In almost every culture throughout history, Music has been an essential part of the human experience. It engages the emotions, stimulates the intellect, enables self-expression and even sometimes provides a welcome escape from reality.
At QE, we aim to prepare our pupils for lifelong musical learning and appreciation. Through meaningful musical experiences, pupils develop their character, creativity and cultural awareness. Our curriculum is designed to nurture pupils as performers, composers and informed listeners. They are taught how to read and write music, how to perform expressively and how to listen critically to a broad range of styles.
The department has a strong record of leavers going on to pursue Music in higher education, with recent pupils taking up places at Selwyn College, Cambridge, Clare College, Cambridge, the Royal Northern College of Music, Southampton University and Jesus College, Cambridge (Organ Scholar). Pupils also regularly receive offers of a Choral Scholarship at Oxbridge when applying to read a subject other than Music.
The work done in the classroom is supported and enhanced by our extensive co-curricular programme and by a comprehensive range of individual instrumental tuition. The Music department is home to 25 peripatetic instrumental teachers, with the full range of orchestral instruments taught by specialists and lessons also taken on piano, organ, saxophone, drum kit, classical guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar and popular acoustic guitar. We run ABRSM examinations once a term.
QE offers a breadth of co-curricular opportunities to all those learning a musical instrument, whether in or outside School. The exhilarating shared experience of making music before an audience not only builds confidence into our instrumentalists and singers, but often inspires them to greater heights of musical sensitivity and accomplishment. In addition, the very discipline of preparing for such occasions sharpens boys’ musicianship and enhances their ability to work effectively alongside their peers.
Our annual concert calendar is brimming with opportunities for pupils to perform in a range of settings – formal and informal, in ensembles and as soloists, at lunchtimes and in the evenings. Highlights of the year include the Winter Concert and Leavers’ Concert and the Music department provides for the School’s annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols and Founder’s Day. There is also a yearly House Music Competition, Music Festival and Music Tour.
Many boys take an active part in music outside School, either with Barnet Education Arts Trust, or by attending the junior branches of some of the London colleges, including the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music. At any given time, there are usually several QE boys who have been selected for national ensembles representing the pinnacle of musical achievement for school pupils, including the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, the National Youth String Orchestra, the National Youth Children’s Choir and the National Youth Orchestra for Indian Music.
In almost every culture throughout history, Music has been an essential part of the human experience. It engages the emotions, stimulates the intellect, enables self-expression and even sometimes provides a welcome escape from reality.
