Music and Music Technology
Mission Statement
The Music Department aims to meet the diverse needs, both practical and academic, of all pupils at The Leys. Our goal is to encourage, nurture and develop musical involvement and achievement to the highest possible standard through flexible teaching tailored to the individual pupil, including one-to-one support. We want music at The Leys to be a pleasurable and rewarding experience for all pupils and one that will remain throughout their lives.
The Music School
The Music Department moved to its new purpose-built Music School in February 2005. This state-of-the-art facility includes a Recital Hall with Steinway grand piano, an adjoining recording studio, harpsichord room, a spacious classroom, Music ICT room with 10 Sibelius workstations, two chamber music rehearsal rooms, a percussion suite, Rock room, music library and ample practice rooms. All spaces have been acoustically engineered and sound insulated. In addition to the busy annual series of concerts organised by The Leys, the Recital Hall is increasingly in demand locally as a venue for public concerts, music diploma examinations, professional recordings and regional music competitions.
Academic Music
Music is an academic curriculum subject for all years at The Leys. All pupils from Year 7 to Year 9 have class music lessons; further study at GCSE and A Level is optional. In addition Music Technology is also offered at A/S Level as a separate academic discipline. Class sizes are typically small for all year groups, enabling personal attention to the needs of all pupils. The Resident Graduate Musician is available for extra one-to-one support as necessary.
Years 7 - 9
Largely based on the National Curriculum, lower school lessons focus on creating, developing and appreciation of a wide range of musical styles, together with performing, composing, improvisation, ICT and Music Theory work.
Music GCSE and A Level
Pupils opting to take GCSE or A level music follow the Edexcel syllabus, which develops performing, composing and anthology-based listening and analysis skills. GCSE Topics: Repetition and Contrast in Western Classical Music; New Directions in Western Classical Music; Popular Song in Context; Rhythms, Scales and Modes in Music from around the World. A/S & A2 Topics: Music for Large Ensemble; Music for Small Ensemble; Sacred Vocal Music; Keyboard Music; Secular Vocal Music.
Music Technology A/S Level
Unit 1 of the course involves sequencing an extract of Classical Music and an extract in a Popular/Jazz idiom, using Apple computers and Cubase software. In Unit 2 students expand a short musical stimulus into an arrangement using Sibelius software, printing a full score and parts for this. Students also perform as part of an ensemble, developing a given stimulus with other musicians, which they then record for submission. Unit 3 involves studying the use of technology in Jazz and Popular music and is examined with a listening paper.
Staff
James Deveson, BMus MMus - Director of Music
Rob Hall, BA MA ARCO - Assistant Director of Music
James Mantle, BA - Resident Graduate Musician