CURRICULUM
Years 7 & 8
COLAHH are one of 15 schools currently working with The Music in Secondary Schools Trust. The aim of the programme is to give every child in KS3 an entitlement to study a classical instrument as part of their compulsory curriculum. We provide classical music lessons for the whole year group and ensure students play and perform in ensemble and orchestral groups on a regular basis. The instruments we have on offer at COLAHH are cello, viola and violin.
As a result of this, and to allow for maximum progression, students have a double lesson of music every week and music lessons are very practical with an emphasis on making music. Students learn the elements of music and basic notation but focus mainly on learning the instrument that they have been given through the MiSST project. Students are expected to play both solo and as part of smaller groups throughout the course. In Year 7 the whole year group come together for a day and play as one large 140-piece orchestra for a day to experience playing in a large orchestra. In Year 8, small groups of students work with other MiSST schools in ‘Together Days’ playing as a joint orchestra for a day.
Every term students complete a performance assessment along with a listening test focusing on the music theory content they have studies in the class lessons. These regular assessments mean we can accurately track students progress across the whole of KS3.
At the end of each year, a select group of students from our KS3 get to attend a residential trip to Radley College in Oxford along with students from the other MiSST schools. This is a week-long intensive orchestral residential where students play and rehearse and develop their ensemble skills.
Year 9
In year 9 students focus on other aspects of music that they don’t study in years 7 & 8. Over the year we work on ensemble rhythmic pieces through samba, film music, keyboard skills and making our own music using garageband and other notation software.
Alongside our class lessons we run a music scholarship programme in year 9 enrichment aimed at pushing the more able musicians towards GCSE music. This enrichment teaches more advanced music theory and enables students to keep their instrumental lessons from year 7 & 8 to continue performing and progressing on their instrument.
CLUBS & ENRICHMENT
We have a wide variety of clubs running in the music department including; choir, orchestra, drumming group, music technology, music theory, student radio and recording sessions in the music studio.
EVENTS
The largest event in the annual calendar is the Winter Concert. This is where most extra-curricular groups perform along with select solo and small group performances from students. In the summer term we have a whole-academy production in collaboration with the drama department. This is a full-scale musical with a large cast who all sing, act and dance.
We regularly have other trips and experiences for students and have close partnerships with a lot of cultural providers in London. In recent years we have had trips and workshops to/with; Guildhall school of Music & Drama, Barbican Centre, Royal Opera House, City University, London Coliseum, Voces8, Cadogan Hall and the Southbank Centre.
You can keep up to date on everything going on in the music department on Twitter @COLAHH_Music