The Music Department
Curriculum
Music is taught as part of the academic curriculum and is a popular GCSE option. A number of girls continue studying Music in the Sixth Form and Abbey pupils go on to read Music at university on a regular basis. In recent years girls have gone on to study Music at Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester London and Sheffield among many other universities, and also at conservatoires such as the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
KS3
Girls in Years 7 and 8 have either two single periods or one double period of Music per week. Various topics are studied, such as Instruments (Upper III), and Ragtime and Blues (Lower IV). Lessons incorporate practical skills (performing and composing), with girls generally working in pairs or small groups, as well as theoretical topics, such as scales and chords. In UIV girls choose to work in one of two groups, depending on their musical abilities, experience and confidence. This allows everyone to make the best possible progress. As well as listening skills, a major focus is the development of compositional techniques.
GCSE
We follow the Edexcel specification, which comprises the following papers: Performing, Composing and Listening & Appraising. Music is a popular choice, with 16 girls currently studying Music in UV (Year 11) and 11 in LV (Year 10).
Music in the Sixth Form
Studying Music will enhance general musicianship significantly and introduce students to a far greater repertoire than at GCSE. Set pieces are studied in detail and students also perform and write a lot of music themselves, both free compositions (in Lower 6th only) and harmony and counterpoint pastiche exercises. We currently follow the Edexcel syllabus, with 3 students in L6 and 3 in U6.
Music complements a wide range of other subjects very well indeed: it can balance 3 scientific subjects, fit comfortably with other Arts subjects and enhance languages. Music develops practical as well as academic skills and although relaxing in some ways it is also highly stimulating and intellectually challenging. To study Music at this level the student must have a deep interest in the subject and a real desire to extend the range of the music with which they are familiar.
Beyond school
A number of girls every year go on from The Abbey School to study Music at University. A university Music degree is viewed in exactly the same light as any other 'Arts' degree (e.g. English, History etc.) and so is an excellent subject to study in higher education for students who have a deep passion for and interest in Music. Music degrees come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, some highly academic, some much more practical, and so careful research will be necessary to find the right university for an individual student's interest and talents.
