Music touches all people. It involves them in performing, listening and composing. It is a discipline which integrates its own unique skills with intellectual, physical, emotional and aesthetic development. Through an engagement with music, students can develop their creativity, understanding, co-ordination, confidence, spiritual awareness, a sense of achievement, and a sense of enjoyment.

Eduqas A Level Music specification

The word “music” covers a huge range of different styles and genres, and each one of us has our own preferences and interests. The Eduqas A level specification recognises this through the varied areas of study and the choice of routes through the course:

• Areas of study include the Development of the Symphony; a choice of Rock and Pop Music, Jazz, or Musical Theatre; and either Into the Twentieth Century or Into the Twenty-First Century.
• The Area of Study “Into the Twenty-First Century” includes works by living male and female composers giving an insight into the current music industry.
• There is a Symphony to study as a set work, and two short twentieth or twenty-first century pieces, but beyond this the choice of classroom repertoire is selected based on that which is relevant to the area of study and which will be interesting and accessible to the learners.
• Performing is assessed by a visiting examiner, giving a much more realistic scenario than a recording, allowing students to demonstrate their communication of the music to the listener, and giving a real sense of occasion.
• Composition is assessed through two pieces: one written in a Western Classical Style in response to a chosen brief, and one free piece which can be in any style, allowing candidates to demonstrate and develop their personal specialisms.
• Students at A level can choose whether they wish to be assessed on a longer performance or submit a third composition, allowing them to develop their preferred specialism.

Co-curricular opportunities and trips

 The Walkfares Performing Arts Centre is home to the thriving Music, Dance and Drama Departments.  Students take individual lessons in orchestral instruments, piano, singing, drum-kit and classical, electric and bass guitars. Regular performances are given by students in assemblies, lunchtime recitals and formal concerts. Students take part in regional and national musical festivals and competitions, and groups tour regularly to perform in major venues in Europe. There is a range of educational workshops and trips each term.

New Hall School Choir performs regularly in Chapel and has also performed at St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, St Mark’s Basilica, Venice, and Westminster Cathedral, London, as well as on BBC Television. The choir sings a wide range of music from sacred to secular, classic to modern.

A termly-themed concert offers a display of the fantastic work done in the Music Department during the term and showcases the many choirs, bands and ensembles on offer. There is a host of performing groups, including senior and junior choirs, a chapel choir, orchestras, a string ensemble, jazz band and a variety of smaller ensembles and chamber groups.  Students are also encouraged to form pop and rock bands with specialist support and facilities available.

Read our Co-curricular booklet for more music activities.

Results

In 2022, 100% of students achieved an A*-C grade with 25% achieving an A*.

Director of Music: Mr Turner [email protected]

Instagram: @newhallmusic