Music

Music occupies a central role in the life of all Kimboltonians. Our House Music competitions see every pupil on stage at some point in the year and almost half of our students choose to learn an instrument or have singing lessons in school. We offer countless opportunities for pupils to perform, with a busy programme of weekly lunchtime concerts, large public performances, concert visits, assemblies and tours abroad.

The Music School is accommodated in the attractive Mews Quad and has seen considerable investment in recent years.  It boasts excellent teaching, rehearsal, ICT and recording facilities.  We are also fortunate in having use of the Castle State Rooms, a fine venue for ABRSM exams and weekly recitals.  The Lewis Hall hosts our major concerts and musical productions.

Curriculum

First to Third Forms – compulsory for all pupils

All pupils in the lower school have weekly class music lessons. They learn how music works through a rich and balanced diet of listening, composing and performing.

Fourth and Fifth Forms – GCSE optional subject

Class sizes are generally 8 – 12. We follow the CIE IGCSE Music syllabus, with three units as follows:

• Listening (a written paper of an hour and a quarter, worth 40% of the marks)
• Performance (portfolio of solo and ensemble recordings – 30%)
• Composition (two contrasting pieces – 30%)

Sixth Form – A Level optional subject

Set sizes are generally 2 – 8. We follow the AQA A-Level Music syllabus (7272), with three components as follows:

• Appraising music (a written paper of two and a half hours worth 40% of the marks)
• Performance (a recorded recital of solo and/or ensemble performances – 35%)
• Composition (two contrasting compositions, one following a given brief and one freely worked – 25%)

Kimbolton 7^th Period Super Curriculum: In addition to the A Level curriculum specified above, the Lower Sixth also undertake a supplementary study of Bach chorale harmonisation as part of their '7th Period' programme.

Extra-Curricular Activities

There are numerous ensembles and choirs catering for all tastes and abilities.  Staff direct some while others are driven by the students themselves.  We also offer free theory and aural tuition each lunchtime.

In addition, there are also many performance opportunities to cater for all abilities and musical tastes. Recent highlights have included staged productions of Into the woods, Oliver! and The Sound of Music and concert performances of Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah and the Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein.

Further information on individual tuition and our extra-curricular opportunities is in our Creative Arts section.

Regular Trips, Visitors and Competitions

We regularly take our GCSE and A Level groups to see professional concerts and productions. Our location makes it feasible to travel to venues in London and Birmingham for evening performances.  Symphony Hall and the Barbican are termly favourites.

We have strong links with local Music Services, with a number of pupils each year successfully auditioning for the various County ensembles in our area.  We have also had pupils in the National Youth Orchestra and the National Children’s Orchestra.