Music Extended Curriculum

Music Extended Curriculum

In the Music Department at HBS we aim to foster and encourage the musical potential and interests of our students.

Music at HBS

We aim to provide a range of musical opportunities within which each student can find their own niche, pursue a course suitable to them, one with ample challenge, at their own pace and according to their interests. We also hope they are able to explore and discover new interests, new abilities.

We value the beginner and the technically accomplished musician alike, aiming to provide for their various needs. It is a credit to our students’ remarkable potential, motivation and imagination that we were awarded Specialist Music College Status.

Our fantastic new buildings (opened 2011) give our students access to state-of-the-art facilities such as:

  • Purpose-built teaching rooms with 4 breakout spaces for group work each equipped with multi-track recording software and instruments.
  • A purpose-built Rehearsal Room.
  • Music Technology Suite with 26 Apple Mac computers and industry standard recording and notation software.
  • Instrumental teaching/practice rooms.
  • A dedicated rock bands rehearsal room.

The HBS Chamber Music Programme

The HBS Chamber Music Programme offers musicians the opportunity to form trios, quartets, quintets etc. and rehearse weekly working towards performances in masterclasses with eminent professionals, concerts, festivals and competitions.

HBS students regularly take part in the Spring Grove Music Festival and the South East Schools’ Chamber Music Competition often reaching the finals concerts, performing in exciting venues, and even winning prizes.

 

Rock School

Expert tuition in the “art of rock” is provided by our superb tutors for students who form their own bands as singers, guitarists, bass players, drummers, keyboard players. They receive tuition sessions throughout the year in our specially equipped Bands’ Room and perform twice a year in the HBS Bands’ Nights and in other events such as Fireworks Night and the Summer Fete.

 

The HBS Choral Society

Henrietta Barnett Choral Society invites students, staff, parents, members and friends of all the institutions set up by Dame Henrietta Barnett in the local area to join together each year to perform a large-scale choral work, accompanied by the school orchestra.

In 2012 we celebrated the school’s centenary with a performance of Haydn’s joyous Te Deum in a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral.  Performances over the years have included the Gloria by Vivaldi, Dido and Aeneas by Purcell, the Requiems by Mozart (2017), Brahms (2018) and Durufle (2019), and the Magnificat by Rutter (2020).

 

Instrumental Tuition at HBS

HBS students’ curricular experience is complemented by a wide range of instrumental tuition from highly qualified professional musicians. At HBS we offer tuition on a wide range of instruments: recorder, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, brass, violin, viola, cello, piano, guitar, drums and singing. Around 200 students take their instrumental lessons at HBS every week.

To apply for instrumental/vocal tuition, please fill in the application form which can be downloaded below and return it to the music office.

For further information, email [email protected].

 

AIPS

The Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme (AIPS) enables pupils of local authority and academy schools to purchase musical instruments net of VAT.

To be eligible, pupils must be in state education and taking instrumental tuition through the school, local authority or (in England) a Music Hub. This can include playing in a Local Authority or Music Hub orchestra. In short, the instrument must be suitable for the pupil’s needs and be used as part of their education. The school must purchase the instrument and supply it to the parent at or below the cost without VAT.

The AIPS from can be downloaded below.

Please email [email protected] for further information.

VMT Lesson application 23-24
AIPS template

Ensembles and Concerts

The below ensembles work with a range of Music staff to prepare repertoire for performance in our various concerts throughout the year. These include formal classical concerts in the beautiful setting of St Jude’s-on-the-Hill, as well as concerts in our very own Lutyens-designed, Grade II listed Main Hall which present the rich diversity of music-making at HBS.

Concerts this year include:

21 November 2023, 7pm Autumn Concert at St Jude’s

6 December 2023, 7pm Winter Concert in the HBS Main Hall

HBS Year 7 Chior

Who: Anyone in Year 7

Examples of recent repertoire: R. Presley – Love is all around 

HBS Vocal Ensemble

Who: Anyone in Year 8 to 13

Examples of recent repertoire: Schonberg- Medley from Les Miserables

The HBS Concert Ochestra

Who: Have you reached approx. gr 2 on any instrument?

Examples of recent repertoire: Lloyd Webber – Go Go Joseph

HBS Camerata

Who: String players – Approx Grade 3 upwards

Examples of recent repertoire: Bach – Sheep may Safely Graze

HBS Wind Band

Who: All Woodwind and Brass instruments + guitar, bass, drums & percussion, approx grade 4 upwards

Examples of recent repertoireJesus Christ Superstar

HBS Senior Chior

Who: Anyone in years 10 to 13! (KS3 by special arrangement)

Examples of recent repertoire: Purcell – Didi and Aeneas; Britten – Ceremony of Carols

The HBS Symphony Ochestra

Who: Do you play an orchestral instrument gr. 6 upwards? Some auditions (KS3 should have already played in one of the other HBS ensembles to be eligible)

Examples of recent repertoire: Holst – Jupiter from the Planets

The HBS Jazz Band

Who: Do you play Clarinet, Sax., Trumpet, Trombone, Guitar, approx. gr6 upwards? Auditions (KS3 should have already played in one of the other HBS ensembles).

Examples of recent repertoire: Gershwin – The Man I love

HBS String Ochestra

Who: Do you play a stringed instrument, approx gr7 upwards? Auditions (KS3 should have already played in the Camerata)

Examples of recent repertoire: Shostakovich – String Quartet no 8

HBS Flute Ensemble

Who: Flautists approx grades 2/3 upwards

Examples of recent repertoire: Mozart – Turkish Rondo

HBS Musician Newsletter - Autumn and Winter 2023 Issue
ACADEMIC PROGRAMME
We are committed to providing a broad education that is ambitious, varied and stimulating.
Years 7 - 9
At Key Stage 3, we want to enable girls to pursue a wide variety of academic and extra-curricular interests to the full.
Years 10 - 11
Progress into Key Stage 4 is both a psychological one, entering the ‘GCSE years’, as well as a literal one.
Sixth Form
Sixth Form is a vibrant, friendly and happy community, where every student is valued and given individual attention.