Music

The Music Department is a vibrant and busy department and there is a considerable emphasis on performing, which touches the life of the whole school community.  This is because we believe that music plays a fundamental role in a child’s learning and social and personal development.  We strive to enrich every pupil in our school with the opportunity to learn and experience music on all different levels, whether it is in class as part of the Curriculum or by learning to play an instrument through individual instrumental tuition.

We offer a diverse, enjoyable and mostly practical Music Curriculum in which students engage in practical group-compositional tasks, computer-based activities and listening topics. These lessons are intended to develop creativity and to prepare the more able students for GCSE Music.

GCSE Music is a popular subject and we follow the AQA syllabus at Sherfield.  We will also be offering AS - and A2-level Music from September 2013 in which we will be following the AQA syllabus, further details can be found below.

Individual tuition and ensembles

Sherfield has 12 specialist Visiting Instrumental Teachers who teach one to one instrumental lessons on a rotated timetable within the school day.  

Individual instrumental tuition is available to all students from years 1-13. Lessons are offered on all Woodwind, Brass and String instruments as well as Voice, Keyboard, Piano, Orchestral Percussion, Drum Kit and Guitar.

We offer various opportunities for students to participate in ensemble sessions during Lunchtimes, such as The Senior Choir, Woodwind Group, Brass Group, Chamber ensemble, Percussion ensemble, African Drumming, Samba Drumming, Rock Bands and String Groups. We also offer group theory lessons for grades 1-5 which takes place after school.

Concerts and Musical productions

Sherfield offers students plenty of opportunities to develop their performing skills in a variety of concerts, musical productions and other events:  We offer two lunchtime concerts every term, in which students of all age groups have the opportunity to perform in public for the first time, as well performance practice before a music exam.  It is an ideal opportunity for the younger students to be inspired by the older and more experienced students! There are also two more formal evening concerts every term, for the more polished performances.

We are keen to prepare and enter our students for the Associated Board music exams three times a year. We are also proud to be the host for the yearly Basingstoke Music Festival. Our talented musicians are regularly invited to perform as guests in various public concerts and venues and we enjoy getting involved within the community.

At Sherfield School we enjoy cross-curricular projects, and we regularly work with the English, Dance and Drama department to produce some fantastic Musical Productions. These include Grease and Bugsy Malone, High School Musical and Camp Rock as well as providing some live background music to Shakespeare productions such as “Much Ado about Nothing” and “Romeo and Juliet”.

Music scholarships

Many scholarships are available at 13+ and 16+.    If you would like a brochure, or to come and have an informal chat with the Director of Music, Ilana Bennett, to discuss how Sherfield School can shape your child's future in music, please telephone the school reception or email i.bennett@gss.gemsedu.co.uk

A-Level Music

The AQA A-level Music specification enables students to extend their knowledge and understanding of music, to create and develop their own musical ideas and to demonstrate technical, interpretative and communication skills through performing music.

This six-unit course helps students to develop aural, theoretical and analytical skills and enables them to explore a significant set work and an area of study selected to suit their preferences. They can choose to study compositional techniques, to create music which draws on their own experience and enthusiasm or to arrange a given piece of music. In their performances, students can present solo and ensemble pieces and can work with music technology.

A-level Music builds on the knowledge and skills gained from GCSE Music as well as musical experience gained outside the classroom. It recognises the interdependence of different aspects of musical activity. This specification provides a sound preparation for the study of music in higher education, as well as providing opportunities to develop strengths and interests leading to music-related and other careers. It encourages students to develop a wide range of transferable skills such as critical thinking, research, communication and team-work.

AS Examinations

Unit 1 – MUSC1

• Influences on Music
• 30% of AS, 15% of A Level
• 1 hour 45 minutes written examination
• 80 marks

Unit 2 – MUSC2

• Composing: Creating Musical Ideas
• 30% of AS, 15% of A Level
• Externally Assessed Coursework
• 60 marks

Unit 3 – MUSC3

• Performing: Interpreting Musical Ideas
• 40% of AS, 20% of A Level
• 10–16 minutes Internally Assessed
• 80 marks

A2 Examinations

Unit 4 – MUSC4

• Music in Context
• 20% of A Level
• 2 hours 15 minutes written examination
• 100 marks

Unit 5 – MUSC5

• Composing: Developing Musical Ideas
• 15% of A Level
• Externally Assessed Coursework
• 60 marks

Unit 6 – MUSC6

• Performing: A Musical Performance
• 15% of A Level
• 10–15 minutes Externally Assessed
• 60 marks