Cntents: Page 1 2 Directr f Music Page 3-6 SWCHS Music Department Page 7-10 Music Academy Directr f Music Saffrn Academy Trust (SAT) is a family f schls cmprising f tw secndary schls and tw primary schls. Saffrn Walden Cunty High Schl (SWCHS) is an utstanding secndary schl within the trust and has an excellent reputatin fr bth academic and extra-curricular music. SWCHS currently hlds ArtsMark Platinum. 299 students have individual instrumental lessns, 219 children are invlved in extra-curricular music and the schl basts 16 different musical ensembles. SWCHS als delivers the cutting-edge Music Academy Prgramme (see additinal infrmatin belw), pen t all musicians, grade 6 and abve, wh jin ur utstanding sixth frm. Pupils are drawn frm acrss Essex, Hertfrdshire and Cambridge. Students n the Academy Prgramme have access t masterclasses delivered by prfessinal musicians as well as pprtunities t attend cncerts and learn abut music educatin by delivering an utreach prgramme in lcal primary schls. As such, SWCHS has an excellent track recrd in securing places fr students at the leading music academies and cnservatires in the cuntry. SWCHS is als hme t the prestigius Saffrn Hall. Saffrn Hall is an award-winning, internatinal cncert venue which seats 740 peple. The hall s critically acclaimed acustic and state-f-the-art facilities surpass many f the wrld s mre established venues. Saffrn Hall ffers bth classical and jazz cncerts and a range f artists including the Lndn Symphny Orchestra, Maxim Vengerv, Penguin Cafe, Nicla Benedetti, Curtney Pine, English Turing Opera and the Sixteen have perfrmed n its stage. The Trust and Saffrn Hall wrk in partnership t enrich the music-making f children acrss the Trust and t prvide them with cutting-edge musical pprtunities. In additin, SWCHS, in cllabratin with the Guildhall Schl f Music and Drama and Essex Music Hub, hst SCYM (Saffrn Centre Fr Yung Musicians), a Saturday mrning music schl which currently wrks with 130 children drawn frm acrss Essex, Hertfrdshire and Cambridge. The rle f Directr f Music is an utstanding pprtunity fr a highly experienced perfrmer and teacher t frge the directin f music-making acrss the Trust. The successful candidate may already be a Head f Music in a schl. The Directr f Music wuld lead the Music Department SWCHS and wuld als wrk with the ther schls in the Trust, and Saffrn Hall, t ensure as many yung peple as pssible have access t high-quality musical pprtunities. This is a new rle and is, as such, an exciting pprtunity fr the successful candidate t shape this psitin and the directin f the pst. A generus time allwance wuld be given t ensure the psthlder can develp and deliver their visin. Persn Specificatin: Essential: Either a teaching qualificatin r cmparable experience in music educatin An utstanding classical r jazz musician An utstanding, inspiratinal and innvative teacher with a prven trackrecrd in delivering utstanding academic utcmes at KS3, KS4 r KS5 1
An enthusiasm and passin fr Music Educatin at all levels frm access t excellence encuraging a lve f music in all children An ability t inspire and mtivate children t lve music A deep cmmitment t music and a belief that it can be transfrmatinal fr children Excellent interpersnal skills Excellent time management skills Desirable: Experience f leadership within a Music Department An ability t liaise successfully with prfessinals acrss the music industry A knwledge f educatinal utreach prgrammes A visin fr music and an ability t think strategically Main Respnsibilities: SWCHS T develp an exceptinal, brad and inspiring extra-curricular music prgramme with pprtunities fr pupils f all musical abilities. T direct sme f the musical ensembles taking place in the schl T teach utstanding lessns T lead the SWCHS music department: with respnsibility fr managing the perfrmance f teaching staff, peripatetic staff and department administratrs T be accuntable fr academic achievement at KS3, KS4 and KS5 and t use data effectively t ensure all pupils make excellent prgress T liaise with parents and carers abut their child s prgress T lead the Music Academy prgramme: respnsibility fr prgress f students n the prgramme; bking and liaising with musicians leading masterclasses; verseeing the utreach prgramme T wrk alngside the Drama department, and ther arts subjects in the schl, t prduce high-quality schl prductins and ther perfrmance pprtunities Acrss SAT schls T cmmunicate and realise a visin fr music acrss SAT schls T liaise with Saffrn Hall n a regular basis t plan educatinal activities T wrk in cllabratin with Saffrn Hall, SCYM and the Guildhall Schl f Music and Drama, and ther arts rganisatins, t ensure pupils frm all schls have access t a rich extra-curricular music prgramme that gives pprtunities fr access and excellence T ensure the Saffrn Hall (the venue) is accessible t all schls acrss SAT T encurage musical cllabratin between Trust Schls T supprt ther Trust schls in realising a musically ambitius prgramme f extra-curricular activities and supprt the pedaggy and delivery f music within the classrm, where required. Time allwance: The successful candidate wuld teach up t 33, ne-hur perids every tw weeks. The teaching cntact time has been lwered in rder t allw the successful pst-hlder t spend the remaining time in develping and implementing an extra-curricular prgramme acrss SAT schls; liaising with the arts rganisatins that partner with the Trust; leading the Music Academy Prgramme; leading the Music Department at SWCHS and the ther respnsibilities abve. Because f the extra-curricular nature f the rle, and because f partnerships with rganisatins such as Saffrn Hall, there is an expectatin that the pst-hlder, in additin t the usual cncerts and ensembles that any music teacher in the schl wuld run, wuld be required fr a level f evening and weekend cmmitments during the year. In the light f this, sme nn-cntact time wuld be timetabled t allw fr sme flexible wrking, in agreement with the SLT link, t ensure a wrk/life balance. 2
SWCHS Music Department Infrmatin Aims f the Department T encurage the understanding and expressin f thughts and feelings thrugh the medium f music. T develp sensitivity twards music thrugh persnal experience T build n the experiences f KS1 & 2 T stimulate and develp an appreciatin and enjyment f music thrugh active participatin in a full range f activities T develp cnfidence in perfrmance and enable all t access a range f perfrmance activities T encurage the develpment f inventin, analytical and appraisal skills T prvide an apprpriate bdy f knwledge, prmte understanding and develp skills as a basis fr further study r leisure T develp a crprate identity within the schl and the wider cmmunity Objectives f the Department T develp: An awareness f the range and nature f a wide variety f musical sunds and surces The cnfidence t make music individually and in grups with an awareness f tne, pitch and articulatin The cnfidence t express their thughts thrugh bth structured and free imprvisatin The skill t cmpse riginal music in respnse t bth musical and nn-musical stimuli The ability t use ICT t help realise their creativity Enugh skills in reading musical ntatins t supprt further study The willingness t listen t a wide range f live and recrded music and make a critical, analytical r creative respnse t it A bdy f knwledge abut music frm ther culture and times In additin t the bjectives abve it is hped that the music curriculum will develp within students the fllwing: A preparedness t be increasingly invlved in music A willingness t respnd t unfamiliar music A willingness t experiment and take risks The understanding that it takes time t develp skills A willingness t accept cnstructive criticism A tlerance f the views and pinins f thers Staffing The Music Department is staffed by three full-time and ne part-time teacher as well as a team f sme 20 visiting peripatetic instrumental teachers. Currently the Directr f Music als writes the whle schl timetable. The Music Department is supprted by tw part-time administratin staff, ne with respnsibility fr the rganisatin f instrumental teaching and Music Schl, the ther with respnsibility fr curriculum supprt. Wh are the Music Staff? Mr Alan Bradbent B Mus. (Hns) PGCE Directr f Music A graduate f Bangr University wh studied cmpsitin with William Mathias and perfrmance at the RLPO, Mr Bradbent was initially a freelance trmbnist and peripatetic teacher. He later mved int the classrm at Sawstn Village Cllege and was subsequently appinted Area Crdinatr Expressive Arts at SWCHS. He remains a frequent perfrmer and C20 music enthusiast. 3
Mrs Jane Pattersn BA (Hns) PGCE After studying fr her undergraduate degree at Exeter University, Jane cmpleted her PGCE at Hmertn Cllege, Cambridge. She has wrked at several secndary schls ver the last 23 years, including being Head f Department. A first study flautist, Jane als plays the vilin, pian and enjys singing. Mr Elis Reed BA Mus. (Cantab) LTCL Recently graduated frm Cambridge, Mr Reed is a first study pianist wh als plays the trumpet. He is particularly interested in the use f music technlgy t further learning and is a Lgic Pr expert. Always interested in music educatin, Mr Reed has wrked as bth a classrm assistant and als fr the educatinal utreach prgramme at Cambridge. He is als a keen cmpser and musiclgist. Miss Lucy Clwill BA (Hns) PGCE A graduate f Bristl University, Miss Clwill plays the be and is a member f the Graduate Orchestra in Cambridge. She was a trainee teacher at SWCHS and brings many skills and interests t the department including Histrical Studies, harmny and cunterpint as well as cnducting and perfrmance. Miss Clwill previusly wrked with junir music ensembles at hme and abrad and enjys sharing her passin fr music with students f all ages and interests. Administratin Supprt Staff Emma Ure Amanda Wenham Instrumental Teaching Supprt Curriculum Teaching Supprt Accmmdatin The Music Department is mstly hused in tw separate but adjacent buildings. The new blck was pened in 2000 and cnsists f: a large teaching rm (M1) equipped with 12 netwrked cmputers six practice rms the administratin ffice the Directr f Music s ffice instrument stre cupbards The ld blck cnsists f: tw teaching rms (M8 & M14), ne f which has 15 netwrked cmputers a staff rm six practice rms, ne with 3 netwrked cmputers. strage cupbards In 2013 we gained an additinal rm in the main schl buildings (E5) which is set up fr A level teaching and equipped with 15 imac cmputers with Sibelius and Lgic Pr sftware installed. There is als a fully equipped, purpse built recrding studi within the Saffrn Hall cmplex fr use by A level music technlgy students. 4
Resurces The Music Department is rich in resurces fr bth curricular and extra-curricular activities. ICT 45 netwrked cmputers and Yamaha keybards with Cubase, and Sibelius sftware Ceiling munted data prjectrs 2 Interactive whitebards Keybards A variety f additinal keybards f varying specificatins Recrding and Sund Equipment Each teaching rm is equipped with an amplifier, CD player and DVD player Bss Prtable Hard disk recrder Several prtable Cmber units fr staff/student use Yamaha and Rland hand held digital recrders Guitar amplifiers, keybard amplifiers, a selectin f Shure micrphnes Yamaha PA System Audi-visual Equipment Tw digital vide cameras Three DVD players Instruments 3 clavinvas Rland Electric Pian 10 pians Electric Guitars Acustic Guitars A small number f rchestral instruments fr hire Tw full class sets f tuned percussin A large selectin f untuned percussin n tw trlleys Fur drum kits and ther specialist African and Samba drums 2 Pedal Timpani Teaching Resurces All textbks, reference bks, flders, CDs and s n are kept in the Music Office r E5 Miniature scres are kept in M11. Reference material fr KS5 can be fund in the 6 th frm study centre. The Music Curriculum Since September 2005 the schl has cndensed Key Stage 3 int 2 years (7 and 8). In Year 7 the students are taught in their frm grups, in Year 8 they are taught in mixed ability grups. Each f these years usually experiences a crss-arts prject, usually devised by a member f the Area Cllegiate and further develped by a team f teachers frm acrss the Expressive Arts Area. In year 8 students chse their ptins fr GCSE study. Althugh it is n lnger cmpulsry fr students t pt fr an Expressive Arts subject at GCSE, the design f the curriculum means that many cntinue d s. Cnsequently, there are usually at least tw GCSE music sets in each f year 9-11. 5
A level curses tend t be taught by tw members f staff and they will negtiate respnsibility fr delivering different sectins f the syllabus as apprpriate. Fur years ag we set up a Sixth Frm Music Academy which has attracted sme f the mst prmising perfrmers frm the area t cme here t further their studies. This cmbines academic study with a prgramme f Masterclasses and wrkshps, leadership pprtunities and free cncerts. We have a very strng traditin f sending students n t bth University and Cnservatire t further their f study music. Extra-Curricular Activities The music department is a vibrant, exciting and active centre fr music making. It seeks t encurage all students t participate in extra-curricular activities regardless f their interests and abilities. The fllwing activities regularly take place either at lunchtime r after schl: Intermediate Chir Chamber Chir Samba Band Intermediate Cncert Band Cncert Band Jazz Band Intermediate Jazz Band Shw Chir Orchestra Senir String Orchestra Intermediate Strings Saxphne Quartet Classical Guitar Ensemble Flute Ensemble Brass Grup Vices Chir In additin, many students bk the facilities fr their wn rehearsals and there are currently several rck bands in schl. Saffrn Hall We are very frtunate t have a wrld-class cncert venue n site and wrk very clsely with the Hall s management team t maximise the pprtunities that this presents fr ur students. Mst f ur senir ensembles rehearse in Saffrn Hall n a regular basis, ur cncerts are staged there, the Masterclass element f ur Sixth Frm Music Academy is built arund the Cncert prgramme and there are ften generus ffers available fr staff and students alike t attend cncerts. Further infrmatin is available frm the schl website. Saffrn Centre fr Yung Musicians Lcated here, this is a Saturday music centre set up as a jint venture between Guildhall Schl f Music & Drama, Essex Music Hub, Saffrn Hall and the schl. It ffers a curriculum which balances ensemble wrk, singing and thery/musicianship and tw years n frm its start has mre than 130 students attending each week. See additinal flyer and the website fr further details: www.saffrncym.rg 6
The Music Academy Saffrn Hall is nt nly ne f the best cncert venues in the cuntry and basts a prgramme t rival any, but als has a keen interest in supprting and prmting music educatin. These cmbine t prvide pprtunities and facilities fr yung musicians studying at SWCHS that are unrivalled in Eastern England and means that ur Pst- 16 Music Academy nw attracts sme f the best student musicians frm a wide gegraphical area. Academicians are welcmed t bth a reginal centre f excellence fr music educatin and a schl that sets the highest f academic standards. While mst applicants will naturally want t fllw the A-Level music rute, this is nt a prerequisite as we recgnise that at this stage sme talented musicians prefer t further develp their musical skills and experience while studying fr a career in anther discipline. What des the Academy prvide? Saffrn Hall already claims a number f resident ensembles such as The Lndn Symphny Orchestra, The Brdsky Quartet, English Turing Opera and Britten Sinfnia wh, alng with ther prfessinal artists such as Nicla Benedetti wrk with us. During the past three years, Academy students have taken part in Masterclasses delivered by artists frm the Yung Classical Artist Trust, Guildhall Schl f Music and Drama, as well as mre established prfessinal musicians such as Janice Watsn, Rger Argente and Gary Ryan. This clearly represents an utstanding pprtunity t gain advice and tuitin frm prfessinal musicians f internatinal repute. The academy prgramme is tailred t specific needs each year but nrmally cvers all instruments and vices in bth classical and mre ppular idims alng with ensemble Academy students meet Nicla Benedetti playing, cmpsitin and cnducting wrkshps. In additin, academy students are able t listen t visiting grups in rehearsal, receive free tickets fr events in Saffrn Hall and the best perfrmers may be invited t jin an assciate ensemble t extend their repertire experience. We have wrked with The Ryal Opera Huse, Cvent Garden t deliver the Gld Arts Award qualificatin and taken part in exciting utreach prjects in ther lcal schls where academy members have wrked alngside prfessinal perfrmers and cmpsers. We als have strng links with NYO and Guildhall Schl f Music, nt least thrugh the Saturday mrning Saffrn Walden Centre fr Yung Musicians. Academy students have the pprtunity t regularly make music in a wrld-class perfrmance venue by jining the mst senir f ur many ensembles and making a sustained cmmitment t these. Typically, these are the Senir Jazz Band, Senir Cncert Band, Senir Chir, Chamber Chir, Senir String Orchestra r Symphny Orchestra. A number f these ensembles tur t Eurpe each summer. 7
Music Tur 2017 All academy students are able t prmte their wn recitals either in the main hall r as part f ur lunchtime series in the Fyer. SWCHS has a team f highly qualified instrumental and vcal teachers and, whilst academy students are free t cntinue arrangements with an existing teacher, we ensure that thse wishing t have their lessns at SWCHS receive excellent tuitin. All instrumental and vcal staff will prepare students fr ABRSM examinatins as required and these take place in schl every term. Senir String Quartet in cncert Each academy student negtiates a Persnal Music Develpment Plan (PMDP) at the start f Year 12 and reviews this n a regular basis with a member f the music staff. This might include measured prgressin thrugh practical examinatins, directing wrk with a junir ensemble, cmpsing fr a specific event r ccasin, but will always be tailred t the specific interests and skills f the student. Masterclass with Ralph Salmins 8
In additin t the Masterclass prgramme, Music Academy students learn leadership skills thrugh delivering an utreach prgramme in ur lcal primary schls. In the past, we have run summer schl prgrammes alngside players frm Britten Sinfnia, develped musical material fr a Cmmunity Opera cmmissined by Saffrn Hall with KS2 children and this year, students are wrking with their instruments t bring t life the stry f the Gruffal. This will be presented t KS1 pupils in lcal schls. Music Academy students delivering their utreach prgramme Admissin criteria fr SWCHS Pst-16 Music Academy In additin t the standard academic entry requirements fr SWCHS, applicants must have achieved at least Grade 6 at merit r abve n any instrument r vice and als have passed Grade 5 thery if nt fllwing the ABRSM practical examinatin series. What is expected frm Academy students? All Academy Members must: Attend the Music Academy lessns every week Be a regular member f ne r mre Senir Ensembles Agree and adhere t a PMDP Participate in the Masterclass prgramme as apprpriate Take part in cncerts, recitals and festivals as apprpriate Make a sustained cntributin t the wider SWCHS musical cmmunity Generally seek t maximise the pprtunities ffered by the Saffrn Hall prgramme and the hall itself Senir Cncert Band in Saffrn Hall 9
Chamber Chir in cncert 10