Saint Augustine's Priory School
Education for Life
Music is an important part of the curriculum for all girls from 4 - 14. Singing is strongly encouraged in the Prep and Junior departments, and all girls learn the recorder from age 6 to 11. There are a number of regular and ad hoc school choirs and ensembles and a wide variety of instrumental lessons are available, see below (on this page).
Music is a popular GCSE option, allowing girls to make good use of their instrumental and vocal skills. All girls studying GCSE music are expected to participate fully in all appropriate ensembles and choirs. Coursework consists of composing, rehearsing and recording ensembles and listening and appraising music. Girls attend concerts, including the Gamelan Workshop at the Royal Festival Hall.
Music is available as an option for both AS and A2. This builds on the skills of GCSE, with the study of harmony added and more challenging composition assignments. In A2, girls have to create music for a five minute imaginary film scene. There are practical recitals with a visiting examiner and presentations on a second instrument or composing/ensemble work.
In Prep III girls are given the opportunity to take up an instrument in addition to recorder, which is started in class. The instruments available at this stage are ones suited to the younger child. Most parents opt for a shared lesson at this level (in pairs). The options available to Prep III girls are:
As the girls progress through the school a wider selection of instrumental and vocal tuition is available, dependent on the age and size of the student. All lessons are arranged on a rota basis during school hours. The following are currently offered:
Pupils are prepared for Associated Board music exams and are entered at the appropriate time. Accompanists are provided by the school and rehearsals are arranged prior to examination. Examination sessions currently take place twice a year at the School – producing strong results.
In addition to the Junior and Senior Choirs, there is a small Chamber Choir of 16 to 25 Senior girls, which performs both at the Carol Service and smaller scale School functions and the girls are often joined by talented teachers.
From September 2006 all Senior girls taking singing lessons will be required to participate in rehearsals.
There is a Junior Orchestra which meets on Tuesdays at 8.30am, and a Senior Orchestra which meets after School on Tuesdays. These two orchestras combine at Christmas to accompany the Carol Service. Junior String Orchestra meets on Thursday lunchtimes, and the Senior String Orchestra on Monday lunchtimes. The Senior String Orchestra often accompanies the school drama production in the summer term. All of these groups perform in the termly Ensemble concerts.
There is a Flute group for senior School flute players which meets on Tuesday lunchtimes, and a smaller Flute Ensemble which studies a more technically demanding repertoire.
Woodwind and brass players are welcome to join the newly formed, and currently nameless woodwind and brass ensemble!
There is a recorder ensemble for junior players and various duets and trios form to enter the Ealing Music Festival. There has recently been an increase in the playing of chamber music including string quartets, along with clarinet and saxophone ensembles, plus with the increased number of girls studying the electric guitar a wealth of musical opportunities are opening up.
There is an annual Music and Speech Festival in which a great many girls take part. The classes are heard over three days in the Lent term, culminating in a Prize Winners' Concert during the evening, to which parents are invited. Details and entry forms are made available before the event in March, at which a professional adjudicator is engaged.
St Augustine's girls enter a number of classes in the Ealing Festival, and have done extremely well over the past few years as the Music Room mantelpiece can testify! Our string and recorder ensembles have particularly excelled in this area. For more details of Ealing Festival please refer to their website.
Trips and visits are seen as a key supplement, in order to present music as a vital and engaging experience. Girls are encouraged to attend concerts and other important events, such as the London Symphony Orchestra presentations at the Barbican, Ballet at the Royal Opera House and the Schools Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Visiting musicians have included brass ensembles, saxophone quartets and the Japanese Taiko drum ensemble. Our youngest children have also seen the ‘Scutterbugs’ music and drama show.