Vacancy for a Teacher of Music
The post
Due to expansion and the introduction of Music A level in September we require an extra teacher to join the Department of Director of Music, Graduate Music Assistant and an Administrative Assistant, as well as 15 peripatetic Instrumental Teachers. This post would suit an NQT and we have an outstanding NQT Induction Programme.
Single accommodation should be available in return for contribution to our busy boarding programme.
The Department
It is a tribute to the Director of Music that Governors have recently spent a considerable capital sum improving the BothyMusicSchool and a generous grant from a Music Charity has provided the new AppleMac computing facilities.
The Music Department is a vibrant busy organisation and contributes a great deal to the formal and informal life of the School. This is the sort of post which provides great scope for development for an enthusiastic NQT.
The impressive details below have been provided by the Director of Music. I invite you to consider this post with both the demands and the rewards that it offers.
Paul D Spencer Ellis
Headmaster
Person Specification
Essential / DesirableMusic degree and QTS / Familiar with GarageBand and Sibelius
Confident performer in a wide variety of musical genres and idioms / Ability to teach Key Stage 2 and/or A Level Music
Willing to lead activities and contribute to department events / Willing to teach a second subject
Commitment to the wider life of the school / Awareness of the Musical Futures movement and associated research into effective musical pedagogy
Experience of teaching outstanding music lessons at Key Stages 3 and 4
The Music Department
The Director of Music has been in post since September 2011. She is currently supported by an administrative assistant and a graduate music assistant (currently a job share). Instrumental and singing lessons are provided by a team of 15 self-employed Visiting Music Teachers, and approximately 15% of pupils have individual lessons each week. We currently host ‘special visit’ ABRSM exam sessions and are considering introducing similar opportunities with Trinity Guildhall exams.
The department is housed in The Bothy, a listed building slightly away from the main school to which significant acoustic improvements were made in 2013. A large classroom is equipped with sufficient keyboards and ukuleles for use with Key Stage 2 and 3 classes. We also have a good stock of tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments, African drums and enough guitars and basses for Year 9 classes to work in bands. A further 12 rooms of varying size are used for rehearsals and break-out space (five have drum kits and sufficient amps for band rehearsal) and for instrumental lessons.
We have recently installed a suite of 16 MacBook Pros and one iMac, which run on their own network within the department. All Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils will use GarageBand as part of their composing work, and Sibelius 7, Logic and Ableton are also available. Additional hardware enables pupils and staff to record live performances to professional standards.
The current Scheme of Work summary is attached below. Much classroom teaching follows approaches from Musical Futures, which has led to a considerable increase in GCSE uptake. Use of music technology in all Key Stages will be further developed in the next academic year.
All Key Stage 2 and 3 classes have one 50-minute music lesson each week, with assessment opportunities included in every lesson. The emphasis is on active music-making and the development of independent learning skills. By the end of Year 9, all pupils will have sufficient opportunity to develop performing skills on at least one instrument, ensuring that GCSE Music is available as an option to all. GCSE classes have one single and one double lesson per week. All classes are mixed ability. There are currently 14 pupils in each GCSE class. A Level Music will be introduced in September 2014, using the OCR specification. The department is actively involved within the JuniorSchool. All KS2 classes have a weekly music lesson and the Director of Music leads a weekly assembly.
An extensive programme of co-curricular activities is offered (the current timetable is shown below). This varies each term to provide suitable opportunities in different musical styles for pupils of all ages and abilities. A wide variety of concerts and other events take place, with approximately 500 pupils performing in public each year; please see the attached calendar and also visit for an indication of our recent activities.
Music events 2013-14
Friday 6th September: VMT annual meeting and training session
Tuesday 10th September: Performance in Gatton Hall.
Mon 16th September: Year 7‘Peace One Day’ song-writing workshop
Tues 17th September: G and T song-writing masterclass
w/c Mon 14th October: ABRSM candidates to meet with AJB
Sat 19th October: Remember – Reflect
Thurs 24th October: Year 7 inter-form singing competition
Mon 11th November: Remembrance Day
Mon 11th November: ABRSM payment deadline
Fri 6th and Sat 7th Dec: Junior Christmas Play
Sat 14th December: Boarders’ Carol Service
Mon 16th December: ARBSM Music exams
Mon 16th December: Christmas Concert
w/c 20th January: Battle Of The Bands auditions
Tues 21st Jan: The Bothy Bash
Fri 31st Jan: Fresh Dixie Project open rehearsal and Q and A
Weds 29th January: Year 8/9 band workshop
Tuesday 4th February: Battle Of The Bands
Weds 12th February: Year 11 GCSE Music Performing exam and Year 11 GCSE Music concert
Thurs 28th February: Piano Duets Concert
Fri 7th March: Spring Concert
w/c 10th March: Year 11 GCSE Music Composing recordings
w/c 17th March: ABRSM candidates to meet with AJB
Weds 2nd April: ABRSM payment deadline
Sat 3rd May: Junior Prize-giving
Sat 10th May: Founders Day
Weds 14th May: ABRSM Music exams
Weds 14th May: Dusk
Mon 2nd June AM: Year 11 GCSE listening exam
Tues 17th June: Chamber Music Project
Fri 20th June: KS3 Workshop
Tues 24th June: Junior Music Concert
Thurs 26th June: Singamajig
Pupils will also be involved in performances at weekday and Saturday Chapel services throughout the year.
Junior Music Activities, Spring term 2014
Mon / Tue / Wed / Thur / Fri12.30-1 / Wind Band* / Recital rehearsal / Recital rehearsal / Theory drop-in
4-5 / Orchestra / Grade 3 Theory / Exam coaching
5-6 / String Ensemble*
6-7 / Rank-Weston support / Rank-Weston support
Senior Music Activities, Spring term 2014
Mon / Tue / Wed / Thur / FriLunch / Wind Band
GCSE Support / Ensembles / Senior Girls Ensemble / Theory drop-in
4-5 / Orchestra / Grade 3 Theory
Beginners Guitar
Studio Time
Drum Workshop / Year 8/9 Music Technology Club
IPT / Beginners Guitar
RAASJazz / Exam coaching
IPT
5-6 / ORT / ORT
String Ensemble / ORT / ORT / ORT
6-7 / Studio Time / Battle Of The Bands
Studio Time
7-8 / Studio Time / Battle Of The Bands
Studio Time / ORT
Music SOW 2013-14, updated 7.1.14
Year Focus / Baseline (A1) / 1 (A2) / 2 (S1) / 3 (S2) / 4 (S1+) / 53 / Vocal skills / N/A / Pentatonic / Christmas Play / Musicals / Canon / Concert
4 / Exploring timbres / N/A / The Orchestra / Christmas Play / Programme Music / Soundscapes / Concert
5 / Textures and structures / N/A / 1-progression songs / Christmas Play / Multi-progression songs / Soundscapes / Concert
6 / Composing and listening skills / N/A / Riffs and improvising / Christmas Play / Multi-progression songs / Soundscapes / Concert
7 / Key skills / Singing, Listening test / Class performance (singing/ukes) / Keyboards and chords / Dance music / African music / Jazz
8 / Musical contexts / Singing,
Listening test / African music / Blues / Dance music / Baroque music / Rock n Roll
9 / Pupil-led learning / Listening test / Band Skills / Band Skills 2 / Dance music / Song-writing/own choice / Film music
10 / AOS 3 and 4 / Listening and performing skills / Moby
Solo perf / Moby / Buckley
Perf/Comp skills / Davis
Comp skills / AOS4 listening
Yr10 perf exam / Handel/Chopin
AOS3/4 comp
11 / Exam submissions / The Orchestra / Mozart / AOS2 / Mock exam
Comp 1 / Performing exam
Comp 2 / Listening revision
Comp 3 / Listening revision
+S1 assessment will also be influenced by Assessment Week tests for Years 7-10
Potential KS3 SOW 2014-15
7 = whole-class/ukes. Keyboards/Chords. Dance music. African. Jazz.
8 = Blues, Rock n roll, Classical (inc rondo), Whole-class (world), Film.
9 = Band skills, Own choice, Fusion, Composition, Own Choice.