Welcome to the Maryhill High Media Arts College Music Department.
The Music Department seeks provide a lively, practical and enjoyable curriculum with a wide range of activities and opportunities to extend and enrich students’ experiences.
KS3
This is a practical course, incorporating a wide variety of performing opportunities (singing and playing pitched percussion instruments and keyboards) both individually and in groups. Listening and composing activities are integral to what we do as well. Incorporated into the Year 7 Scheme of Work are topics on graphic scores, the elements of music and an introduction to musical notation and musical structures. In Year 8 we study Medieval music, Gamelan, film music, major/minor tonalities and musical devices. The in Year 9 the curriculum continues with the study of Blues, Music for special occasions, improvisation techniques and Reggae.
KS4
We offer the OCR GCSE course as an option in Year10 and 11. It is an excellent course, encompassing a huge variety of musical styles allowing for students with all types of musical interests to be stimulated, to enjoy their work and achieve well.
KS5
We offer Edexcel AS and A2 Music. As at GCSE, these courses are aimed at a very wide range of students with many different skills. Students on this course play a leading role in the extra-curricular life of the school.
Instrumental Teaching
We currently offer instrumental tuition in the following instruments:- woodwind, upper and lower strings, brass, drum kit, guitars and from next year, singing. Lessons are provided by the Staffordshire Performing Arts and there is a small charge of £25 per term.
Extra-Curricular Activities
The department offers a range of extra-curricular activities. We have a non auditioned choir that sings 2 parts music from a wide repertoire. This year 20 students are training to be sing leaders as part of the Vocal Force project.
We have a guitar group run by Mr Malbon and Mr Nicklin which meets every Wednesday after school.
From September there will be a Samba band run by Mr Clowes which will meet on a monthly basis.
Keele Concert Society Music Workshop
Maryhill High School – Friday 5th February 2010
On the 5th February Year 10 Music students were treated to a music workshop featuring the musical ensemble ‘Joglaresa’. This consisted of three fabulous musicians, led by Belinda Sykes who is Professor of Medieval Music at Trinity College of Music in London and director of the ensemble. She was joined by Tim Garside, a very experienced and knowledgeable percussion player and Jean Kelly who demonstrated her expertise on the folk harp.
For two hours they led the GCSE Music group in a Medieval song and percussion workshop. Students were encouraged to use their voices and percussion instruments and explored vocal and frame drum techniques and repertoires of the Mediterranean and Middle East.
The songs were taught by ear and there was opportunity for a question and answer session on all the instruments that the group brought with them.
These included medieval shawms, baroque oboes and a variety of harps, drums and bag pipes.
Despite their preliminary shyness, Maryhill and Clough Hall students took an active part and seemed to enjoy the afternoon of music making. Well done to all those involved!
Keele Concert Society Music Workshop
On the 5th February Year 10 Music students were treated to a music workshop featuring the musical ensemble ‘Joglaresa’. This consisted of three fabulous musicians, led by Belinda Sykes who is Professor of Medieval Music at Trinity College of Music in London and director of the ensemble. She was joined by Tim Garside, a very experienced and knowledgeable percussion player and Jean Kelly who demonstrated her expertise on the folk harp.
For two hours they led the GCSE Music group in a Medieval song and percussion workshop. Students were encouraged to use their voices and percussion instruments and explored vocal and frame drum techniques and repertoires of the Mediterranean and Middle East.
The songs were taught by ear and there was opportunity for a question and answer session on all the instruments that the group brought with them.
These included medieval shawms, baroque oboes and a variety of harps, drums and bag pipes.
Despite their preliminary shyness, Maryhill and Clough Hall students took an active part and seemed to enjoy the afternoon of music making. Well done to all those involved!
