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Our aim is to develop the interrelated skills of performing, composing and listening as set out in the National Curriculum. Learning to compose and perform develops a pupil’s self-discipline and confidence, providing a creative outlet engendering a sense of fulfilment and achievement. Listening to, and understanding music enables students to communicate their feelings and ideas using expressive language and appropriate musical vocabulary.
We aim to ensure that all pupils leave Beaumont school with a greater understanding and appreciation of many styles of music.
All pupils in Years 7-9 have one music lesson a week. Pupils have the opportunity to work individually, in pairs and in groups of different sizes and have access to many different instruments currently available within the department.
Students cover a wide range of topics forming a rich and varied curriculum, and have the opportunity to study live and recorded music from different times and cultures, including music from the British Isles, the 'Western Classical' tradition, folk, jazz, world and popular genres. Topics on offer at KS3 include: Indian Music, African Drumming, Experimental Music, Reggae and Blues. Students have many opportunities tonity to develop their skills in performing, listening and composing. Making music with others is an essential part of these three years, as is the encouragement of self- and peer-appraisal. Students regularly perform to each other, sing together, and are encouraged to bring in their own instruments to lessons. They learn the basic theory of music, including rhythmic awareness, note reading skills, and learn the necessary vocabulary to help them improve and refine their own work and the work of others. These skills are used to compose and perform music in different styles using percussion and melodic instruments such as keyboards. the theory learned in Year 7 provides a firm foundation for the rest of the wor done in Years 8 and 9 and will in the end, provide them with many of the necessary skills required of students wishing to take music as an option at GCSE.
For a summary of the curriculum in a particular KS3 school year you can download the relevant Year Course Booklet by clicking on these links:
Year 7 course booklet
Year 8 course booklet
Year 9 course booklet
Any student who is enthusiastic about music is welcome to join the GCSE course, although the ability to play an instrument is desirable. Performing, composing and listening skills are developed throughout the two years. Students taking GCSE Music are entitled to a free 20-minute, individual instrumental lesson per week.
For details of the syllabus for students who began their GCSE course in September 2010 click on this link:
GCSE 2010-2012 syllabus
For details of the GCSE syllabus for students who began their GCSE course in 2011 click on this link:
GCSE 2011-2013 syllabus
You can also obtain details of the course and coursework deadlines etc from the relevant Year Course Booklet by clicking on these links:
Year 10 course booklet
Year 11 course booklet
Students can take their interest in Music further through enrolling on one of the courses available in the sixth form across the BeauSandVer Consortium, with the courses usually being shared by two of the three schools each year. Students taking AS and A2 Music are entitled to a free 30-minute instrumental lesson per week.
For details of all courses on offer at Key Stage 5 go to the BeauSandVer consortium website.
The Music Department has two well equipped classrooms, and four practice rooms with pianos.
There are many opportunities for students to broaden their musical experience at Beaumont:
There is a wide range of instrumental and voice groups which rehearse and perform regularly both in school and in the community: The Concert Band, Choir, Vocal Ensemble (audition only), Concert Band, Big Band (invitation only), String Group and Orchestra all rehearse weekly, either before or after school or during the lunch hour. There are also smaller ensembles for specific instruments, run by the peripatetic teachers. Concerts for parents and visitors are held termly, and students regularly perform in venues such as St Peter’s Church (lunchtime concerts), St Albans Abbey, and the Alban Arena. Students should see Miss Doan if they are interested in joining in any of the groups.
- There are opportunities to take part in Music tours abroad: recent tours have included trips to Vienna (2008) and Paris (2009)
- The Hertfordshire County Music Service provides weekly instrumental lessons during school hours for students wishing to take up or continue learning. Tuition is available in voice, electric and acoustic guitar, piano and keyboard as well as strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. Click here for details.
- Students attend concerts and performances by professional musicians both locally and in London
A number of Beaumont pupils have been successful in gaining places at prestigious organisations such as the National Youth Choir, National Youth Training Choir, St Albans Youth Orchestra and Herts School Symphony Orchestra.
The Music Department’s extra-curricular activities can be followed in more detail at: http://www.musicatbeaumontschool.blogspot.com/, where more photos and recordings can be found, as well as items of general interest to GCSE and A Level students and at www.twitter.com/beaumontmusic. Information about some of the extra curricular music activities and productions can also be found on the music page. A full list of extra curricular clubs and activities, including those of interest to music enthusiasts, can be downloaded here. A copy of the music and concerts calendar can be found here.
Taking part in these activities is a valuable way of making new friends and sharing similar interests – come and join us!
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