Academic Music
Director of Music: Mr A. P. Forbes
For a guide to Oundle's extensive practical music activities and facilities, please follow this link.
The Music Department is housed in the Gascoigne building, a four storey building containing three main classrooms, a computer laboratory and over 20 individual teaching/practice rooms. Our chief concert venues include the Arthur Marshall Room which houses a Yamaha grand piano for chamber music performances, the school Chapel home to the renowned Frobenius pipe organ and the Great Hall which allows for performance on a Steinway full concert grand piano.
There are currently nine full time Music teachers – four academic staff in addition to a Head of Keyboard, Head of Strings, Head of Woodwind, Head of Brass and a full time Composer-in-Residence. Although the curriculum is delivered mainly by the academic staff we are fortunate to have the full assistance and co-operation of the Heads of Instruments and some 41 part-time instrumental teachers who are all actively involved in teaching performance elements of the curriculum.
Music Scholarships are offered at 11+, 13+ and 16+
The department is staffed by:
Mr J.C. Arkell MA FRCO FTCL FLCM FRSA (Head of Academic Music and School
Organist)
Mr A. Eadon BA ARCO LRAM (Choir Master)
Mr A.P. Forbes BA LRAM (Director of Music)
Mr A.P. Gibbon GRNCM (Head of Strings)
Mr A. Hone BMus ARCM ARCO (Head of Keyboard)
Mrs A. Hudson GRNCM PPRNCM (Head of Brass)
Mr D.P. Milsted BA LTCL(T) CertEd (Head of Woodwind)
Mrs S.L. Ratchford BA
Course Content
1st to 3rd Form
All pupils in Forms 1-3 take Music, during which they are taught basic theory, composition, analysis, performance, listening and appraising skills. The 3rd Form classes are streamed according to musical aptitude helping us to differentiate between the wide ranges of ability that we intake from different preparatory schools. 3rd form music scholars meet weekly with the Director of Music for extension lessons.
GCSE
We currently teach the Edexcel specification, which allows for considerable development of practical musicianship skills such as performance and composition. Pupils who opt for this course will already be learning at least one instrument or voice and should be prepared to continue their study throughout the duration of the course. In addition to the two practical components, the course also offers the chance to study a wide diversity of musical styles including the Western Classical tradition from 1600-1599, Popular Music including Britpop and Dance Music and Music from a Non-Western Culture such as Salsa and African Music.
AS
We teach the Edexcel specification. For details of course content, and pattern of assessment, follow this link. Pupils choose music either as a foundation for further musical studies or as a complementary academic subject to other AS and A2 levels.
AS Music provides an opportunity to study European cultural heritage as well as other traditions from across the world. Accordingly, pupils have the opportunity to study a mixture of musical styles. Like GCSE, great emphasis is placed upon performance which accounts for 15% of the course and pupils are strongly encouraged to take the extension course in Music Performance alongside their AS study. In addition to the study of harmony and counterpoint, pupils also have the opportunity to compose freely based on a given choice of topics. Most pupils will have successfully followed the GCSE course, although gifted performers and composers, after consultation with the Director of Music, could possibly be accepted without GCSE Music.
A2
This course allows the pupil to specialise as either a performer or composer having established a particular strength at AS level. As the former, pupils are required to give a 20-minute public recital and as the latter pupils prepare a composition portfolio for external assessment. Harmony and counterpoint remain an integral part of the course and are examined at the end of the year. In terms of listening and understanding, pupils undertake an hour long aural examination followed by a two hour written paper based on topics studied throughout the two years. Great emphasis is placed upon developing independence of thought and expression, a capacity for intellectual study, and greater personal awareness of the social and sociological factors that permeate the creation of music