Director of Music: Christopher Dyer chd@sevenoaksschool.org

The Music Department
The Music Department is a thriving place. In 2009, 75% of our GCSE students were awarded an A*. Since 2003, all of the IB students have achieved level 5, 6 or 7, with around 70% achieving the top two levels. Nearly 750 instrumental lessons are taught each week by the Music Department in addition to the many academic lessons and co-curricular ensembles that flourish in this busy environment. There is the opportunity for every student to learn an instrument and participate in group activities; over the course of the year the department presents around 40 concerts. Many of these are classical but there are also opportunities for jazz and rock music and the pupils themselves play a large part in the promotion of these events. Most concerts are free of charge but some of the more prestigious ones, such as the Young Musicians’ Forum and the numerous charity concerts, are reasonably priced. Full details of all the activities are on the website.

Years 7 & 8
The Lower School curriculum is based around practical activities which encourage the students to compose and to enjoy performing. These activities stimulate further interest in the students, many of whom are members of the Foundation Orchestra or the Lower School Singers. These ensembles are open without audition to all members of the Lower School.

Year 9
The year 9 curriculum is a set of 15 discreet activities which both prepare the students for the GCSE course but also provide the students with fun activities with which to be involved. The emphasis again is on taking part and having fun.

Years 10 & 11
The GCSE course requires students to listen, perform and compose. The listening is based on a thorough survey of western classical music and a broad study of world music. Students are required to look in detail at one set piece of classical music and one area of the world. During the two years they continue their instrumental studies, and towards the end of the course present one solo piece and one ensemble piece for assessment. In year 10, students work on one instrumental composition, one vocal composition and one jazz composition. In year 11, they develop and extend these early works, with many students composing new pieces as well, from which the best two are selected for assessment.

The Sixth Form
The Sixth Form course extends the principles of the GCSE in that all students are required to listen, perform and compose once more. The listening is a mixture of specific music that they study over the course and music they are required to respond to without preparation. The course includes both world music and classical music. The students get a free hand in their choice of performing and their best performances are sent away to be moderated. The composition course is built around musical analysis, with students choosing from the start what styles and forms they would like to study. They are then required to analyse pieces in those styles and apply this knowledge to the pieces that they subsequently compose.

Click here to see examination results