Music

Music

The Music Department has two main aims embracing both the academic and extra-curricular aspects of Music education. We want to make music as fun, inclusive and useful for our students as possible. Academically our aim is to prepare boys for GCSE and AS/A2 level Music (CCEA) and at the same time to nurture talent that will enable boys to participate fully in the activities we offer such as choirs, orchestras, chamber ensembles, Rock groups, Pipe Band and Jazz Band.

Ever increasing opportunities to perform are provided throughout the year. The choirs have a leading role in the annual Carol service and the Remembrance service. In addition, the choirs and Senior Orchestra perform regularly at other Family services held throughout the year.

The main musical event of the year is our Spring Concert which showcases all of our ensembles across the College, as well as some soloists. Traditionally, we have alternate full scale Musicals (recent productions have included Love Changes Everything, South Pacific, Oliver and Hairspray) with Strathearn School, who we collaborate with. 

In the past our most able students have also been given the opportunity to perform as soloists with the fully professional Sinfonietta Orchestra. Over the past few years this concert series has given the opportunity for over a dozen Campbell pupils to perform at the highest level in concerto movements.

An extensive Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Examinations programme is also on offer, helping to provide a structure enabling the boys to progress in their musical studies.

The Music Department although currently situated in one of the oldest parts of the School (New House – completed in 1902) endeavours to try and keep in touch with the changing nature of music in the digital age. In addition to two Music classrooms, we have a dedicated Music Technology Suite for delivery of the Music curriculum using software such as Sibelius and Logic Pro X.

This room has at its heart a network of some 13 Apple Mac computers. This set up allows pupils to produce high quality original recordings for both exam requirements and pure recreational enjoyment. This facility is naturally very popular with the pupils from Year 8 right through to A Level!

Additionally, we currently have five practice rooms used on a daily basis by our nine visiting Music Tutors for tuition and ensemble rehearsals. They are also used as ensemble group work rooms for our newly updated KS3 curriculum.

 

Staff

Head of Music – Mr A Doherty BMus (Hons), PGCE
Teacher of Music – Mrs V Johnston BMus(Hons) MSc PGCE DipLCM
Teacher of Music, Head of Year 12 – Mr M Snodden BMus (Hons), PGCE, DipLCM
 

Visiting Music Tutors

Mrs M Fenn – Woodwind

Mr S Johnston - Brass and Piano

Mrs J Leslie – Brass and Piano

Mrs K Harris – Piano

Mr G Harris – Pipes

Mrs L Lynch – Percussion

Mrs H Fleming – Singing

Mr D Lindsay – Guitar (and Rock Group)

Mr C Reid – Guitar

Mrs H Neale – Violin/Viola, Piano and Theory

Mr M Lowe – Cello & Double Bass

Mrs H Glynn – Cello & Double Bass

Mr N Megoran – Highland Snare Drum

 

Choirs

Orchestras