of london school for girls

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1 MUSIC city of london school for girls MUSIC DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT INFORMATION 2015

2 MUSIC STAFF FULL TIME STAFF Dr S. Berryman Miss U. Murphy Mr G. Schmidt Mr R. Stokes Director of Music Assistant Director of Music, Orchestra Head of Strings, String Orchestra Music IT, Teacher of Piano and Flute Music Administrator VISITING MUSIC TEACHERS PIANO Miss J. Fisher (& Singing) Mr R. Gurvits Mrs S. Hadzic Mrs N. Nokes Ms A. Ogawa STRINGS Ms S. Parfitt - Violin & Viola Ms S. Davis - Cello WOODWIND Mr D. Evans - Flute Miss J. Ha - Flute Ms C. Philpot - Oboe Mrs T. Diakow - Clarinet & Saxophone Mrs J. Rhind - Clarinet & Saxophone Ms J. Staniforth - Bassoon Ms E. Murphy - Recorder BRASS Mr R. Jacob HARP Ms P. Popa GUITAR Ms. Ellie Kotzia Mr S. Hickey PERCUSSION Mr A. Martin SINGING Miss F. Duncan Miss J. Fisher (& Piano) Miss J. Rendell Miss Z. Turner ORGAN Ms A. Marsden Thomas GRADE 5 MUSIC THEORY Classes are available as an extracurricular activity.

3 WHAT WE OFFER We strive for the very best atmosphere that will stimulate good teaching and learning. We give every girl the opportunity to develop her musical skills by providing diverse and stimulating learning experiences practically, creatively and academically. We achieve this through: 1. A varied and stimulating programme of work in the Lower School with opportunities for independent learning including individual and group work, music technology and traditional class activities. 2. Vigorous preparation for GCSE, AS and A2 level work 3. An extensive extracurricular programme throughout the school, catering for all ages and abilities. Occasional Masterclasses and other visits from professional musicians. 4. Individual instrumental lessons (by request) on a wide range of instruments. 5. Performing in Concerts, Recitals, Livery Company events, joint productions with CLS*, Assemblies, other school and community events (formal and informal) and music tours abroad. 6. Encouraging our Gifted and Talented musicians to further develop their skills by auditioning for Junior Music Colleges and Holiday Courses. 7. Following the success of our Old Girls through their careers. *Recent joint productions have included Les Miserables, Kiss Me Kate and The Sound of Music.

4 INDIVIDUAL MUSIC LESSONS We have over twenty peripatetic staff who teach a very wide range of instruments. To request lessons, please contact the Music Administrator stating which instrument is required. If there are spaces available, lessons can begin immediately, otherwise girls will be a placed on a waiting list. Thirty lessons are delivered, per instrument, over the school year with each lesson lasting for thirty-five minutes. To stop lessons, parents should inform the Music Administrator who will terminate the lessons from the end of each half-term. Lessons are billed separately and are added to the termly account. Please note that the school has a policy that girls should be taught each instrument by only one teacher. Having a teacher in school and a different teacher out of school is confusing to students. For girls up to Year 9, lessons are delivered on a rotating timetable to ensure that girls miss different curriculum lessons each week. Girls are informed when their next lesson will take place and the teacher will write this in their homework diaries. Most teachers provide a timetable for the whole term in advance. However, we do ask the girls to be very careful in checking the times of each lesson. Girls in Year 3 and 4 are collected by the staff for their lessons and returned to the Prep Department afterwards. If a teacher is away then he/she will make up the lesson. If a girl is absent, her instrumental teacher will inform a parent by and the lesson is usually forfeited as it is often difficult to reschedule. The Music Administrator should be contacted if there are any concerns regarding lesson arrangements. We have a waiting list for some instruments, particularly singing, so it is important that we know if your daughter is having any difficulties. We do not offer individual singing lessons to younger girls for physiological reasons and would only recommend them applying when entering into Year 8. There are plenty of opportunities for them to sing in class, choirs, assemblies and in concerts.

5 We offer graded music exams to girls and host the Associated Board exams in school each term. These exams are at the request of the teacher and require parental consent. There is no pressure put upon the girls to take exams and we understand that some girls will not want to take them. However, most of the girls who enter do very well and enjoy receiving formal recognition of their progress. If girls would like to start learning an instrument, but are unsure which one, we also offer taster lessons. These can be arranged at the beginning of term by contacting the Music Administrator. Girls are expected to own their own instruments, but there are a limited number of instruments available to hire (for a maximum of one term only) for beginners. Girls can also store their instruments in school during the day by speaking to any of the Music Staff. Please contact the Music Administrator for further information.

6 CONCERTS AND PERFORMANCES There are many opportunities to perform at City in both formal and informal events as well as at School Assemblies. Girls who learn outside school are always welcome into any musical activity. We do expect regular attendance and a real commitment, which is why we are able to perform some very challenging repertoire. Our regular musical events are listed below. AUTUMN TERM Scholars Concerts The Junior and Senior Scholars Concerts are the first opportunity for us to hear our outstanding musicians perform. Musical / Autumn Concert These events alternate each year. The musical is always a joint event with the City of London School. Musician of the Year Competition For years 6-13, with external adjudicators. Prep Concert A variety of choral, orchestral and dramatic repertoire. Junior and Senior Carol Services These are held in St.Giles, Cripplegate. The Prep, Junior and Senior choirs are all involved.

7 SPRING TERM Sing and Swing Concert The Swing Band, Jazz Groups and individual performers provide an evening s entertainment in an informal setting. Prep Concert The Orchestra, both Prep Choirs, quartets and recorder groups perform along with individual items. Year 7 Concert A popular concert which gives Year 7 the opportunity to shine. After the interval, the whole year group sing as a joint choir. Joint Concert with CLS Each March, we join forces with the boys school to put on larger scale works for mixed choir and orchestra. Inter-house Competition The four houses compete against each other in a rousing end-of-term music competition. SUMMER TERM Leavers Concert This is the last chance to hear our older girls perform at City. After an informal first half, the orchestra often accompanies soloists in concerto movements. Junior Concert Involving Years 8-9, with solo and ensemble items. Prep Opera A large-scale presentation for all girls in Years 3-6.

8 AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS There are over thirty scholarships available for talented musicians. Girls who are successful in obtaining a scholarship are required to: contribute fully to the life of the music department participate in the orchestra/choir as appropriate perform at the Scholars Concert and other events as required, such as assemblies. It is also recommended that girls take Music GCSE and/or AS/A2 Courses at school. Scholarships are reviewed from time to time and can be removed if students do not fulfil the requirements or do not progress adequately on their main instrument. CORPORATION MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS Several of these are awarded each year, principally to girls applying at 11+ and 16+ level. 11+ awards last for 7 years, and 16+ awards for 2 years. All girls need to first pass their academic entrance examination to the school and will then be invited to audition. These auditions take place in November for 16+ and January for 11+ for entry the following September. Current girls in the Prep school and Year 11 who will progress through can also apply for these awards. Candidates will be selected for audition if they fulfil the following criteria They have achieved or are deemed by the teacher s reference to be working at a minimum of Grade 6 for 11+ and Grade 8 for 16+ on most instruments; the exceptions are brass, double-reed and singing. The reference from the teacher demonstrates the candidate is a committed musician who contributes widely to the musical life of their school and beyond. Things to include in addition to the completed application form: Reference from principal study teacher a short letter would be acceptable. Any mark forms from the most recent graded examinations. If no examinations have been taken comment sheets from Music Festivals, for example, would be an acceptable alternative. THE AUDITION The audition will last approximately 20 minutes. Candidates will be expected to prepare two short pieces on one or more instruments. For example if you play two instruments you could play one on each. The total playing time of the two pieces (or extracts of pieces) should not exceed 5 minutes. All candidates must use the official accompanist and will not be able to bring their own. CANDIDATES MAY BE ASKED to undertake some sight-reading and aural tests, if necessary, and it will be similar style to the tests found in the ABRSM Grade 5 examinations. The audition may include a short informal interview with members of the Music Department.

9 CLSG AND JGSMD (JUNIOR GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC & DRAMA) JOINT SCHOLARSHIPS We welcome applications from existing CLSG students and new admissions for these highly prestigious and valuable awards. Two scholarships are available each year, one for Years 9-11 and the second for Sixth Form. Both Scholarships are awarded for two years. Candidates have two auditions which take place in November. The first is held at the school before a joint panel of adjudicators from CLSG: the second takes place shortly afterwards at JGSMD. It is a requirement of the scholarship that instrumental lessons will be taken at JGSMD. OUR EXPECTATIONS OF YOU EXTRA-CURRICULAR COMMITMENT As Music Scholars and Award Holders we expect a full commitment to the musical life of the school. We expect you to take part in a number of activities including the orchestra and choir. Regular attendance is essential as you give an important example to the other girls. PERFORMANCE We expect you to perform at the Scholars Concert and additionally Open Days and the Open Evening in June/July and at other events as required. We would also expect you to play during Assemblies on occasion and to help with the organisation of Assemblies and small ensembles. Those of you who hold Awards from Livery Companies may well be asked to perform for them. School life is very busy and we do understand girls can have many commitments. Any performance opportunities will have plenty of notice but some can be last-minute opportunities. We hope you will endeavour to take advantage of opportunities to perform as much as possible. GCSE AND A-LEVEL MUSIC Of course we will tell you GCSE and A-level Music are life changing subjects and you should take them! We do hope you will seriously consider taking GCSE/A-level Music as it presents a wonderful opportunity to develop your musicianship that rarely exists during or outside of the school week. Both give the opportunity for you to work with your peers and explore music history and develop compositional skills. The Director of Music may offer a fast-track GCSE Music course from September 2016 (Cambridge IGCSE Music). It is hoped that most girls would opt for the normal timetabled route and if this fast-track course becomes available you will be informed during the autumn term. It is not suitable to take a fast-track GCSE Music if you are considering A-level Music. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US You can expect a commitment from the department to help further your musical development by ensuring you have the right opportunities to develop in a way that balances your musical and academic life. Through close monitoring we hope you will feel an important part of the department and the school as a whole. The Music Department will conduct a brief yearly review of all its scholars to assess progress and to reward commitment. We will do all we can to support those who may have some difficulties. In very rare circumstances it might be necessary for Scholarships/Awards to be withdrawn if the holders are not fulfilling their responsibilities.

10 WE ALSO OFFER NUMEROUS SMALLER AWARDS TO GIRLS (BOTH CURRENT AND EXTERNAL) WHO DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL MUSICAL ABILITY. WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF FOUNDERS AWARDS Last for two years ( 250 per annum). Two are awarded each year to girls in the Sixth Form who have demonstrated service and commitment to music in the school. WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF NEEDLEMAKERS CHORAL AWARD Lasts for one year ( 500). Available to girls from Years 8 and 9 who are committed singers in the Junior Choir. WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF POULTERS AWARD Available to girls from Year 7 to 13 (pays for individual music tuition). Only one is available and stays with the girl until she leaves. HARRIET POTTLE AWARD FOR MUSIC Available to girls from Year 7 to 13 ( 250 per annum). Only one is available and stays with the girl until she leaves. ANDREWS AWARD For musical performance in the Sixth Form ( 250 per annum). THE FRIENDS MUSIC BURSARY One bursary is available to girls either at 11+ or 16+ or who are already in the school ( 1,000 per annum). One is available for school life. THE MACLAGAN MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP One scholarship is available on entry to the school at 11+ or 16+. Up to 1,500 per annum for school life. It is a requirement that music scholars participate in at least two extracurricular activities each week. The timetable is extensive and varied and we require full attendance and commitment to all rehearsals. Many teachers also run their own ensembles with students at breaks, lunchtimes or after school which girls are invited to attend. In addition, Grade 5 Theory classes and Aural test practice sessions are available to girls who wish to follow the Associated Board syllabuses. For full details of the available Music Awards, please contact our Admissions Officer, admissions@clsg.org.uk

11 MUSIC GROUPS AT CITY CHOIRS Madrigal Choir Senior Choir Years 9-13 Junior Choir Years 7-8 L2 & U2 Prep Choir L1 & U1 Prep Choir Barbershop ORCHESTRAS Senior Orchestra String Orchestra Junior Orchestra Synchronicity ENSEMBLES Swing Band Brass Band Jazz Band Guitar Ensembles Saxophone Quartet Clarinet Quartet Cello Ensemble Recorder Ensemble Senior Flute Group Junior Flute Group String Quartets

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