Music is an integral part of life at the school. Our aim is to build a musical journey for every pupil in the school, whatever their level of musical ability or particular musical interest.

There are rehearsals for ensembles every day of the week, and individual lessons on instruments ranging from the piano to the bagpipes.

We have a strong tradition in both Choral and Jazz music; however, the repertoire encountered by our pupils encompasses everything from Plainsong to Punk.

There is a strong emphasis on performance and providing abundant opportunities to shine at all levels of ability. The choir has toured New York and Hong Kong in recent years.

There are frequent concerts in London and prestigious venues such as St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. The Big Band have had the opportunity to play alongside members of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, and there are frequent enrichment visits to venues such as the Wigmore Hall and English National Opera.

Mr Stephen Burrows - Director of Music

1st, 2nd & 3rd Form

Music is a compulsory curricular subject from 1st to 3rd Form, when it becomes an option for GCSE and A Level. The Music Department seeks to develop the major skills of music: performing, listening and composing, which will be so important in later life, whether pursuing a career in Music or not. Academic results for music are consistently high. The curriculum in 1st to 3rd Form focuses on developing important listening and performing skills as well as seeking to develop a life-long love for Music.

GCSE

If you have an interest in other cultures and languages, in evaluating the music of others as well as creating your own, in performing as a soloist or as part of a group, or simply an interest in unlocking and discovering more about one of the greatest art forms of the world, Music could be the subject for you. It is a subject with a great variety of content and skills, based around the three interrelated skills of Performing, Composing, and Listening.

Candidates will need to develop a range of musical skills, both academic and practical in nature. Pupils who already perform well on one (or more) instrument(s) will find themselves at a distinct advantage, but those of more modest musical accomplishment should not necessarily be deterred and are encouraged to seek guidance from the Music Department. A pass in Grade 5 theory is NOT a prerequisite of GCSE Music, but candidates will need to develop their knowledge of music theory to roughly this level in order to learn how to follow and write a musical score.

Find out more about our Music GCSE here: GCSE Subject Options Brochure.

A Level

The A Level Music course follows the AQA specification and builds on the core GCSE skills of listening, performing and composing. To be a strong candidate you don’t necessarily need a GCSE in Music, but you do need to be able to perform on an instrument or in singing to Grade 7 standard by March of the Upper 6th year. In addition, your knowledge of music theory needs to be at Grade 5 standard. Music at this level is not simply about being able to perform well on an instrument; while this is an important element, the course is as academic as it is practical, seeking to develop balanced musicians who have genuine passion for the subject.

Find out more about our Music A Level, including course content and assessment, here: 6th Form Subject Options Brochure.

Beyond the Course

By studying Music, candidates will be developing a wide range of abilities such as the rigour of historical study and analysis, as well as the self-discipline of practising an instrument to a high standard. The majority of musicians will also have had much experience of collaborating with others in ensembles and choirs, with the associated skills which this engenders. Continued study at University or Music College is often a popular option for those studying the subject to A Level; however, admissions tutors welcome the variety of skills possessed by musicians and it is generally regarded as an excellent accompaniment to any other A Level course. 

Schola Cantorum

The main school choir, which sings for concerts and services throughout the academic year. Recent performances have included Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Vivaldi’s Gloria. This group performs both at school and further afield.

Consort

The ‘premier’ choral group in the school, which sings our weekly service of Vespers. This group also performs at many other venues, with recent highlights being a service at Keble College, Oxford and concerts in London. It also undertakes frequent tours, most recently to New York and Hong Kong.

Orchestra

This instrumental group welcomes all those in the school who play a musical instrument to come together to perform in a range of styles, from folksong arrangements to pop song covers!

Big Band

This group comprises woodwind, brass and percussion instruments and plays a wide range of jazz, blues and popular repertoire. It plays at many performances throughout the course of the school year, most notably for our ever-popular jazz evening.

Corps of Drums

This ensemble performs frequently at school concerts and other school occasions throughout the year. It frequently joins forces with other instrumental groups in the school.

Brass Group

This is exactly what it says: a group of the best brass players in the school. They play for many different occasions throughout the year, in a variety of styles ranging from Monteverdi to modern repertoire.

In addition, there are many occasions throughout the school year when other ‘ad hoc’ ensembles are created for particular musical events.