MUSIC

Department members:
Miss Louise Coates (Head of Department)
Dr Bryony Jones

Levels taught in the department:
Key Stage 3
GCSE
AS and A2 Level

The Department
The Music Department is a strong and vibrant part of the school which consistently achieves excellent results at all levels. Music is currently taught by one full-time and one part-time member of staff, but expanding numbers at GCSE and the addition of Music Technology at A-level will mean that over the next few years this part-time position is likely to expand.

Music is taught to all students in the school at Key Stage 3. Pupils study a wide variety of styles, genres and periods of music, and by the end of Year 9 all pupils have reached a minimum of level 5 with more than half the pupils achieving level 7 or above. At Key Stage Four, Music is taught as a GCSE option; we follow the OCR specification. Music (OCR) is taught at A-level, with consistently outstanding results. Music Technology (EDEXCEL) has been successfully piloted at AS-level this academic year, and will continue to develop within our new facilities.

Extra-curricular activities take place every lunch time, and after school. There are three school Choirs catering to a variety of interests and talents, a Junior and Senior Orchestra (as well as a Joint Orchestra with KES), a String Quartet, Barbershop Quartet, Jazz Band, Swing Band, two Soul Bands and a Music Theory Club.
The department puts on at least one full school concert per term, and this is supplemented with other occasions such as the Day of Celebration (in the RSC) and Key Stage Young Performer of the Year competitions. Every other year the Music and Drama department team up for a full musical production.

SAM
The Stratford Academy of Music (SAM), our new home, was officially opened on May 9th 2006. The evening proved very fruitful with several links forged with feeder schools, Stratford College, and music societies within Stratford. We hope to develop these links over the coming months.


Music at Key Stage 3
Music in the youngest years is considered most vital in the students’ development of skills and enthusiasm for the subject. Lessons are always practical and musical and the girls cover a wide variety of styles of music ranging from the more traditional (History of Music, Blues, Jazz); the world music (Gamelan, Samba, Tango, Flamenco, West African); the creative (story-telling through music) and the surprises (Extreme Music)! Cross-curricular links are encouraged each year through collaborative study of, for example, Japanese Music which simultaneously ties in with their work in Art, Drama, Dance and RE.

Music at Key Stage 4 - GCSE
GCSE Music has doubled its uptake in the last three years and has now split into two GCSE groups. The standard is consistently high with the average grade received now at A*. Girls are encouraged to work creatively and practically in their approach to Music, and girls have opportunities to lead assemblies and teach their whole school about a style of music they have studied (girls in the school will remember two lively assemblies on Salsa and Bhangra last year!). The Year 11s have now been asked to lead a primary school workshop on world music, which is a fantastic new opportunity and a great way for them to revise topics. Experience and understanding are boosted with trips to lively events such as the annual Salsa Festival in Birmingham.

Music at Key Stage 5
Music continues to be a lively and central part of the school throughout thesSixth form, with lots of new opportunities becoming available. Outside studying Music or Music Technology girls may also audition for Soul Band or Chamber Choir. They often form the core of excellent talent in Senior Orchestra, and each year girls are selected to try directing and conducting ensembles such as Junior Orchestra. There are regular opportunities to perform in front of the whole school, and also to accompany ensembles. Girls are selected to become Music Reps to assist with organisation of events, as well as being able to gain experience backstage and of working as a sound or lights technician.

Music A-level is well established in the school and the girls always achieve good results. Grade 5 Theory is recommended and students should be grade 6 on their main instrument when beginning the course. Lessons are conducted in a variety of ways, often to assist the girls with differing learning styles and to encourage original approaches to study. Experience and understanding are boosted with trips to concerts and shows.

Music Technology A-level was made possible by the opening of the studio in SAM. This year we have equal numbers of girls doing Music and Music Tech, although Music Tech continues to be an extra subject studied after school hours to allow longer sustained periods when recording and editing.

Extra-Curricular Music

	Year 7 Choir: This ensemble is designed to encourage as many Year 7s as possible to get involved, without the pressure of singing with the older girls. They spend the year enthusiastically driven and with repertoire selected to allow their voices to develop.
	Main School Choir: This group represents many years of commitment to quality choral singing, and have gradually seen their ensemble change around them with the introduction of Year 7 Choir and Chamber Choir. Year 7 Choir will greatly boost their numbers, and will help to maintain the longevity of this group.
	Chamber Choir: This ensemble has almost become too large to be called "Chamber" but with so many keen and talented choral singers in the school, it should not come as a surprise. It is open to any year group, by audition or invitation, and the girls have to be prepared to sing confidently, without support and sometimes in six-part harmony!
	Mini Soul Band: Fleur, Lucy, Catie and Lydia still impress at every concert with their grasp of harmony, and how well they gel as a group. It was very telling to see that every member of the group was rewarded in the KS3 Young Performer of the Year Competition last year – they are a talented group of girls.
	Soul Band: Each year two new members are auditioned from Year 12 for this sixth form exclusive ensemble. The girls are always strong vocally and harmonically and approach each new challenging song with enthusiasm and skill.
	Jazz Band: This ensemble is still expanding with new brass, new saxophones, new percussion and now a vocalist – Olivia Stearman. They played impressively in the summer events, despite only celebrating their one year birthday this term.
	Junior Orchestra: Under the watchful eye of A2 Music students, they are developing skills rapidly on their instruments and as an ensemble. It is open to KS3 musicians, generally of any grade.
	Senior Orchestra: Confidence and expertise are building with every concert. The orchestra are now regularly tackling full length professional scores, such as The 1812 Overture and Symphonie Fantastique, as well as enjoying some light-relief of film scores and Christmas Classics.

For information about Music at A-level, please click here.

top of page