school choir

Music

The Music Department consists of two academic teachers and nine peripatetic teaching staff who teach a wide range of instruments.

All pupils in Year 7 through Year 9 receive specialist music tuition. Pupils study a wide range of music genres. The subject is taught through listening, performing and composing, with an emphasis on practical music making. Pupils perform songs and instrumental pieces as a class and in groups and compose regularly. In addition, all pupils are given first-hand experience of using music technology throughout the course.

Teaching takes place in a dedicated music room and two instrumental teaching rooms.  Pupils are introduced to a wide range of instruments which include a full class set of keyboards, ukuleles, xylophones and a samba percussion kit.   The music suite contains its own ICT area where pupils benefit from using  software including Sibelius, Mixcraft8 and Soundtrap. The suite has an interactive Hi-resolution Television/sound system for teaching and demonstration purposes.

All girls have the opportunity to perform at the School’s annual Spring Concerts, Founder’s Day events and the Christmas Carol Concert. Extracurricular activities take place on a weekly basis, for example, the Chamber Choir, Orchestra, and Rock and Pop Group.

“Without music, life would be a blank to me.”

Jane Austen, English Novelist

“Where words fail, music speaks.”

Hans Christian Andersen, Danish Author

Curriculum Map

GCSE Music

Please open the GSCE curriculum by clicking the Options Booklet Button on the right hand side of this page.

Extra-Curricular Activities and Enrichment

The Music Department offers a range of activities that the girls can become involved in such as Senior Orchestra, Senior Choir, Chamber Choir, Barbershop Group and a Whole School Orchestra. There is a very large uptake of extra-curricular musical activities with a large majority of pupils playing a musical instrument across the whole School.  The Seniors also perform a bi-annual School Musical. The Chamber Choir visit Jesus College, Cambridge every year for their Choral Evensong and the Hart Carol Service in Central London, in addition to performing at our own prestigious events across the year.

Music Awards at 11+

Music awards may be offered to outstanding musicians who play an instrument or sing with exceptional ability. For further information on Music Awards, please click here.