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31 July 2010 |
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YOU ARE HERE: Curriculum + Music |
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 Music In the music curriculum pupils
develop skills of composing, performing, listening and appraising through units
of work in which they can gain confidence, enjoyment and co-operation, working
in groups, pairs or individually. The department has a wide range
of percussion instruments as well as keyboards with headphones. The
use of ICT is also encouraged and developed through composition
work. The programmes ‘Finale’ and ‘Finale Notepad’ are used in the
department as well as in the school’s computer suite.
Instrumental lessons
In addition to timetabled music
lessons, the school is able to offer lessons in brass, woodwind, violin, viola
and ‘cello to a significant number of children. This tuition has a
nominal charge of £40 per term (except for those pupils on free school meals)
to help towards the cost of these lessons. The lessons are given by
the County’s specialist instrumental teachers who visit the school once a
week. There are also Guitar lessons for 10 weeks in each term at a cost of
£30 per term. At the time of publication of this prospectus there are
approximately 100 pupils receiving instrumental lessons in school.
The music department offers a wide
range of extra-curricular activities at lunchtimes. These
consist of recorder group, string group, junior choir, senior choir, orchestra
and jazz group. These groups perform in concerts in school as well
as at other venues.
Concerts and performances
Regular concerts are held
throughout the academic year culminating in a large-scale concert or a
music/drama production in the summer term. There is a regular Advent concert in
St. Mary’s church Stoke by Nayland, which is usually at the beginning of
December. This includes performance opportunities for solo singers, Junior and
Senior choirs, Orchestra, Jazz group and String group. The wider community also
have the opportunity to be involved in the staff, parent, Governors’choir. It
always commences with a candlelit procession of the choirs down the church.
Over 100 pupils usually participate.
In December there are also
performance opportunities when our pupils entertain at the Senior Citizens’ Tea
party in the school hall.
Local senior citizens from
the community are invited and entertained. The Dance groups also perform at
this event.
In the Spring term, the
Head of Music organises a performance morning for feeder primaries when our
pupils perform to them as well as watching performances from Year 4 pupils. The
Head of Music also teaches one or two new songs for participation by all pupils
together. This is a most enjoyable morning for all and aids the transition from
Primary to Middle school.
There are performances
from vocal/instrumental groups in whole school assembly as well as solos which
are performed in the Year group assemblies.
A whole school musical is worked at in alternate years involving rehearsals
in the spring and summer terms. This is carefully chosen by the Head of Music
in consultation with the Head of PMS and the Dance teacher. This brings
together Music, Drama and Dance in the school and is overseen and mostly
organised by the Head of Music. All years of pupils may participate but
priority for lead parts will usually go to Years 7 and 8. A band of
professional players usually accompany the pupils. Over 130 pupils usually participate.
There is always a ‘buzz’ and some excitement about the school when a musical is
under way and much talk in the corridors about it. Pupils who do not perform
are keen to participate in a number of ways including props, back-stage,
back-projection, lighting, radio-microphones, front of house etc. Thus the
whole school is drawn together in an enjoyable, productive and collaborative
way and gain very valuable experience in so doing.
Past recent productions include:-
Titanic-2004 Oliver-2006
Annie-2008
These productions are always the full versions, usually performed by High school pupils or professionals and always receive much acclaim from audiences. They stretch our pupils to achieve professional standards well above their age and they always rise to the occasion. The school hall fills to capacity for all three performances. |
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