Music

Junior Department Music Curriculum

Music is a key strength of the school and we have strong links with The Yehudi Menuhin School (YMS) in Cobham. Year 3 pupils have group instrumental lessons (violin) provided free of charge as part of the Chance to Play Programme. We have also engaged our own in-house string specialists to support the programme and ensure quality continuation of optional lessons for a small, subsidised fee to all other year groups. The music programme is carefully designed for progression and tailored to individual aptitude, and includes opportunities to extend knowledge of theory as well as progressing technique.

In addition to instrumental lessons, we have a carefully structured programme of class lessons, taught by a specialist music teacher. These lessons are based on the national curriculum elements of listening, performing and composing, and involve opportunities for practical work, as well as the study of different musical genres.

Senior Department Music Curriculum

Senior students in Year 7 have woodwind, brass and string instrumental classes, taught in small groups, as part of the music curriculum. There is an option to continue these for a subsidised fee as they progress through the school.

At Key Stage 3 all students have class music lessons taught by our Director of Music, with a wide range of topics, covering and extending beyond the requirements of the national curriculum. Students improve their practical and theoretical abilities through opportunities to perform and high quality lessons in composition and musical analysis. GCSE Music is a popular course choice and we have a full suite of Mac computers and keyboards for students to use to support their studies.

Choirs and Ensembles

We have a number of flourishing instrumental and choral groups running throughout the school. These include lower and upper school choirs in the junior department and the senior Cantamus Choir, which joins with parents and staff to perform at special occasions. Pupils are encouraged to participate in the wide range of instrumental groups running across the school, including rock and jazz bands, and chamber ensembles. All pupils have opportunities to take part in concerts and productions throughout the school year; these are age appropriate and include Harvest and Christmas celebrations (Nativity performances and Carol Services), afternoon tea concerts and large musical shows held in the local theatre.

Private Instrumental Lessons

A full range of private, one-to-one instrumental lessons are available and we have engaged a highly professional and experienced team of peripatetic teachers for this purpose. Instruments include; piano, woodwind, (saxophone, flute and clarinet), percussion (drums), strings (violin or cello), voice (musical theatre and classical) and brass (trumpet or trombone).