The King’s School in Macclesfield
Independent education for 3 to 18 year olds
Music at King’s
Music at King’s
Music forms a vibrant part of life at King’s. From the classroom to the concert platform,
this life-enriching pursuit brings our pupils tremendous fun and camaraderie, as well as
developing their aesthetic understanding, intellectual curiosity and practical skills.
Academic Music
Right from the start of the learning
journey in our Infants, our pupils
enjoy a range of fun music-making
activities with a specialist Music
teacher. Weekly lessons include
songs, games, music and movement
– often linking with topics
being studied in other lessons.
Children prepare for a range
of celebrations such as Harvest
Festival, Christmas and Easter
as well as concerts and shows
which are performed for
parents and family.
Music lessons continue
throughout the Juniors, with
weekly lessons with the Director
of Music. The recorder and the
keyboard are studied along with
music notation. The dimensions of
music are taught through songs,
games, listening and composition
activities. Again, links with other
curriculum areas are exploited;
when Year 5 pupils study the Tudors,
music lessons focus on the music,
instruments and dances of the time.
In the Seniors, our pupils in Years
7– 9 enjoy weekly music lessons
as part of their regular curriculum.
Diverse, inclusive and well-structured
projects explore a wide range of
musical topics. From Bach to Bowie
via Balinese Gamelan, pupils
investigate each topic in context
whilst developing their performance,
listening, analytical and composition
skills. Music technology and music
history are also covered.
The GCSE and A Level courses are
not only immensely rewarding but
also hugely beneficial in helping
students develop skills required
for university and beyond. Many
students go on to study Music at
universities and conservatoires:
recent successes include several
Oxbridge choral and organ scholars
as well as students going on to study
voice, violin and popular music at
the RNCM and viola at London’s
Guildhall School of Music. From
university, many students go on to
forge exciting careers in music.
At the same time, we are equally
proud of the many former pupils for
whom music is not their profession,
but has nonetheless continued to be
a central part of their lives.
Scholarships
Music Scholarships and Music Exhibitions are available by audition,
following the entrance exam, for boys and girls wishing to join the
School in Year 7. They are awarded to those who demonstrate a high
level of performance or potential. Applicants should have obtained
at least ABRSM Grade 3 or equivalent. Music Scholarships and
an Organ Scholarship are also available for candidates age 16+
applying to join King’s Sixth Form.
Music at King’s
Extra-curricular Music
There is an action-packed programme
of extra-curricular music for all pupils
from the Infants through to the Sixth
Form. Here, enthusiasm for making
music (whether it be singing motets
or improvising with the Big Band)
is contagious! Boys and girls,
both beginners and experienced
musicians, rehearse and thrive
together in our many choirs, bands,
orchestras and ensembles.
With weekly rehearsals, regular
concerts and services, music
competitions and festivals, soirées,
recitals, talent shows, residential
courses and tours both in the UK
and abroad, extra-curricular music is
a highlight of pupils’ school life. In
recent years, our Senior choirs have
enjoyed tours to Italy and Prague,
whilst our string players enjoy regular
weekend trips to Triganos in Wales.
Many of our able
musicians also perform
regularly with other
organisations such as the
Hallé Youth Orchestra,
National Youth Choir and
National Youth
Jazz Orchestra.
Seniors & Sixth Form
• Barbershop
• Big Band
• Brass Group
• Cambiata! (Years 7– 9)
• Chamber Orchestra
• Clarinet Ensemble
Here are some of the musical
opportunities on offer at King’s:
• Concert Band
Infants & Juniors
• Foundation Choir
(Years 10 – 13)
• Infant Choir
• Lower Junior Choir
• Upper Junior Choir
• Stringstars
• Super Samba
• Woodwind Wonders
• Flute Ensemble
• Jazz Band
• Musical Theatre
• String Quartet
• String Orchestra
• Senior Samba
• Team Brass
• Songbirds Choir
(Years 7– 9)
• Guitar Ensemble
• Wind Band
Instrumental/Vocal Tuition
The Music Department at King’s offers expert tuition in a wide range of musical
instruments, from a highly qualified and enthusiastic team of instrumental teachers.
Pupils at King’s normally start individual
instrumental/voice lessons from Year 3
onwards. Individual lessons last 30 minutes
and take place during the school day. Some
lessons may take place before or after school
by arrangement. Instrumental lessons are
arranged on a rotating timetable and are fully
supported by teaching staff in all divisions.
Lessons available include:
• Bass Guitar • Oboe
• Bassoon • Orchestral Percussion
• Cello
• Organ
• Clarinet • Piano • Classical Guitar • Recorder
• Cornet
• Saxophone • Double Bass • Tenor Horn
• Drum Kit
• Theory of Music
• Electric Guitar
• Trombone
• Euphonium
• Trumpet
• Flute
• Tuba • French Horn
• Viola • Harpsichord
• Violin
• Keyboard
• Voice/Singing
King’s has a small stock of instruments and is
happy to loan these to pupils where possible
for their first year of tuition. After this, we ask
that pupils purchase or hire an instrument
from an external source. We are happy to
advise on how/where to do this.
Pupils are entered for ABRSM, Trinity and
Rockschool examinations when appropriate.
Rehearsals and extra aural tuition is given for
three/four weeks prior to these. A nominal
charge is made for this, payable to the
School.
Parents are invoiced directly each half term
by the instrumental teachers. The current rate
is £16.50 per 30 minute lesson. Parents are
encouraged to support the progress of the
pupils at home and to raise any concerns
with the individual teacher.
Instrumental/Vocal Teachers
Bassoon
Flute
Keyboard
Piano
Saxophone
Alex Kane
Zoe Goode
Mike Watson
Jo Beesley
Kevin Dearden
Brass
Guitar
Oboe/Recorder
Violin
Katie Riddle
Gareth Brown
Peter Batchelar
Kate Pelling
Beatrice Hubble
Cello
Voice
Percussion
Dan Whieldon
Damion Browne
Wendy Jackson
Helen Fehily
Dougie Black
Clarinet/
Saxophone
Helen Whiteley
Pippa Goss
Val Stark
Phil Hill
(Electric guitar)
Hans Nyman
For a full biography of each teacher please go to
www.kingsmac.co.uk/Instrumental-Tuition
Alastair McCall
Instrumental/Vocal Tuition
Visiting instrumental teachers are not employed by the School, but are appropriately checked by the
School. The School is committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young
people and expects visiting instrumental teachers to share this commitment.
The School provides accommodation for the lessons and generally assists with the administration and
timetabling of the lessons, but the contractual relationship is between the parents of the pupil and the
individual teacher and no liability is attached to the School.
A formal application for music tuition on the application form opposite is deemed to imply acceptance of
the Terms and Conditions described in this document. Please complete one form for each instrument.
Additional forms are available on the website or from the Music Department.
Instrumental/Vocal Tuition:
Terms and Conditions
1. Instrumental lessons are of 30 minutes duration,
with some lessons taking place in the lunch break or
immediately before or after the School day. The visiting
instrumental teacher will do his/her best to arrange
lessons on a rotating timetable to ensure a minimal and
evenly distributed consequence for academic work.
2. The fee for instrumental/vocal teaching is
determined by the Director of Music. A half term’s notice
will be given to parents of any change in fees.
3. Visiting instrumental teachers will invoice parents
half-termly, in advance, or at the commencement of
tuition for new pupils, and fees should be paid by the
date on the invoice. Failure to pay by the due date may
result in lessons being suspended until the fees are paid.
4. Should a teacher be prevented by prolonged illness
or other cause from providing the appropriate number
of lessons in any term, and should no substitute teacher
be made available, credit will be given against the
next term’s account, a refund being made only when no
subsequent account is to be rendered.
5. Weekly lesson times are communicated to pupils
and parents by appropriate means including Parent
Portal and the Infant & Junior School website. Each
pupil is personally responsible for ensuring that they are
aware of their timetabled lesson.
6. Reasonable efforts will be made to rearrange
missed lessons should timetables allow. By the nature
of visiting instrumental teaching, when a pupil misses
a lesson because of forgetfulness or isolated days of
illness, the teacher is not in a position to make up the
income involved and the School, therefore, does not
expect that the missed lesson normally should be made
up or a refund given.
7. Where parents wish to terminate tuition, six lessons’
notice in writing should be given to the instrumental
teacher concerned. In the absence of such notice, six
lessons’ fees are payable in lieu of notice. This does not
apply during the first half term of tuition. If the teacher
wishes to terminate the lessons, six lessons’ notice
should also be given.
8. A music notebook can be bought from the School
Shop in which practice to be completed before the next
lesson will be recorded. There is space in these books
for communication between the teacher and parent.
9. Pupils whose progress and/or attitude are
unsatisfactory may be required to discontinue lessons
should no improvement be noted after due warning
and notice to parents. If the teacher, using his/her
reasonable discretion, feels unable to continue tuition on
account of conduct by the pupil or anyone connected
with the pupil which makes it unethical or unsafe to
continue teaching the pupil, the fees for any outstanding
lessons will not be refundable.
10. Pupils are entered for examinations when
appropriate. Rehearsals and extra aural tuition is
normally given for three/four weeks prior to these. A
nominal charge is made for this, payable to the School.
When a pupil is to be entered for examinations, prior
notice of this will be given by the teacher to the pupil’s
parents.
11. If the pupil stops attending lessons which have
been paid for, there is no entitlement to a refund. The
pupil is, however, entitled to attend any lessons paid
for. If the teacher stops lessons without giving the correct
notice specified in point 7, the teacher shall refund any
fees already paid for lessons not given once reasonable
effort has been made to rearrange any lessons.
The “Instrumental/Vocal Tuition – Terms and Conditions”
set out the contractual terms relating to the provision
of instrumental and vocal tuition in the School. The
Conditions will apply to the Agreement, opposite.
Tuition Agreement
Please complete SECTION 1 of the form, and return to the Music Department Administrator.
When the Agreement has been signed by both the teacher and pupil’s parent or guardian, it will constitute
a legally binding contract between the signatories. The Agreement will remain in force continuously unless
terminated in accordance with point 7 in the Terms and Conditions.
SECTION 1 (FOR COMPLETION BY PARENTS)
Pupil’s full name
Year Group
Address Telephone no
Postcode
Email address
(The time of your son/daughter’s first lesson will be sent to you by email.)
Name of Instrument
Does your child currently play this instrument Yes
Length of time learning this instrument
No
Grade/level achieved
I
(NAME) agree to the Terms and Conditions as set
out herein and agree to be bound to them until termination of this Agreement.
Signed
(PARENT)
Date
Any additional information
SECTION 2 (FOR COMPLETION BY VISITING INSTRUMENTAL TEACHER)
I
(TEACHER’S NAME)
offer tuition to
(PUPIL’S NAME) in
(INSTRUMENT/SUBJECT)
and agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions accompanying this document.
Signed
(TEACHER)
Date
Once the above has been completed, and tuition has been agreed, a copy of this will be issued both to parents
and the visiting instrumental music teacher for record purposes.
The King’s School in Macclesfield
Cheshire SK10 1DA
01625 260000
[email protected]
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