  It also develops creativity, risk-taking, intuition, sensitivity, perseverance and a sense of achievement and enjoyment.

Scratch Orchestra

Music and Community Arts

Music at KS3

Pupils have two music lessons a week. Right from the outset the link is made between what we do in school and music in the wider community. We start in Year 7 with a Blues Day workshop where some of our talented performers and composers in the department demonstrate how to play in a variety of blues styles and the influence that Blues had and has on popular music. A major focus is on pupils using and developing their vocal skill through singing music of different times and styles. They are encouraged to use a wide variety of instruments and to extend their musical experience through participation in lunchtime and after-school clubs and groups.

In Year 8 the emphasis is on informal group music making through a variety of projects from music for the theatre linking with Drama, to contemporary American minimalism and the Year 8 song competition. Through the Year 8 Song Workshop pupils are given top tips for creating songs by our talented team of adult practitioners as well as some of our Year 9 and 10 song writers.

Here is what some of our pupils have to say about music at KS3...

What do you most enjoy about your music lessons?

• “Learning how to play new instruments and working in a whole class.” [Charlotte]
• “Trying out new instruments that I haven’t seen or heard of before.” [Myles]
• “I enjoy being in small groups and going off and composing some music.” [James]

What is different about music?

• “You have a practical lesson almost every lesson.” [Kristian]
• “You get to move around and play stuff. You are not just sitting.” [Leah]
• “You get to work as a whole class and play instruments.” [Charlotte]

Results of the Year 8 Song Competition 2012.

In a hot and stuffy Main Hall on 20th June we listened to a variety of solo and group songs written and performed by our talented Year 8 pupils. 

Well done to all the composers, lyricists and performers. The feedback was that the standard was very high this year. 

Third place went to Point 88 for their song 'Free Speech'. Asher White, Sam Morgan, Katie Lenton, Jasmine Mullins and Drew Burge-Carter.

Second place went to a group from 8A1 with 'Remembering You'. Milly Owen Payne, Jasmine Mullins [again] amd Izzy Aldridge.

The winner was Laura Pink who sang and played the keyboard to 'Childhood Friend'.