Music
The Performing Arts play a prominent part in the life of The Cherwell School, as recognised through the awarding of Arts Mark Gold status in November 2013.
Instrumental Lessons
Instrumental tuition is delivered from an experienced and dedicated team of visiting instrumental staff who additionally provide some of our ensemble coaching. Instrumental lessons are offered in all the orchestral woodwind, brass, percussion and strings.
Please contact The Oxfordshire County Music Service on 01865 740000 should you wish your child to continue or start lesson on an orchestral instrument. Piano, voice, saxophone, guitar (acoustic, electric and bass) and drum kit are offered by privately appointed staff. Please contact the school music department for private instrumental lessons.
As far as possible, lessons take place during school periods on a rotating basis or, in the case of Sixth formers, during private study periods. If your child has been learning an instrument at primary school and you wish to continue lessons at The Cherwell School, we would advise beginning music lessons straight away and not waiting a term or so "in order to settle in". It is much easier to establish regular practice times if they are routine right from the start. Continuity is highly desirable and pupils need to make arrangements for regular practice during holidays, as well as in term-time.
Group music-making is an important part of musical tuition and pupils learning orchestral instruments will be expected, when appropriate, to take part in ensembles, including the Orchestras and Concert Band. Regular practice each week is expected and is indeed essential if progress is to be made.
Music Extra-curricular Programme
Strong emphasis is placed on participation in the many musical activities of the school. Participation in instrumental and choral ensembles, large and small, inspires loyalty, confidence and an appreciation of excellence. These include the Upper School Orchestra, Chamber Choir, String Orchestra, South Site Concert Band, Jazz Band, Senior School Choir and Gospel Choir. These are timetabled during lunchtimes and after school so as not to interfere with academic commitments. These ensembles perform termly within school and within the wider community. The Gospel Choir recently performed on BBC Radio Oxford and on BBC South Today. There are also numerous instrumental ensembles, which perform regularly in competitions and concerts both inside and outside school.
Musical Events
The school presents several musical events each year, ranging from informal lunchtime concerts and evening recitals, at which pupils perform solo and small group items, to whole school concerts. Other notable events include the AS, A2 and year 10 recital evenings, South Site Performing Arts evening, Arts Evening and Singer of the Year. A musical is staged every alternate year with Les Miserables, My Fair Lady and West Side Story being recent productions, and the Wizard of Oz for this forthcoming summer term.
Additional opportunities
At Sixth Form level The Dan Hemmingway Award is offered to a year 13 student producing a piece of creative work in any of the Arts disciplines. At Key Stage Four we offer trips for our GCSE musicians, such as the recent visit to the Oxford University Pitt Rivers museum (year 9 opting for GCSE music) to participate in Ugandan Xylophone workshop, and a visit to The Music Faculty within Oxford University for our year 10s to study instruments through the ages, and gamelan ensembles. Year 8 as a year group participate in a range of opportunities during our annual Arts Day: this has recently included Bhangra dance and drumming, puppetry, acrobatics, and African drumming.
If you would like further information regarding music at The Cherwell School please contact the Music Department on 01865 558719 or by email EHOLLINDALE@CHERWELL.OXON.SCH.UK.
