Music at RPA

Trips and Experiences

The music department at RPA prides itself on the plethora of trips and workshops. In the last five academic years (Autumn 2016 to Summer 2024), these are an example of some of the opportunities open to students at our school:

• Year 8/9 trip to see ‘Dear Evan Hansen’

• Year 7 trip to see ‘Illuminate’ at Richmond College

• Year 7 trip to see ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ in the West End

• Year 7 trip to see ‘The Light Princess’ at the National Theatre

• Year 8 trip to see ‘Matilda’ in the West End

• Year 9 trip to see ‘Memphis’ in the West End

• Year 9 trip to see ‘Phantom of the Opera’ in the West End

• Year 10 GCSE Music students attend the St Paul’s School Springboard Composition Course to help with their GCSE composition skills annually. This is run by the Royal Academy of Music

• Year 11 GCSE trip to see Mathew Bourne’s Swan Lake at the New Wimbledon Theatre

• Key Stage 4 trips to Sadler’s Wells to see ‘Blayze’, Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands’, Matthew Bourne’s ‘Lord of the Flies’, Matthew Bourne’s ‘Nutcracker’ and ‘Cirque Eloise’

• Year 9 and 10 trip to see ‘Miss Saigon’ in the West End

• Year 7-12 trip to see Matthew Bourne's 'The Red Shoes' at Sadler's Wells

• Year 7 trip to see 'Aladdin' at the Prince Edward Theatre

• Year 9 trip to see 'Addam's Family' at the New Wimbledon Theatre

• Key Stage 4 trip to see 'Dreamgirls' at the Savoy Theatre

• Key Stage 5 trip to see 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime' at the Gielgud Theatre

• Key Stage 4 trip to see 'Wicked' at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

• Instrumental and vocal tuition in school (see information below with link to Richmond Music Trust). 

• African drumming workshops for Key Stage 3 every October. 

• Rap and vocal workshops led by professionals to support Key Stage 4 pupils studying music. 

• ‘SIX’ at the Vaudeville Theatre

• ‘Legally Blonde’  at Regent Park Theatre 

• ‘Frantic Assembly's Othyello’ at the Lyric 

• ‘Back to the future’ at the Adelphi Theatre

• ‘Metamorphosis’ at the Lyric 

• ‘Everybody’s Talking about Jamie’ at the peacock Theatre.

Annual Performances

• Winter Concert: Performances in the annual Winter Concert in December involved all the musicians and vocal talent. Last year 1/4 of the school performed in the concert which was held in our new hall

• School musical: ‘Matilda’ performed Summer 2022. ‘Legally Blonde’ Summer 2023 and ‘High School Musical’ scheduled for Summer 2024. 

• Key Stage 4 Music Showcase: Year 10 and 11 GCSE and BTEC students perform as one of the requirements for both courses.

• RPA Live Summer Concert. 

• Performing Arts Review: two performances organised by the sixth form for their BTEC course. 

• Instrumental Recital: An opportunity for musicians (especially pianists) to showcase their work. 

• Live @ The Rose vocal performance with the Richmond Music Trust. Our choir performs alongside others from the Borough at The Rose Theatre in Kingston. Many of our students have been awarded solo roles in this fantastic summer opportunity

• Richmond Prom orchestral performance with the Richmond Music Trust. Our orchestra performs a concert alongside other instrumental ensembles from the Borough.

• Bi-anual Creative Arts Showcase in the Summer Term showing off our brilliant faculty and the hard work of Y11 and Y13.

We believe that through the arts subjects such as music we can shape our understanding of how we see ourselves and each other. There is always a challenge, a new perspective or an unlikely response. These are subjects where students can feel safe to explore their unique perceptions.

Plans for 2024/25

• Winter Concert: Performances in the annual Winter Concert in December involved all the musicians and vocal talent. Last year 1/4 of the school performed in the concert which was held in our new hall

• School musical: ‘Matilda’ performed Summer 2022. ‘Legally Blonde’ Summer 2023 and ‘High School Musical’ scheduled for Summer 2024. 2025 school musical TBC.

• Key Stage 4 Music Showcase: Year 10 and 11 GCSE and BTEC students perform as one of the requirements for both courses.

• RPA Live Summer Concert. 

• Performing Arts Review: two performances organised by the sixth form for their BTEC course. 

• Instrumental Recital: An opportunity for musicians (especially pianists) to showcase their work. 

• Live @ The Rose vocal performance with the Richmond Music Trust. Our choir performs alongside others from the Borough at The Rose Theatre in Kingston. Many of our students have been awarded solo roles in this fantastic summer opportunity

• Richmond Prom orchestral performance with the Richmond Music Trust. Our orchestra performs a concert alongside other instrumental ensembles from the Borough.

What we do when

Year 7

In Year 7, students study music on a carousel. They will have a 120 minute lesson, once a week for 9 weeks in each subject area. During this time they will complete three units of work. 

• Understanding Treble Clef Notation - Performance on the keyboard (solo)

• Understanding Rhythm - Composition and performance on the African drums and voice (group)

• Music Theatre exploration of ‘Matilda’ - Vocal performance (group)

Year 8

In Year 8, students study music on a carousel. They will have a 120 minute lesson, once a week for 9 weeks in each subject area. During this time they will complete three units of work. 

• Pop Music and the Axis of Awesome - Performance on the keyboard hands together.

• Understanding African Drumming - Composition and performance on the African drums and voice (group)

• Music Theatre exploration of ‘Hamiltons’ - Vocal performance (group)

Year 9

In year 9, students study music on a carousel. They will have a 120 minute lesson, once a week for 9 weeks in each subject area. During this time they will complete three units of work. 

• Ragtime - Solo performance on the keyboard 

• Samba Drumming - Group composition on the Samba drums

• Musical Futures - own guided performance.

Each project set will focus on building key skills needed for KS4 within each subject area.

Who to contact

Ms Bea Wardlaw - bwardlaw@richmondparkacademy.org