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Music
Director of Music: Mrs S Aylen
Mr L Howard
Miss J Smith
Extra-Curricular Activities
Choirs
Years 7-8 Choir (Years 7-8)
Senior Choir (Years 9-13)
Chamber Choir (Years 8-13)
Orchestras
First Orchestra
Second Orchestra
Senior String Orchestra
Ensembles
Concert Band
Brass Groups - Senior & Junior
Clarinet Choir
Flute Choir
Piano Trios and other ensembles are arranged as the need arises Woodwind Ensemble - Hot Air
Wind Octet
String Quartets
Theory and Aural classes
Percussion Ensemble
Senior Woodwind Ensemble
Cabaret Band (Years 12-13)
Music Technology Club
Composing Workshop
There are also numerous other activities which happen occasionally. Concert tours take place on a regular basis, as do visits to the major concert halls, joint ventures with the other Harpur Trust Schools, and concerts at local venues. Groups of girls regularly entertain others, for example, the elderly at Christmas and the Visually Impaired each autumn. The Music Department produces musicals in collaboration with the Drama Department.
Girls who play instruments are encouraged and expected to take a full part in these activities.
The Choirs have performed with distinction at The Royal Festival Hall and the Symphony Hall in Birmingham in the National Festival of Music for Youth. The Chamber Choir was one of seven choirs out of 277 winning a Certificate of Merit in Schoolsong 2000. The Chamber Choir also won a Certificate of Commendation in the Sainsbury's Choir of the Year Competition. In 2003, the First Orchestra and Chamber Choir were selected for the National Festival of Music for Youth and made a second CD featuring a variety of repertoire. In 2004 the Chamber Choir made a CD of songs by composer Douglas Coombes and were invited to lead the first performance of these songs at the Royal Albert Hall. The Chamber Choir is also regularly invited to take part in concerts within the local community.
Instrumental Lessons
Tuition is offered in piano, violin, viola, 'cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet (cornet), French horn, trombone, tuba, recorder, guitar, voice, percussion and electric guitar.
Charges for lessons are made termly in arrears.
Class Music Lessons
Girls in Years 7-9 have a single lesson each week in small teaching groups. Lessons have a strong practical basis and include playing, composing and listening. Topics covered include a wide variety of music including traditional Western styles, twentieth century music, ethnic and contemporary popular styles. Girls are encouraged to bring their instruments into the classroom as well as to play the keyboards and 'classroom' percussion. Use is also made of appropriate Music Technology. A Music Technology lab allows girls access to the Sibelius and Cubase notation and sequencing computer software. Lessons are carefully devised with the particular needs and musical experience of each individual group in mind. In this way, all girls will be in a position to choose Music as a GCSE option in Year 10 if they wish to do so.
The GCSE curriculum comprises three main areas of study; performance, composition, and listening and appraising. A wide variety of music from different cultures and periods is studied, providing a good grounding for further study of the subject for informed listening in the future.
In the Sixth Form girls with a particular interest in the subject can choose to study Music to A level and beyond.
The AS and A2 curriculum further broardens the knowledge of performing, composing and listening gained at GCSE. Detailed analysis of a wide variety of music from different styles is undertaken including: orchestral music, chamber music, sacred and secular vocal music, popular music and jazz, film music and world music.