Music

Head of Department
Mrs J Bryant

‘Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity……’

National CurriculumThe Music Department at The Vyne gives all students the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and to develop a broad range of skills from creating and composing their own music, becoming technically secure on a range of instruments and listening and evaluating, with increasing vocabulary, to a broad selection of styles and genres.

There is also the opportunity for students to learn to play a musical instrument on an individual or group basis with one of the many visiting instrumental tutors. Instruments currently on offer are flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone, Violin, ‘Cello, Keyboard, Piano, Drum Kit, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar and Acoustic Guitar. Other instruments can be made available as demand requires it. 

For these lessons there is a competitive fee.At Key Stage 3, students have a 50 minute lesson each week where they cover a range of topics to include World Music (African Drumming, Samba), Classical Music, Music Technology & Electronic Dance Music, Blues and Jazz, Music of the Caribbean (Reggae, Calypso & Steel Drums), song writing

and Rock School. Through each topic they will learn how to read and write music in a variety of mediums (traditional musical notation, graphic score, TAB), perform on instruments related to the topic (electric guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, drum kit, singing, classroom percussion instruments, African drums and Samba instruments) and learn how to create music using technology. 

They will listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians. In addition to this, they will understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

At Key Stage 4 students can opt to study Music. We currently follow the Eduqas exam board GCSE music syllabus. Students receive 4 x 50 minute lessons a week which are divided into performing, composing, listening & appraising and theory. Each week students will practise their chosen instrument to record a range of solo and ensemble performing pieces, learn how to compose more advanced pieces of music in a range of styles and build on their knowledge and understanding of music theory and listening skills to recognise and evaluate music heard. 

All of the music studied, composed and performed are linked to the topics set by the exam board.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato

“Without music, life would be a mistake” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” ― Albert Einstein