Music tuition at secondary schools

[jsp56]

Hi,

I wondered if anyone could give me their thoughts on the various options for secondary schools in Cambridge, with specific regard to music teaching? My son is handy at musical composition and I would like to find a school that will give him opportunities to practise composing music for live groups.

Our options are Chesterton Community College, Sancton Wood, and the Perse, though I'm not quite sure how we would get to the Perse as it's a long way through heavy traffic.

Thanks!

Suggest you book tours, take a particular interest in the music department and ask the question directly. Or see if you can find contact details for each head of music on the school websites.

My son is at St Bede's and we really rate it for music. They have instrument lessons via Cambridgeshire Music and several Music teachers on the Staff. I mention the latter because some state secondaries only have a music department staff of 1. I mention the former because our brass teacher via Cambridgeshire Music is much better than the peripatetic brass teacher we had at a private school.

St Bede's has a chamber group, a wood wind group, a jazz band, a brass group, a ukulele ensemble, 2 choirs and an orchestra. I'm pretty sure Chesterton has good facilities. There is local youth brass group that meets there CSD, I think it's called.

I'm guessing either Perse Upper or Stephen Perse would be good for Music. Stephen Perse had a strong reputation in the area historically and a musician know sent their DC there on that basis.

At St Bede's we also have 2 children whose parents are musicians. The ethos surrounding music there is very good. Chances for individual performance exist at all levels. On the composition front, my son has been studying this term in that area and their assignment as groups of 4 was to produce a song over the holidays. My DS brought all the scores and lyrics together and wrote solos for those who wanted them. So' I'd say that composition is well covered.

Hi,

Thanks, that's really helpful to know. We've also found the Cambridgeshire music teachers particularly good.

Chesterton is very good all round, and I know it hosts the Cambridge Youth Opera so suspect it has links to quite a bit of the music in the area.

Sawston VC, if you're able to look further afield, has a joyous music department!

Gosh! I had no idea about the youth opera. That sounds very good. I'll ask about that. Thanks!

Oh, Cambridge Youth Opera is great stuff (and bewilderingly, it's free to the participants). I presume your boy isn't thinking of writing an opera though?

I hesitate to say it, but yes, I think he is. The Youth Opera sounds brilliant.

There was a contestant in Young Musician of the Year last year from Chesterston, wasn't there?

Gosh! That's very impressive. I'm getting really quite excited about the 6 minute walk to school now. Phew!

Yes, in the brass section (at least I think that was last year, if we're thinking of the same girl). DD says she plays 'like molten angel tears, dammit'.

Mind you, Hills sixth form college is stuffed with seriously talented musicians from across the county. DD (OK but not dedicated musician) currently feels a bit lost amongst the talk of conservatoire entry and auditions.

Gosh. Yes I can imagine that that's a downside of living in Cambridge. Must cultivate ds's love of being just OK at stuff.

Oh, don't worry, DD hates playing with anyone out of tune - so at least her ears aren't assaulted, even if she doesn't get the top orchestra spots.

Good point. Ds like good music too. :-)

Tingalingle French horn, Annemarie is the one I'm thinking of .

That's great that she got such great teaching. Do you know if she had her lessons in the school? Finding a good French horn teacher is really tricky.

I wasn't going to put her name on the thread (and think you should possibly ask to take it off), but she's very good.

(Though a competitive musician probably doesn't mind a bit of good publicity, thinking about it.)

To be fair, it was very easy to find on Google ...

I realise that, which is why I had a rethink. It just felt... wrong, discussing an actual teenager we know, rather than a shiny mythical contestant.

jsp56 I suspect she was flying a bit higher than school lessons by 11, but I think there are several French horn teachers round Cambridge and Ely.