MUSIC TEAM AT STEYNING GRAMMAR
Music is grouped with Art and Drama, in the Creative and Performing Arts Team, and is one of the nine curriculum
areas within the school. The faculty is vibrant and inspirational to work within.
MUSIC ACCOMMODATION
Church Street: One split-level classroom, one office/teaching room and two smaller practice rooms. Chatfields is a
larger room currently used for instrumental tuition. The main classroom is set up with band hubs where students
can work with guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and mics to play contemporary music styles. We also adapt the room
for some projects so that students can work through more conventional keyboard units. There is scope to develop
ICT at Church Street
Shooting Field: Two large teaching rooms:
Room 95: PCs (Notion and Cakewalk software), a Yamaha Clavinova and midi keyboards,
Room 96: Midi-ready keyboards, and a top of the range Yamaha Clavinova electronic keyboard
There are two connecting practice rooms between the main teaching rooms for use by music classes. All these
spaces (including the teaching rooms) are equipped with a band set up suite of bass, guitar, keyboard, drum kit
and mic, as well as computers.
The Music Office is shared between all members of the music team and peripatetic teachers, and also houses a
new recording studio set up with a Mac set up using Logic, and two further mixing stations with a Mac set up logic.
There are a further 3 practice rooms used for instrumental and vocal lessons.
All rooms have a good range of hand-held percussion and some pitched percussion.
THE TEAM
Director of Music, Jon Reeves
Teacher of Music, David Berliner
Performing Arts technicians, John Martin and Nicholas Graham-Smith (who also teaches some Level 3 Music
Practitioner currently)
Administration support, Andy Muir
There are 12 peripatetic teachers, private and county who teach all orchestral instruments, guitar, drum kit and
voice.
MUSICAL FUTURES
Jon Reeves has been a Champion teacher for Musical Futures over the last 7 years. This has involved
considerable teacher training and curriculum development both in the UK and beyond. The school regularly hosts
training sessions and is at the forefront of developments within the Musical Futures movement. We also have
strong links with Roland through this and benefit from high quality resourcing as a result. The Musical Futures
philosophy of building curriculum models around student needs and passions is at the core of everything we do at
Steyning and we endeavour to find curriculum models to benefit the range of students that we have within the
department. We run alternative examination routes for students who find it difficult to access a more conventional
route through music and have delivered Level 2 and Level 3 Music Practitioner courses at both KS4 and KS5.
CURRICULAR MUSIC
KS3
Pupils are taught in mixed ability groups of 30.
Y7
(7 groups) - one hour weekly lesson
Y8
(7 groups) - one hour weekly lesson
KS4
Music is a popular optional subject and is given 10 % curriculum time. Pupils are taught in mixed ability groups.
From September 2013 option numbers for Music GCSE (Edexcel Specification):
Y9
40 students (2 groups)
Y10
47 students (2 groups)
Y11
47 students (2 groups)
Previously we have run an early entry course based on the Music Practitioner qualification that all students take in
Year 9, but due to curriculum changes nationally we are currently considering the best route ahead for students. At
present all students in Year 9-11 are following the Edexcel GCSE specification, with current Year 11 also having a
Music Practitioner qualification already secured. For current Year 9, students will be able to take either or both the
GCSE and Music Practitioner qualification.
KS5
Music attracts a strong cohort at level 3 and we offer the conventional A level (Edexcel specification), alongside the
Music Practitioner level 3 qualifications through Rock School. From Sept 2013 option numbers are as follows:
A level - 5 students and Music Practitioner - 20 students
RESULTS are strong at AS, A2 and Music Practitioner
AS
2011
2012
2013
A
1
B
1
1
1
C
2
4
D
1
E
2
U
3
A2
2011
2012
2013
1
Music Practitioner Level 3
Extended Certificate (AS
equivalent)
2012
2013
Pass
A
1
Merit
Distinction
1
3
3 (Dist *)
B
1
1
C
D
E
2
1
1
Music Practitioner Level
3 Subsidiary Diploma
(A2 equivalent)
2012
2013
Pass
Merit
Distinction
1
1
1 (Dist *)
Results for GCSE and Music Practitioner have also had a rising trend with A*-C pass rates (including Music
Practitioner level 2) being at 95% for the last two years.
Each year we have students who progress to Higher Education in a related area. Some of these students gain
places directly onto conservatoire degree courses and some via UCAS.
EXTRA CURRICULAR
Clubs are run at lunchtime and afterschool and include: Senior Girls Vocal Group, Junior Rock Choir, Canto
Celeste Transition Choir (Year 6/7) run with a local primary school, Jazz Band, Folk Group, and Rock Factory on
both sites. We also benefit from our attached governor, Jan Hobson, who produces a whole school musical each
year.
There is scope to develop Church Street ensembles which are currently sporadic and tend to focus around big
events (e.g. Carol Concert, Harvest and Easter services).
INSTRUMENTAL EXAMINATIONS
The music team offers instrumental lessons in woodwind, brass, strings, piano, drums, guitar and singing,
supported by 12 instrumental teachers. Some of our pupils sit instrumental and singing examinations. Guitar and
drum pupils sit Rock School examinations at other centres. A class specialising in preparing pupils or grade 5
Music Theory has run weekly in the past but not at present.
Links are good and there is continuation of instrumental lessons when pupils join us at Church Street. The Music
Team is very fortunate to have an array of talented instrumental teaching staff, including two excellent
accompanists. A full rehearsal programme leading up to examinations is available. This includes support with
aural tests.
CONCERTS
There are numerous concerts and events throughout the year with large scale concerts in the Autumn and Spring
terms, and additional concerts for students working on Music Practitioner qualifications at Level 2 and 3 both inside
and outside school.
All big events take place in the Drama Hall with some alternative spaces in the locality or within the sixth form
centre. We have strong links with a local rock and pop concert promoter who organises Steyning Live Lounge, and
regularly perform in other local events. Music also a central ingredient in our association with the Church,
especially at Christmas, and through Boarding House services.
Music plays a significant role in open evenings and supports many events in the school. Music groups are great
ambassadors for the school in the community and are heavily booked to perform throughout the year. We have
strong relations between the Music team and other Music teams in local primaries and Rydon, with shared projects
that link Year 6 with Year 7, and a thriving Transition Choir with selected Gifted and Talented students. A
Chanctonbury Singing Festival brings together students of all local primaries in a one-evening celebration of
singing and the event is hosted by SGS.
We have a gold mine of student talent within the school, and the rewards in growing these talents further are
considerable. It is a busy and complex school and department and prospective applicants should be aspirational to
develop the gold mine further!