Music at Blackheath High School
The choirs, instrumental ensembles and soloists of
Blackheath High School rehearse and perform throughout
the school year, both on the school site, in facilities which
include the purpose-built 300-seat theatre and old chapel,
and at venues across London, the UK and Europe.
Recent performances have taken place at St. John’s, Smith
Square, Eltham Palace, Blackheath Halls and the Old Royal
Naval College, Greenwich, in which a choir and orchestra of
over 150 of the school’s students performed. Music tours to
Barcelona and Paris have seen the school’s ensembles
perform at La Madeleine, Barcelona Cathedral and
Disneyland Paris.
The school’s strong choral tradition is reflected in the
variety of the choirs’ many activities, recently including
Choral Evensong with the Chapel Choir of St. Edmund Hall
at Oxford University, concerts with Dartford Symphony
and Blackheath Halls Orchestras, recording of the choirs’
own professionally produced CD and participation in the
Beckenham Music Festival, in which the choirs have been
regular prize-winners.
In collaboration with the drama department, students have
staged annual musical productions, recently including
‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ (2011-12),
‘Grease’ (2010-11), ‘Dracula Spectacula’ (2009-10) and
‘Bugsy Malone’ (2008-9) in which the cast, chorus, band and
technical crew have been formed entirely of pupils.
The department operates a musical instrument ‘taster’
scheme in Years 2 and 7, offering pupils the loan of a
musical instrument and a course of lessons, taught in
small groups, free of charge. Music scholarships of up to
20% remission of fees, which may include the provision of
free, individual music lessons, are offered each year to
pupils entering the Senior School.
Music at Blackheath High School
Among the many musically talented pupils at Blackheath
High School, a significant number attend Saturday music
schools, including Junior Trinity, Junior Guildhall the Centre
for Young Musicians and Dartford Youth Orchestra, whilst
some have attained places in the National Youth Choir and
London Schools’ Symphony Orchestra.
The school is proud to take music education into the
community in the form of partnership activities. These
have recently included primary schools’ singing
workshops, in which pupils from local state schools have
prepared excerpts from challenging choral works. With
the support of the school’s senior choirs, the pupils have
presented their work to enthusiastic audiences during
informal performances at the end of the workshop.
Curriculum
- In Years 1 – 6, all pupils receive two, 30 minute music
lessons per week. The first lesson focusses upon singing, the
second upon music reading and notation skills.
- In Years 7 – 9, all pupils receive two, 50 minute music
lessons per fortnight, focussing on performing (singing and
keyboard skills), composing (supported by Finale notation
software) and listening (studying focus works on which
composition tasks are based).
- In Years 10 – 11, pupils may choose to study GCSE music,
following the Edexcel specification. Pupils receive six, 50
minute lessons per fortnight. Between 10 and 15 pupils
typically choose to study GCSE music each year.
- In Years 12 – 13, pupils may choose to study AS and A2
Music, and AS and A2 Music Technology. Pupils receive
eleven, 50 minute lessons per fortnight.
Choirs and Ensembles
Senior School
Chamber Choir
Senior Choir
Chamber Orchestra
Concert Band
Middle school Choir
Gospel Choir
Year 7 Choir
Wind Ensemble
Rock Band
String Trio
Junior School
Junior Chamber Choir
Junior Orchestra
Year 5 and 6 Choir
Year 3 and 4 Choir
String Quintet
Recorder Ensemble
Music at Blackheath High School
Staff
Instrumental and singing lessons are delivered by a team of
13 visiting music staff at the Senior School and 15 visiting
music staff at the Junior School. Visiting staff teach individual
and group lessons in addition to leading instrumental
ensembles and choirs.
The Director of Music works alongside the Junior School
Music Co-ordinator and part-time teacher of Music
Technology in the Senior School, who are supported by
musicians from the staff of the Junior School.
Facilities
Senior School
The Senior School benefits from a purpose-built suite on a dedicated floor within the Vanbrugh Park building comprising:
- A music classroom equipped with digital piano, 13 keyboards, interactive whiteboard, projector and stereo
- Two music ICT classrooms equipped with 20 PCs running Finale and Cubase notation and sequencing software
- A recording studio and control room equipped with iMac running Logic software, mixing desk, audio and midi
interfaces, speakers, grand piano and drum kit
- 4 additional, individual music teaching rooms, each equipped with pianos and instrument storage
- A department office.
Beyond the Music Department suite, music rehearsals and performances take place in two shared spaces:
- the Theatre, equipped with retractable, raked auditorium and gallery seating for 300 people, professional, integrated
theatre lighting, sound and radio microphone systems, Yamaha grand piano and removable staging
- the Old Chapel (dance studio) equipped with Broadwood grand piano.
Junior School
The Junior School benefits from:
- The Central Hall equipped with Yamaha grand piano
- The Main Hall equipped with raked seating, Yamaha grand piano, lighting, sound and radio microphone systems and
stage with wings and back-stage area.
- A music classroom equipped with piano, Orff instruments and music stands.
- 4 individual music teaching rooms.
Music at Blackheath High School
Music Department Weekly Rehearsals
Before School
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8:00 – 8:30am
Chamber Choir
In S10
Auditioned
8:00 – 8:30am
Chamber Choir
In S10
Auditioned
8:00 – 8:30am
Chamber Choir
In S10
Auditioned
Staff meeting
8:00 – 8:30am
Middle School Choir
In S10
Auditioned
1:05 – 1:50pm
Aural Test Practice
In S10
1:05 – 1:50pm
Year 7 Choir
In Theatre
Year 7
Wind Ensemble
In S10
1:00 – 1:30pm
Senior Choir
In Theatre
All Welcome
12:45 – 1:30pm
Gospel Choir
In S10
1:05 – 1:50pm
Grade 5
Music Theory
Preparation
In S25
String Trio
In S10
3:45 – 4:45pm
Concert Band
In Theatre
All Welcome
4:00 – 4:30pm
Rock Band
Practice Rooms
3:45 – 4:30pm
Junior Chamber
Choir
Junior School
3:45 – 4:45pm
Chamber
Orchestra
In S10
Grade 4+
4:00 – 6:00pm
Rehearsals for School
Musical
In Theatre
Lunchtime
After School