Music at King’s

Independent education for 3 to 18 year olds

The King’s School in Macclesfield

Academic MusicRight from the start of the learning journey in our Infants, our pupils enjoy a range of fun music-making activities with a specialist Music teacher. Weekly lessons include songs, games, music and movement

– often linking with topics being studied in other lessons. Children prepare for a range of celebrations such as Harvest Festival, Christmas and Easter as well as concerts and shows which are performed for parents and family.

Music lessons continue throughout the Juniors, with

weekly lessons with the Director of Music. The recorder and the keyboard are studied along with music notation. The dimensions of music are taught through songs, games, listening and composition activities. Again, links with other curriculum areas are exploited; when Year 5 pupils study the Tudors, music lessons focus on the music, instruments and dances of the time.

In the Seniors, our pupils in Years 7 – 9 enjoy weekly music lessons as part of their regular curriculum.

Diverse, inclusive and well-structured projects explore a wide range of musical topics. From Bach to Bowie via Balinese Gamelan, pupils investigate each topic in context whilst developing their performance, listening, analytical and composition skills. Music technology and music history are also covered.

The GCSE and A Level courses are not only immensely rewarding but also hugely beneficial in helping students develop skills required for university and beyond. Many students go on to study Music at universities and conservatoires: recent successes include several Oxbridge choral and organ scholars as well as students going on to study voice, violin and popular music at the RNCM and viola at London’s Guildhall School of Music. From university, many students go on to forge exciting careers in music.

At the same time, we are equally proud of the many former pupils for whom music is not their profession, but has nonetheless continued to be a central part of their lives.

Music forms a vibrant part of life at King’s. From the classroom to the concert platform, this life-enriching pursuit brings our pupils tremendous fun and camaraderie, as well as developing their aesthetic understanding, intellectual curiosity and practical skills.

Music at King’s

ScholarshipsMusic Scholarships and Music Exhibitions are available by audition, following the entrance exam, for boys and girls wishing to join the School in Year 7. They are awarded to those who demonstrate a high level of performance or potential. Applicants should have obtained at least ABRSM Grade 3 or equivalent. Music Scholarships and an Organ Scholarship are also available for candidates age 16+ applying to join King’s Sixth Form.

Music at King’s

Extra-curricular MusicThere is an action-packed programme of extra-curricular music for all pupils from the Infants through to the Sixth Form. Here, enthusiasm for making music (whether it be singing motets or improvising with the Big Band) is contagious! Boys and girls, both beginners and experienced musicians, rehearse and thrive together in our many choirs, bands, orchestras and ensembles.

With weekly rehearsals, regular concerts and services, music competitions and festivals, soirées, recitals, talent shows, residential courses and tours both in the UK and abroad, extra-curricular music is a highlight of pupils’ school life. In recent years, our Senior choirs have enjoyed tours to Italy and Prague, whilst our string players enjoy regular weekend trips to Triganos in Wales.

Seniors & Sixth Form• Barbershop

• Big Band

• Brass Group

• Cambiata! (Years 7 – 9)

• Chamber Orchestra

• Clarinet Ensemble

• Concert Band

• Flute Ensemble

• Foundation Choir (Years 10 – 13)

• Jazz Band

• Musical Theatre

• String Quartet

• String Orchestra

• Senior Samba

• Songbirds Choir (Years 7 – 9)

• Wind Band

Here are some of the musical opportunities on offer at King’s:

Infants & Juniors• Infant Choir

• Lower Junior Choir

• Upper Junior Choir

• Stringstars

• Super Samba

• Woodwind Wonders

• Team Brass

• Guitar Ensemble

Many of our able

musicians also perform

regularly with other

organisations such as the

Hallé Youth Orchestra,

National Youth Choir and

National Youth

Jazz Orchestra.

Pupils at King’s normally start individual instrumental/voice lessons from Year 3 onwards. Individual lessons last 30 minutes and take place during the school day. Some lessons may take place before or after school by arrangement. Instrumental lessons are arranged on a rotating timetable and are fully supported by teaching staff in all divisions.

• Bass Guitar • Bassoon • Cello• Clarinet • Classical Guitar • Cornet• Double Bass • Drum Kit • Electric Guitar• Euphonium • Flute • French Horn• Harpsichord • Keyboard

• Oboe• Orchestral Percussion• Organ • Piano • Recorder• Saxophone • Tenor Horn• Theory of Music • Trombone • Trumpet• Tuba • Viola • Violin• Voice/Singing

Lessons available include:

King’s has a small stock of instruments and is happy to loan these to pupils where possible for their first year of tuition. After this, we ask that pupils purchase or hire an instrument from an external source. We are happy to advise on how/where to do this.

Pupils are entered for ABRSM, Trinity and Rockschool examinations when appropriate. Rehearsals and extra aural tuition is given for three/four weeks prior to these. A nominal charge is made for this, payable to the School.

Parents are invoiced directly each half term by the instrumental teachers. The current rate is £16.50 per 30 minute lesson. Parents are encouraged to support the progress of the pupils at home and to raise any concerns with the individual teacher.

Instrumental/Vocal Tuition

The Music Department at King’s offers expert tuition in a wide range of musical instruments, from a highly qualified and enthusiastic team of instrumental teachers.

Instrumental/Vocal Teachers

Alex Kane

Beatrice Hubble

Zoe Goode Mike Watson

Gareth Brown

Damion Browne

Val Stark

Peter Batchelar

Jo Beesley

Dougie Black

Kevin Dearden

Kate Pelling

Helen Fehily

Pippa Goss

Alastair McCall

Wendy Jackson

Katie Riddle

Hans NymanPhil Hill

(Electric guitar)

Dan Whieldon

Helen Whiteley

Bassoon

Oboe/Recorder

Flute Keyboard

Brass

Cello

Clarinet/Saxophone

Guitar

Piano

Percussion

Saxophone

Violin

Voice

For a full biography of each teacher please go to www.kingsmac.co.uk/Instrumental-Tuition

Instrumental/Vocal Tuition: Terms and Conditions

1. Instrumental lessons are of 30 minutes duration, with some lessons taking place in the lunch break or immediately before or after the School day. The visiting instrumental teacher will do his/her best to arrange lessons on a rotating timetable to ensure a minimal and evenly distributed consequence for academic work.

2. The fee for instrumental/vocal teaching is determined by the Director of Music. A half term’s notice will be given to parents of any change in fees.

3. Visiting instrumental teachers will invoice parents half-termly, in advance, or at the commencement of tuition for new pupils, and fees should be paid by the date on the invoice. Failure to pay by the due date may result in lessons being suspended until the fees are paid.

4. Should a teacher be prevented by prolonged illness or other cause from providing the appropriate number of lessons in any term, and should no substitute teacher be made available, credit will be given against the next term’s account, a refund being made only when no subsequent account is to be rendered.

5. Weekly lesson times are communicated to pupils and parents by appropriate means including Parent Portal and the Infant & Junior School website. Each pupil is personally responsible for ensuring that they are aware of their timetabled lesson.

6. Reasonable efforts will be made to rearrange missed lessons should timetables allow. By the nature of visiting instrumental teaching, when a pupil misses a lesson because of forgetfulness or isolated days of illness, the teacher is not in a position to make up the income involved and the School, therefore, does not expect that the missed lesson normally should be made up or a refund given.

7. Where parents wish to terminate tuition, six lessons’ notice in writing should be given to the instrumental

teacher concerned. In the absence of such notice, six lessons’ fees are payable in lieu of notice. This does not apply during the first half term of tuition. If the teacher wishes to terminate the lessons, six lessons’ notice should also be given.

8. A music notebook can be bought from the School Shop in which practice to be completed before the next lesson will be recorded. There is space in these books for communication between the teacher and parent.

9. Pupils whose progress and/or attitude are unsatisfactory may be required to discontinue lessons should no improvement be noted after due warning and notice to parents. If the teacher, using his/her reasonable discretion, feels unable to continue tuition on account of conduct by the pupil or anyone connected with the pupil which makes it unethical or unsafe to continue teaching the pupil, the fees for any outstanding lessons will not be refundable.

10. Pupils are entered for examinations when appropriate. Rehearsals and extra aural tuition is normally given for three/four weeks prior to these. A nominal charge is made for this, payable to the School. When a pupil is to be entered for examinations, prior notice of this will be given by the teacher to the pupil’s parents.

11. If the pupil stops attending lessons which have been paid for, there is no entitlement to a refund. The pupil is, however, entitled to attend any lessons paid for. If the teacher stops lessons without giving the correct notice specified in point 7, the teacher shall refund any fees already paid for lessons not given once reasonable effort has been made to rearrange any lessons.

The “Instrumental/Vocal Tuition – Terms and Conditions” set out the contractual terms relating to the provision of instrumental and vocal tuition in the School. The Conditions will apply to the Agreement, opposite.

Instrumental/Vocal Tuition

Visiting instrumental teachers are not employed by the School, but are appropriately checked by the School. The School is committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects visiting instrumental teachers to share this commitment.

The School provides accommodation for the lessons and generally assists with the administration and timetabling of the lessons, but the contractual relationship is between the parents of the pupil and the individual teacher and no liability is attached to the School.

A formal application for music tuition on the application form opposite is deemed to imply acceptance of the Terms and Conditions described in this document. Please complete one form for each instrument. Additional forms are available on the website or from the Music Department.

SECTION 1 (FOR COMPLETION BY PARENTS)

Pupil’s full name Year Group

Address Postcode

Telephone no Email address

(The time of your son/daughter’s first lesson will be sent to you by email.)

Name of Instrument

Does your child currently play this instrument Yes No

Length of time learning this instrument Grade/level achieved

I (NAME) agree to the Terms and Conditions as set out herein and agree to be bound to them until termination of this Agreement.

Signed (PARENT) Date

Any additional information

SECTION 2 (FOR COMPLETION BY VISITING INSTRUMENTAL TEACHER)

I (TEACHER’S NAME)

offer tuition to (PUPIL’S NAME) in

(INSTRUMENT/SUBJECT) and agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions accompanying this document.

Signed (TEACHER) Date

Please complete SECTION 1 of the form, and return to the Music Department Administrator. When the Agreement has been signed by both the teacher and pupil’s parent or guardian, it will constitute a legally binding contract between the signatories. The Agreement will remain in force continuously unless terminated in accordance with point 7 in the Terms and Conditions.

Once the above has been completed, and tuition has been agreed, a copy of this will be issued both to parents and the visiting instrumental music teacher for record purposes.

Tuition Agreement

The King’s School in MacclesfieldCheshire SK10 1DA

01625 260000 mail@kingsmac.co.uk

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