Music

Music plays an important part in the life of the school. The department is well resourced (including a music technology facility), housed in purpose-built accommodation and staffed by six full-time specialists with over forty visiting instrumental and singing teachers.

Every child has classroom music in the curriculum and the opportunity is provided for all to have individual instrumental or singing lessons. Currently over 400 pupils have such lessons.

Two fundamental ideas underpin the operation of the department:

• Opportunity for pupils of all abilities and aspirations to participate in musical activities at an appropriate level
• Recognising and nurturing individual talent so that the musical pupil may be challenged and enabled to realise their potential.

To achieve these aims there are performance projects which are based in the classroom and which involve whole year groups. One such project recently involved Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (Master of the Queen's Music) who came to the concert when D Block (Year 5) performed his music.

In the Middle School and Upper School there is protected time for choir and ensemble rehearsals. Every child who plays an orchestral instrument takes part in a group at an appropriate level and there are concerts each term in which these groups perform.

In E Block (Year 4) there is a Music Club which provides similar opportunities and a classroom scheme which allows every child to have a taster of strings, wind and brass instruments. Many decide as a result to take up individual lessons.

For the more musically able child there are auditioned ensembles which have a membership from across the school. These include a school orchestra and school choir which perform in prestigious external venues (eg Winchester Cathedral, Royal Opera House) and undertake foreign tours.

There are performance opportunities at all levels ranging from fortnightly Informal Concerts to the termly School Concerts, as well as music-drama productions, which have included Grease, The Boyfriend, Oliver and Bugsy Malone.

Additional support is offered to children preparing for senior school music awards through the Music Matters Club, a broadly based music appreciation course. Children can also enter for graded music examinations through the school.

The Choral and Orchestral Society provides the broader Dragon community (parents, staff, ODs) with the opportunity to be involved with music. Recent performances have included Haydn's Creation and Bizet's Carmen. Plans for 2006 include Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio.

In addition there are regular Visiting Artists performing at the school. In 2005/06 these have included The London Community Gospel Choir, Imperial College Symphony Orchestra and the Yale University Spizzwinks.

For further information contact:
John Madden
Director of Music