The core of the Music Department is a strong curriculum where students learn to sing, play keyboards, compose with music processing software, improvise and to listen analytically and evaluatively.
Tuition is available for:
The three school choirs sing at all major school events, concerts, and church services throughout the school year. The school orchestra, like the choir, provides music at school events and concerts. During the autumn term, we were able to record a socially distanced Remembrance Service and Carol Service. [1] During lockdown, singing has continued with the Plymouth College Online Community Choir.
Separate Girls’ Voices in harmony and Boys’ Voices in harmony clubs are run at lunchtime by singing coach Mark Bennett. The string ensemble is coached by Catherine Browning and the classical guitar ensemble is led by Alison Smith. The Live Lounge for rock, pop and jazz is run by Maths teacher Dr Norris. One-to-one or small group theory tuition is available at lunchtime on request, most often for students working towards Grade 5.
The concert series focuses on families of similar instruments, enabling students to hear, support and learn from each other. Piano Evening, Vocal Evening, Strings Evening, Wind Evening and Rock and Pop Evening each come around once per term, giving students at least three opportunities to perform solo, in addition to the larger ensemble concert events. There are also Music Scholars’ Evenings, where the students who have committed to leading the musical life of the school share their work in progress. The parents of scholars tend to get to know each other and the over the years and form an extended supportive community for the students.
The school hosts its two annual house music competitions, the first involving every student in the school singing on stage in front of their peers, as well as a category for ensemble and percussion. The second competition is the soloist competition which is highly competitive across all age categories.
Pupils are presented with numerous performance opportunities. They participate in local drama festivals, performance evenings and school productions. Recent performances include School of Rock and The Great British Bump Off (an interactive murder mystery). Rehearsals for this year's production of the Addams Family are well underway.
Speech and drama lessons (LAMDA) are offered to all pupils. These are well-respected qualifications and can lead to pupils gaining valuable UCAS points.
The school has a vibrant, annual house drama competition. Pupil led, house teams, produce some outstanding pieces with only 24 hours preparation.
We are very lucky to have easy access to the Theatre Royal, in particular, the Drum, and pupils regularly experience cutting-edge live theatre. Trips further afield have included Bristol, Cheltenham, London and The Minack.
Pupils partake in practical workshops with well-respected theatre practitioners including Frantic Assembly, The Paper Birds and Told by An Idiot. Encouraging pupils to see the study of drama and theatre as a valuable tool, whose worth extends beyond the classroom walls.
Art/textiles; photograms/darkroom skills, etching and screen printing are just a number of the exciting elements to art/textiles. Drawn and photographic images are developed into print and fabric print/embroidery in an experimental and layered mix of media.
Life Drawing; sessions are run weekly for GCSE and A-level Art pupils.
Model Makers Club is a popular after school activity that has had a consistent core group for over 5 or 6 years now. Pupils bring in their War Hammer Sets or work on the beautiful Model Railway Landscape. We have also been able to buy model making kits for the group with the assistance of the Parents Association. Frequently pupils use this group to demonstrate the skill aspect of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
General Art Club offers pupils access to the full range of the art dept and materials. They have the opportunity to extend their interests or to continue their coursework should they be part of a Key Stage 4 exam group. Drawn and photographic images are developed into print and fabric print/embroidery in an experimental and layered mix of media.
Art/Competition Club is where you can develop your skills in art-related media and techniques for either an extension of classroom work or for your own personal project. We enter a range of competitions and this is an ideal venue to improve/hone your paint/print skills.
Design Technology offers after school opportunities for all age groups after school from Monday to Thursday every week, with support as well as other interesting options, with something to suit everyone.
We like to welcome pupils into our facility and allow them to be as creative as they desire, experimenting with and using a wider range of materials and processes as possible to design and manufacture projects of their own choice and at their own pace, as we value quality before quantity.
We work alongside pupils to ensure that they achieve their desired outcomes, whilst challenging and progressing their skills at the same time. We cater for all interests, offering traditional manufacturing as well as the more modern techniques; also taking full advantage of some of the most modern manufacturing techniques.
Regardless of ability, pupils will certainly enjoy their time in our department, where the only limit is imagination and creativity.
