Music head reflects on first year in role
How have you found your first year as Director of Music?
I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year as Director of Music. It has been really inspiring, working with solo and ensemble singers and instrumentalists as well as teaching the core curriculum and continuing to develop practical and theoretical musicianship.
I have absolutely loved observing progression from EYD to Year 13. I have also thoroughly enjoyed working with our wonderful community choir. Brilliant!
What have been your highlights of the year?
That’s a very difficult question to answer as there have been so many. I would have to say that the above answer also illustrates the highlights, as well as the competitions such as the Rotary Young Musician and Chester Festival.
What sets Music apart from other subjects?
It’s a subject which requires pupils to develop many skills, both practical and theoretical. (which is also true of other subjects). However, in music, you are required to perform (both singing and playing), improvise, compose, learn to read music and listen and appraise music using an extensive musical vocabulary organised in an academic manner.
You are supposed to develop practical skills, which takes practice and requires careful coaching. It also means that pupils need have a variety of performance opportunities. We have to also challenge those pupils, who have lessons outside of school, e.g: Grade 5 pianists etc and provide a specific path for our scholars.
This, all has to happen with one 55 minute lesson a week at the Senior school, 80 minutes a week at the prep school and 30 minutes in the Pre-Prep department. We have to consider that pupils don’t have time to do huge amounts of practice for concerts and therefore to carefully plan for concert preparation within our curriculum.
We have to be right up to date with the latest musical tastes and be able to analyse what interests our pupils have on a weekly basis. Music is also constantly on show. For me, that’s really exciting!
Have you been impressed with pupils’ application this year?
Yes I have and this applies across the board. I will pick one example however, which has really encouraged me and that is Year 9 pupils, asking me if they can sing during a lesson. Great step forward!
What are you expecting in terms of exam results?
I am expecting some good results at both GCSE and A2 as well as International Baccalaureate. In terms of our internal examinations, I am looking to see higher grades being achieved.
What would you attribute the success of the department down to?
It is a department that cares deeply about music and deeply about the pupils’ interests. It is also made up of a team of professionals, who actively support and encourage each other and ensure that they are aware how much they are valued.
How has Rydal Penrhos changed since the appointment of Simon Smith as Headmaster?
I believe that there is a positive energy and optimism that is really inspiring. There is a way forward to firmly believe in and I think that has made a difference.
It’s also the small things, like saying ‘well done’ to colleagues and ‘ thank you’, as well as being someone who the pupils can have a chat too and feel relaxed with.
What things do you have planned for the future?
This is largely dependent on new resources, however with updated keyboards and more computers, I am looking to establish a situation in classroom music, where pupils can compose modern music, according to their tastes, to record themselves, to understand the building blocks of modern song construction as well as being able to undertake theoretical work that can be individually accessed.
I also intend to continue our concerts, as well as establish a greater variety of performance opportunities such as informal concerts, promoting diversity and inclusivity.
There will be specific things required from our music scholars, created according to their great strengths.
I will also be launching a taxonomy of musical reward systems from Pre-Prep to Year 13, as well as working with other creative and performing arts departments to establish a creative and performing awards dinner at the end of the school year.