Music

Music plays an important part in the lives of all students at Finborough School.  Singing and classroom music is taught throughout the school and there are a number of ensembles and choirs.  Pupils can also study a variety of instruments with skilled peripatetic teachers.

 

The Music department provides music for a number of fixed festivals during the academic year; hymns and songs in the weekly assemblies, Prize-Giving and Speech Day, and the annual family Carol Concerts as well as useful opportunities for young musicians to perform both formally and informally.

 

Music in the Prep School

Class music lessons start in P1 and consist of two forty minute lessons per week. In the early years, the lessons are primarily activity based where songs, games and movement are used to instil a love of music. As they move through the primary years, they work on themes and do projects which are based on the three key skills of the National Curriculum, i.e. composing, performing and listening. These projects are augmented by practical work in music making which consists of singing and performance using a variety of percussion, glockenspiel, keyboard and recorder. Music making is reinforced through an emphasis on learning music notation as well as the use of music technology and applying it to performance and composition.

Music in the Senior School

In the Senior School, music lessons consist of one double lesson a week which allows more time to explore themes. At Finborough the music programme builds on what has been achieved in the junior school. Lessons are still activity based, but the expectations are higher and students are encouraged to find their own voice and achieve higher levels of mastery in their music making.

It is hoped that at this stage student will have made a deeper connection with music and work on their skills so that they can study music as a GCSE subject. Pupils wishing to study music at GCSE level will need to learn an instrument with a tutor, study music theory and further refine their understanding of music technology.

GCSE and A Level Music

Students who opt to study music at GCSE level follow the Edexcel examination syllabus. During this course students learn music within the parameters of composing, performing and listening. For their listening exam, they work on four Areas of Study; Western Classical Music, 20th Century Music, Popular Music and World Music. Besides the above, GCSE music students have to perform and record a solo and ensemble performance.

 

The final component of this course is a composition portfolio, where students submit two compositions based on the four Areas of Study that they have explored. Through the listening component they study different musical styles and begin to develop and explore compositional ideas using a variety of music technology resources. They learn to modify and refine work as it progresses, and finally create a finished composition. Students are taught for two double periods a week, a total of two hours and forty minutes. Besides class work, students are expected to spend a considerable amount of time on independent work outside the lesson.

 

From September 2010, Finborough School will be offering music as an advanced study at A level. The curriculum will be based on Edexcel specifications and will further extend students’ understanding of music through the key areas of composing, listening and performing. This course will appeal to musicians with a strong academic orientation coupled with advanced performance skills on their chosen instrument.

 

 

MUSIC DEPARTMENT:

Mr. B. Thom: Head of music and curriculum teacher

Mrs. C. Barrow: Piano

Miss V. Calver: Voice, junior, senior and chamber choir

Mrs. P. Hudson: Violin, viola, cello and choir accompanist

Mr. A. Kemp: Drum Kit

Mr. C. Matthews: Woodwind: flute, clarinet, saxophone, Brass: trumpet, trombone

Mr. P. Tidmarsh: Electric and classical guitar, bass guitar

 

Music Clubs and Activities:

Junior Choir: Monday 3.35-4.15 PM

Chamber Choir: Tuesday 8.00-8.50 AM

Senior Choir: Thursday 4.15-5.30 PM

Junior Strings & Winds: Wednesday 8.10-8.50 AM

Senior Strings & Winds: Wednesday 1.20-2.00 PM

Junior Guitar Club: Wednesday 4.15-5.30 PM

Senior Guitar Club: Thursday 4.15-5.30 PM

 

 The Finborough School Music Department has a full roster of concerts and festivals which give musicians both individually and as a group ample opportunity to perform.

 

Autumn Term:

Suffolk Festival

Christmas Carol Concerts

 

Spring Term:

Talent Show

Inter-House Choir Competition

Sudbury Festival

 

Summer Term:

Annual Concert

Cabaret Concert