Music

We have two full time music teachers at Wade Deacon - Mr Gilmore (Head of Department) and Miss Cooper. There are also four peripatetic music tutors who teach instrumental lessons in school throughout the week. A music technician – Mr Mulcahy, works with classes for 8 hours per week.

We have two large music rooms which are well equipped with both traditional classroom instruments and the latest modern technology. There is a suite of computers which are used exclusively for music, with notation, sequencing and audio editing software on them. We also use digital recording (minidisc, CD and hard disk) regularly and allow pupils access to mp3 files of their performances and compositions.

In Years Seven and Eight pupils receive one hour of music per week and are always taught in ability groups. In Year Nine pupils receive music for half the academic year. Music is an option at Key Stage 4 and pupils receive 2 hours of music per week in Year 10 and 3 hours in Year 11. There is currently one Year Ten class and one Year Eleven class.

Extra Curricular Activities

There are many opportunities for pupils to take part in the musical life of the school. All pupils are entitled to free instrumental or vocal lessons with our peripatetic teachers and can become a member of the following school groups:

Choir, Concert Band, Guitar Ensemble, Clarinet Ensemble, String Orchestra, Saxophone Ensemble, Djembe drum ensemble and Rock Bands plus any other ensembles that pupils may wish to form.

We run regular events throughout the year, including three formal school concerts, Stars In Their Eyes showcase, Gifted and Talented Master classes, other instrumental and vocal workshops given by professional musicians.

There is also a GCSE Revision Class run weekly to enable GCSE pupils to further improve their knowledge and skills.