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DITCHAM PARK SCHOOL |
| Where every child is known and valued |
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Open Morning Saturday 2nd October 10am-1pm
MUSIC
At Ditcham Park the Music Department is always active and music pervades the life of the school. There is a constant and rapidly expanding programme of musical activities catering for a wide range of interests.
Instrumental/Vocal Tuition: A large percentage of pupils have instrumental lessons at school and there is a highly qualified team of peripatetic staff who provide tuition on the following:
| Bass Guitar | Clarinet | Cornet | Classical Guitar | Drumkit |
| Electric Guitar | Flute | French Horn | Piano | Recorder |
| Saxophone | Trombone | Trumpet | Violin | Voice |
| Euphonium |
Music Activities: There are many musical activities that take place during the school day at break times and lunchtime open to any pupil who learns inside or outside of school and many of these groups perform at public events during the school year:
| Boys’ Choir | Chamber Choir | Senior Clarinet Ensemble |
| Chamber Choir | Concert Band | Flute Group |
| Girls’ Choir | Jazz Ensemble | Junior Brass Group |
| Junior Choir | Junior Hand Bells | Junior Recorder Group |
| Junior Wind Band | Rock Groups | Senior Brass Group |
| Senior Wind Group | Senior Saxophone Group |
Ditcham Park musicians also participate in numerous musical activities outside of school. Many pupils compete in the various music festivals in the area, such as the Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton, Gosport and Fareham Festivals. In March 2010 the Concert Band and Junior School choirs entered the Portsmouth Music Festival and performed very well indeed. A number of pupils are members of groups at County and National level, including the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra, West Sussex Western Area Music Centre groups, National Children’s Orchestra, and the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain. This year a number of our senior and junior pupils took part in the Petersfield Music Festival in March 2010. This involved joining forces with many of the other local schools performing at two concerts. The Choir and the Concert Band do a tour to Europe once as year and have completed some very successful tours in Italy, Holland, Germany and, most recently, Spain. Our next tour will take place in Belgium from Thursday 15th July until Sunday 18th July 2010.
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Our choirs and instrumental groups perform to the community at various times throughout the year in particular at Christmas time at Bulmer House and Steep House Nursing Homes. Every Spring Term, in connection with our links with Junior Schools in the area, we provide musicians to perform to the Petersfield Infant School. This academic year the Concert Band visited them to provide more musical entertainment and later in the Summer Term they will be visiting Liss Infants School. They also perform on a yearly basis to our own Junior School pupils.
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Practical Examinations: our team of peripatetic staff prepare pupils for practical and theory of music examinations (ABRSM, Trinity, Guildhall and Trinity) each term, and for auditions and scholarships if required. Pupils go on and gain Music Awards to Sixth Form Colleges/Schools and some past pupils have moved on to degree level in music. Three of our 5th year musicians have achieved grade 8 on their instrument, Charles Parry (French Horn), Peter Foster (Trumpet) and Joseph Boyle (Violin)
Performance Opportunities: Opportunities for performance both in and out of school are numerous and pupils are encouraged to participate in as many of these as is possible. Pupils can perform during assemblies every other week and of course in the classroom to their fellow students. On a broader scale, we have Senior School and Junior School Concerts once a year and musicians take part in many of our high profile events such as Arts Evening, Open Mornings and Founder’s Day.
Music Curriculum
Music is taught from Reception by a music specialist through a wide range of musical activities involving tuned and untuned percussion instruments. At an early stage, all children learn to play the recorder and, before they leave the Junior School, they are taught to play the piano/keyboard in the classroom.
In the Junior School the focus of classroom teaching is on project work and the children learn about all kinds of music – Classical, Pop and World Music – through listening, performing and composition activities.
There are Junior School productions every year, which involve all pupils, and the Junior Choir participates in the annual Carol Service which takes place in a local church.
In the Senior School the emphasis is on half-term projects and, again, a wide range of musical styles form the basis of classroom teaching. By the end of year 8 (2nd year), all pupils have had the chance to study music ranging from Classical music to Rock ‘n’ Roll, and the more experimental ‘art’ music of the 20th and 21st centuries. Listening, composing and performing activities are the cornerstones of all classroom teaching.
In Year 9 (3rd Year), one half of the year study German and the other Music, but this does not impact on choices for GCSE in Year 10 (4th Year). Pupils can opt for the two-year GCSE course (Edexcel) providing they play (or sing) one or more instruments to at least grade 4 level and above at the time of taking their GCSE examination in Year 11. Music Technology plays an important role and all pupils are taught how to use Cubase and Sibelius 5 software, creating own compositions and arrangements.
A Music Bursary is awarded annually at age 11+ for outstanding pupils. For further details of this and/or learning a musical instrument at school, please contact the Admissions Secretary or the Head of Music, Mr E Williamson. Further details of musical events can also be obtained from the School Office.
Termly Events:.
Summer Term 2010
Friday 7th May: 3pm: Concert Band perform to Ditcham Park Junior School:
Saturday 8th May: Open Morning; Musicians perform 11am until 12 noon
June (date tbc): Concert Band perform to Liss Infants School
Friday 25th June: Musicians perform at MacMillan Cancer Support Fundraising Drink Party
Week beginning 28th June: Associated Board Practical Music Examinations
Thursday 1st July: 7.00pm: Arts Evening
Friday 9th July: Founder’s Day
Saturday 10th July: Musicians perform at the Ditcham Summer Fete
Wednesday 14th July: Junior School Arts Day (to include Junior Concert)
Thursday 15th July: Concert Band and Choir depart to Belgium
Contact Information:
Telephone 01730-825659 Postal Address Ditcham Park School, Ditcham Park, Nr Petersfield, Hants, GU31 5RN, England