Music

Director of Music: Ms Sarah Meere

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything”.

Plato

Course Summary

There is a strong musical life at Christ's School, with opportunities abounding for a broad range of music making at all levels.

Our A level Music course aims to inspire the next generation of students in forming personal and meaningful relationships with music through the development of musical knowledge, understanding and skills. Students will be encouraged to engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music and musical contexts, develop an understanding of the place of music in different cultures and contexts, and reflect on how music is used in the expression of personal and collective identities.

Facilities

The state-of-the-art facilities, opened by Sir Tim Rice in 2004, boast a suite of Apple Mac computers running Logic Pro X and Sibelius software, as well as a good selection of high quality microphones for various purposes and other audio equipment. Students often use the equipment during lunch break and after school, learning to record their own music, as well as using the technology as a tool for composition. Through taking responsibility for sound, lighting and stage management for musical and other events at school, pupils can, under the guidance of the Director of Music, develop invaluable skills in the technical side of productions.

At Christ’s School we offer A Levels in both Music (Edexcel) and Music Technology (Edexcel). Students can opt to do either or both of these options, and advice can be given as to the suitability and advisability of doing each course.

Extra-Curricular

Plenty of opportunities exist at Christ's for extra-curricular music. We generally host two major concerts each year, which give the chance for singers and instrumentalists to exercise their skills on the public stage. In recent years there has been considerable investment in sound and lighting equipment by the school. This has made a big difference to the presentation of major events. A concert at Christ's will typically contain: instrumental solos (classical, jazz, popular); vocal solos in a range of styles; the school choir; a band or orchestra; a variety of ensembles, large and small; rock groups; music technology; dance. We have been gifted with the funding to run free introductory lessons in some instruments. From the same source we were able to purchase a large quantity of new instruments for the department.

The department has an open-door policy at lunchtimes and after school, where students can come in and practise. Typically during most lunchtimes all available spaces in the department are being used by students, as well as teacher-directed rehearsals of various instruments and vocal groups. The department is a vibrant place.

Musically gifted pupils will be strongly encouraged to join external youth music organisations to supplement what can be achieved in school. A number of students have joined local youth orchestras (such as Ealing, Thames or Stoneleigh Youth Orchestras and the London Schools Symphony Orchestra) and have been encouraged to attend the junior departments of the main London music colleges such as the Royal College of Music.

Recent Events

Performance by Christ's pupils as part of at least two PTA-organized events every year
Jazz concert in collaboration with composer Ben Gilbert, presented as one of our annual series of "Arts Evenings"; the evening featured the compositions of our students
A choral and orchestral concert, featuring Karl Jenkins’ Adiemus, Songs of Sanctuary, and solo performances with orchestra by two of our most advanced instrumentalists (Otto Sterner: Schindler’s List; Patrick Wilson: Arban. Fantasy and Variations on Carnival of Venice for Trumpet and Orchestra; Purcell sonata for trumpet and strings). This highly successful and ambitious concert was presented at St. Matthias Church in Richmond and was part of an ongoing series.
An evening of classical guitar by Marc Ongley: part of an occasional series of professional concerts hosted by the music department. Mr. Ongley is a professional guitarist who also teaches at Christ’s School.
Christ's annual Carol Service at Holy Trinity Church
A series of "At Homes": informal small-scale concerts designed for the playing and singing of solos and small ensembles in the more intimate environment of Christ's Music Centre
Twice yearly major concerts in our school hall
Major music/drama productions produced recently have included: Bugsy Malone; Zorro the Musical (world schools’ premiere of this piece by Gypsy Kings and John Cameron); Oliver; Arabian Nights
Regular performances in all whole school assemblies
School choir performance at the O2
Many smaller informal music events in school
Performances by school bands at public venues, including performing at the annual Jack Petchey awards in the Richmond Theatre
Performance by three of our musically gifted students at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London as part of the "Big Band in a Day" initiative

Exam Board

Edexcel: Course Code: 9MU0

Specification: http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/music-2016.html