The Department

The Music Department at HBS is a busy and thriving department offering the girls a huge variety of musical experiences both in and outside the classroom. Our philosophy and approach is based on the view that it is only by making music in all its forms, by performing, composing, arranging and listening creatively, that real musical learning happens. We believe singing and aural skills to be at the heart of this process and this informs everything that we do. We also believe that this approach leads to a genuine love of music making that, we hope, will last our girls their whole lives.

Key Stage 3

From years 7 to 9 Music is taught for one lesson per week in form or point groups. The aim of the Keystage 3 course is to give students a wide range of practical musical experiences, including developing some theoretical understanding of musical processes, through the integrated activities of performing (instrumental and vocal), composing and listening. The range of music covered is fluid and varied, from Folk traditions to Classical, from commercial music to film music, Baroque to Blues.
 

Key Stage 4

GCSE Music allows students the opportunity to develop and extend their skills and understanding. As performers they play as soloists and in ensembles covering a range of repertoire in any style and genre. As creative musicians, they work at developing musical ideas and will produce two compositions and/or arrangements by the end of the course. They will also develop their formal analytical skills through the study of a wide range of set works.
 

Key Stage 5

A level Music deepens the students’ understanding of music through a closer study of harmony, composition and analysis, and they continue to develop their performing to a higher level leading to a recital at the end of the course. Through the study of a range of compositions students develop an understanding of composers’ techniques and styles that informs their creative work. This culminates in their own composition in response to a specific brief. Students also develop further their aural, stylistic and analytical understanding of music through the close study of a selection of set works and extracts.