The Music Department is one of the most vibrant and fastest growing departments of Sherfield School. This is because we believe that music plays a fundamental role in a child’s learning and social and personal development. We strive to enrich every pupil in our school with the opportunity to learn and experience music on all different levels, whether it is in class as part of the Curriculum or by learning to play an instrument through individual instrumental tuition.
Class Music
We offer a varied and interesting Music Curriculum which start as early as Pre-Reception, and is carried across the age range up to the GCSE, AS and A2 level Music courses. We are fortunate to have three specialist class music teachers at Sherfield School. The Colour Strings teaching method is used from Pre-reception up to year two, which provides the finest opportunity for young children to learn musicianship and early instrumental skills side by side and to develop their love for music. Music classes from years 3-6 are divided into two groups which rotate between learning the recorder and learning Curriculum Music. In this way, all students are able to play a musical instrument as well as learn the fundamental aspects of music and to further develop their love for music. We also offer a varied and interesting Music course for years 7, 8 and 9 which gives them the foundation to take music further to GCSE and A-level if they should choose to.
Individual tuition and ensembles
Individual instrumental tuition is available to all students from year 1 to year 13 and is rotated on within the timetable on a weekly basis. Lessons are offered on all woodwind, brass and string instruments as well as voice, keyboard, piano, Jazz piano, orchestral percussion, drum kit and guitar. We are lucky to have a fantastic team of 13 skilled and qualified visiting instrumental teachers who also offer students the opportunity to play their instruments within an ensemble or band. Some of the ensembles we offer at Sherfield are: Junior and Senior Choirs, Orchestra, Brass Group, Flute Group, Percussion ensemble, African Drummers, various Rock Bands, Guitar Groups, String Group and Jazz Band. These rehearsals take place during breaks and lunchtimes. We also offer group theory lessons for grades 1-5 which takes place after school.
Concerts , musical productions and other performance opportunities
Sherfield offers students plenty of opportunities to develop their performing skills in a variety of concerts, musical productions and other events: We offer two lunchtime concerts every term, in which students of all age groups have the opportunity to perform in public for the first time, as well performance practice before a music exam. It is an ideal opportunity for the younger students to be inspired by the older and more experienced students! There are also two more formal evening concerts every term, for the more polished performances. We are keen to prepare and enter our students for the Associated Board music exams three times a year. We are pleased to announce that these exams are now held at Sherfield School! We are also proud to be the host the yearly Basingstoke Music Festival to which we enter as many students and groups as possible and achieve excellent results. Our talented musicians are regularly invited to perform as guests in various public concerts and venues and we enjoy getting involved within the community. At Sherfield School we enjoy cross-curricular projects, and we regularly work with the Drama department to produce some fantastic Musical Production. Past productions include Grease and Bugsy Malone, as well as providing some live background music to Shakespeare productions such as “Much Ado about Nothing” and “Romeo and Juliet”.
Music scholarships
Many scholarships are available at 13+ and 16+. If you would like a brochure, or to come and have an informal chat with the Director of Music, Ilana Bennett, to discuss how Sherfield School can shape your child's future in music, please telephone the school reception or email ilana.bennett@sherfieldschool.co.uk
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