Music is an important and central component of the life of
Bolton School Boys' Division. As a curriculum subject and as a
flourishing extra-curricular activity music involves every pupil in
a wealth of enriching, challenging and enjoyable activities.
All pupils in Years 7 to 9 have curriculum lessons. Throughout
the three years there is a balance of practical music making,
listening to music developing an awareness of music's power as a
means of expression and learning the basics of music theory.
Lessons always have a great variety of content. The pupils will all
have the opportunity to take part in major school concerts; singing
as part of a medley. There is the chance to have some experience
playing instruments - the drum-kit, guitar and keyboard are all
studied. In years 8 and 9 there is also an exploration of music
technology using a variety of software which gives each pupil an
insight into what is available to the modern musician.
There is the possibility from Year 10 to opt for the two-year
course to take GCSE music. Pupils continue to channel their studies
into three strands: listening, composing and performing. There are
lessons dedicated to listening in which the elements of music are
examined and discussed, always relating the academic study of
melody, rhythm, tonality, harmony and texture to examples of music
from varied genres and styles of pieces. Composition is taught
through looking at the ways in which composers have developed their
ideas in terms of melody and chord structures. Pupils are
encouraged and guided to improvise and experiment on their main
instrument and then shown how to take elements from their ideas and
build them into a composition which has form and structure. In
performance there is a close link and co-operation between the
department and pupils individual teachers both those working in
school and private teachers offering lessons outside school. This
communication enables the pupils to thrive and develop their
performance skills and confidence in an encouraging atmosphere
which builds up over the two year course to a point where all
pupils are able to record a solo and ensemble performance of the
required standard for GCSE.
AS and A2 music give pupils the opportunity to widen and extend
their musical skills and develop their perception of music in an
interesting and involving course that combines academic rigour with
creativity and a deepening understanding of music in its social,
historical and cultural context. The listening element involves
study of both classical and jazz set works at AS and a study of
early twentieth century music at A2. The subject is taught in small
sets with a considerable amount of individual support alongside
independent study. Composition now combines creative work on free
composition and composing to briefs issued by the Exam Board with
the formality and discipline of the study of harmony in the western
tradition. Throughout the course performance is central to the
development of the pupil. There are recitals to prepare for and a
viva-voce exam in which the examiner will ask questions relating to
the pupil's preparation for the recital and the decision making
process which has led the pupil to interpret their programme in a
particular way. This, as with many aspects of this course,
encourages pupils to look beyond the obvious and research aspects
of music and interpretation more deeply.
Music at Bolton School is underpinned by a simple philosophy -
music is for all to enjoy, to be involved with and, for many, to
achieve excellence. We have over thirty ensembles rehearsing on a
weekly basis. These range from the large groups including several
choirs, concert bands, guitar groups and orchestras to the smaller
ensembles such as chamber choirs saxophone, flute, clarinet and
string ensembles. In an age when Howard Goodall and the Government
sponsored "Sing-Up" campaign are endeavouring to revitalise singing
in schools throughout the country we have events that involve over
two hundred boys singing, and thoroughly enjoying the experience!
Our award winning guitar groups have been described as "world class
and of an unprecedented standard of excellence" by Craig Ogden the
international guitar soloist and tutor at the Royal Northern
College of Music.
Musicians from the school frequently visit outside venues for
concerts. There are the large-scale concerts, often joint with the
Girls' Division which have taken place in the stunning Bridgewater
Hall in Manchester and the Victoria Hall in Bolton. We have taken
choirs and ensembles to Manchester and Chester Cathedrals. As part
of our Community Music Programme the music department have hosted a
number of local junior schools who have sent groups of children to
take part in concerts alongside our pupils in very successful vocal
medleys. Most recently there was a collaboration with a secondary
school in Chorley who sent musicians to combine with our orchestra
for a workshop day run by members of the Northern Chamber
Orchestra. For this a new work was specially commissioned from our
school organist Mr Michael Pain. The workshop day was a really
rewarding day for all involved, both pupils and staff. The
following evening the work was given a premiere as the conclusion
of our Ensembles Concert.
Alongside our annual Young Musician of the Year - which usually
attracts up to 500 individual entries, many of our musicians also
have the opportunity to go on a foreign tour with their ensembles
and choirs. Recent visits have included trips to Prague, Vienna,
Paris, Belgium, Northern Spain and the Italian Lakes! Future trips
include plans for a Rhineland trip and the possibility of a trip to
Canada.
Head of Department
S J Martin, BA
Members of the Department
J C Bleasdale, BA, LLCM
R Eastham, ABSM
I K Forgrieve, GMus (Hons), PPRNCM
Mrs A Hampson, BMus (Hons)