Preparatory Music
Music
Music
The Music Department is a strong and vibrant part of the school life and ethos at Chinthurst. We believe in providing a wide and varied range of both curricular and extra-curricular musical activities in which pupils are encouraged to participate fully, in order to help them to achieve their full potential and to enjoy the subject in its own right. Class music is taught from four years of age by specialist Music staff, to cover all aspects of musicianship including the study of world music, the elements and theory of music, contemporary and popular music and the history of western classical music, through the activities of performing, composing, arranging and listening. Workshops are included in the syllabus to support and enhance learning in class music lessons, as well as the use of ICT across the curriculum.
A large team of instrumental teachers provides individual and group tuition on a wide range of instruments, to include both orchestral and more contemporary instruments such as percussion and guitar. At present, there are over 60 boys studying one or more musical instruments and boys are encouraged to perform pieces at concerts and at the House Music Competition which is held annually in school and adjudicated by an external invigilator.. We follow both the Associated Board and Trinity Guildhall examination syllabus for instrumental examinations, selected by the instrumental teacher and tailored to individual pupils' strengths and requirements. A number of boys also achieve music scholarships to their Public Schools.
Extra-curricular activities are strong at Chinthurst; we currently have three choirs, an orchestra, string group, percussion ensemble, brass group, recorder group and guitar group which all rehearse on a weekly basis with specialist instrumental staff. The Senior Choir, which is the only auditioned choir, is particularly strong and rehearses four times a week, as well as performing hymns and anthems in two or more parts at the weekly service in The Church of The Good Shepherd. We are regularly invited to participate in local concerts and events, as well as workshops held in Public Schools such as St John's at Leatherhead and Epsom College. We have strong connections with the Reigate and Redhill Choral Society and perform regularly at the annual Festival of Carols. We recently celebrated our Centenary Year with a service at the Chapel in St John's School in Leatherhead, and the choir has been on several concert tours over the past few years, to include trips to Prague, Barcelona and Venice.