Music
1: Ethos and aims of music teaching in The Park School.The Park School provides quality music instruction with as wide a range of styles as is possible, underpinned by a Christian perspective. A full historical, cultural, and stylistic panorama is represented and encouraged in musical education, and in performances. The Music Department aims to involve all pupils in music to some degree, apart from lessons within the timetable, pupils are encouraged to participate in instrumental, vocal and performing groups at some stage during their school life. The avenues for this level of involvement are outlined below.
2: Performance groups.
The Park School choirs, orchestras, and modern band prepare at least three performances yearly consisting of the senior prize giving evening, the carol service, and the commemoration service. In addition to these performances, all students who study a musical instrument participate in at least one recital evening per year in order to show their skills and learn to perform in front of an audience.
a: Senior Orchestra: all students who take lessons on their respective instruments are allowed in this performing group, and are able to practice and perform attractive music—rehearsals on Wednesdays from 13:30-14:15.
b: Senior Choir: available to all voice students as well as those students who simply love to sing—rehearsals on Tuesdays from 13:30-14:15.
c: Advanced Ensemble/Modern Band: available to instrumentalists who are at grade five R.A. standard or above—rehearsals on Thursdays from 13:30-14:15.
d: Junior Choir: mandatory for all students from years three to six—rehearsals on Mondays from 13:30-14:15.
e: Junior Orchestra: available to junior school students having attained an approximate level one R.A. standard—rehearsals on Fridays from 13:30-14:15.
3: Instrumental instruction
At the Park School, we have fully qualified peripatetic music teachers for each of the following branches of instrumental and vocal instruction. The teacher enters students for the relevant Royal Academy examinations where appropriate. Students are taken out of curricular lessons in order to attend music lessons with the exception of core subjects for the following activities: lower and upper strings, all brass instruments, modern & classical guitar & electric bass, piano & electronic keyboard, flute & clarinet, voice, or theory lessons.
Should the need arise for a more specialised instrument such as bassoon or oboe; a teacher will be hired to fulfil this need.
4: Key Stage Three
The students are taught a wide range of musical styles from diverse ethnical backgrounds. Emphasis is placed on creative expression and utilization of musical devices. Assessment is based on two criteria, standardized listening exercises, and practical expression using the techniques learned in the lessons. Efforts are made to detect the interests of each student, and to give that student experience on an instrument of his or her choice, and in the style that they are interested in. Homework assignments range from historical information research to personal expression and are given once weekly in key stage three.
5: GCSE Music
The students learn a wide range of ethnic music and performance music of their choice. They have two compositions to put together, and two performance pieces to perform, accompanied by analysis assignments suited to these musical works. The examination board is OCR. The students are assessed on a listening exam, graded coursework, and a terminal task set by the exam board. When ethnic music is being studied, the student will actually learn to play these styles on their respective chosen instrument. The composition coursework accounts for 30% of the final grade, the performance coursework counts for 30% and the listening exam counts for 25%. The OCR exam board has the students do a Terminal task where the students compose a melody based on a stimulus given in a set amount of time.
6: AS and Advanced Level Music. OCR 3872, 7872.
The AS and A2 level specifications extend the skills of Performing, Composing and Listening/Appraising, learned in GCSE, in ways that emphasize their interdependence. Whereas it is beneficial to have taken GCSE it is not compulsory, and advanced musicians should feel confident to undertake both AS and A2 level without the benefit of having studied for the GCSE. There are no limits on the instruments (or voices) or types of repertoire which may be presented for examination and the AS and A2 syllabus encourages the widest possible range of music (from folk, popular, jazz and classical of the Western tradition through to traditions of non-Western origin. Opportunities are offered to candidates in both AS and A2 level to develop skills in Music Technology both as a tool and as a performing and composing medium in its own right.
AS Level: The Lower Sixth Year Performing:
- a solo recital on any instrument or voice lasting between 5 and 8 minutes
- performing on a second instrument, or performing in a duet or ensemble, or performing own composition
Composing:
- write some exercises showing knowledge of the Language of Western tonal harmony (music technology may be used for this)
- write a composition of a short work for between 4 and 10 instruments, or arrange a lead-sheet (i.e. a single-voice vocal melody with chord symbols (music technology may be used for this).
Listening/Appraising -An Introduction to Historical Study
- questions on aural extracts
b) on works written between 1700 to 1830
- two questions on prescribed works
b) five short questions about the historical background and wider contextual understanding of the musical periods studied.
A2 Level: The Upper Sixth Year. Performing:
- recital as a soloist or ensemble player of between 12 to 15 minutes
- a performance investigation involving a comparative study of recorded interpretations of a single work.
- write a vocal composition and add a full commentary
- write a film score composition, or submit a completed technical exercise which shows understanding of certain stylistic genre.
- answer two questions about some recorded music, or write some aural diction
- write an essay on one of four prescribed historical topics
- write an essay demonstrating the ability to make critical judgments about music
We would be delighted to answer any enquiries from those investigating the notion of studying Music for AS or A2 level. Universities encourage Music as a second or third A2 level, as well as an AS Level, for students not intending to read Music. Potential candidates for Music at university or music college should take Music at A2 level having studied for the AS level.
