Welcome to the Music Department

Music enriches life at College in so many ways and there is a vibrant music department with emphasis on performance. There are many opportunities for pupils to sing or play in the various choirs and instrumental ensembles and each year musicians are involved in stage productions.

Academic music is strong and results are excellent.  Currently Music is taught at GCSE level and as part of the International Baccalaureate in the sixth form. Theory exams can also be taken. We use ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall for practical examinations.

Music plays a vital part in College life and over the past five years the number and calibre of our musicians has grown. Central to this growth has been the enhanced staffing and the ongoing improvement of facilities. A new Performing Arts Centre is on stream for 2010.

Our Philosophy
‘Music is sound’ is the philosophy of the Music Department and all lessons are based on practical music making using a huge range of instruments and voices.  Each year group covers a wide range of musical styles from Classical and Jazz to Manx Folk music and World music.  The Curriculum follows a spiral and each year builds on the work of the previous one, from the year of entry right through to IB level.

Singing
Individual singing lessons are given and all grade exams up to Diploma are covered by our team. Chapel is central to the life of the school and Chapel Choir sings every Friday in a full service.  Schola Cantorum performs even more intricate church music including Byrd’s “Mass for Four Voices” and Allegri’s “Miserere”.
The Girls Choir sings works including Britten's “Ceremony of Carols”, Pergolesi's “Stabat Mater” and the Boys Choir enjoys spirituals and secular songs. All choirs combine with the youngest children to perform at concerts, musicals and we even put on the opera “Dido and Aeneas” in February 2008 to great acclaim!

The whole school sings as part of their house for the House Shout competition which lifts the roof with sound and visual display.

Instruments
All orchestral instruments are offered plus guitar, folk instruments, organ and piano.

All grades are covered up to Diploma by our team. The orchestra brings everyone together to play at special events and fun concerts. Rock bands feature at KWC and any combination of instruments competes in the House Music competition for the coveted trophy!

Composition
Each year the annual Young Composers Concert features all the pieces as world premieres from choral to jazz and rock and these compositions can be used by the pupils to gain marks in GCSE and IB.

There is a place for everyone and every style of music-making at King William's College!

The Music Department consists of three full-time teachers including the Director of Music and the Organist in Residence, a department secretary and a team of peripatetic teachers who offer lessons in piano, organ, percussion, guitar, flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, brass, violin, viola, violoncello and singing.