Music at Cleves
Music, as part of the Performing Arts, is a very important activity at Cleves. Pupils are provided with a good all round practical and theoretical understanding of music thus enabling them to expand and develop their skills. All our pupils are encouraged to develop a love and appreciation of music.
Music is not offered as a light relief from the daily routine of other subjects, but in its own right making a unique contribution to the overall development of the child. Musical activity develops skills and attributes that benefit not only learning in the whole curriculum and beyond but also the School as a social institution.
A pupil entering Cleves experiences music as an exciting, interesting, informative area of the curriculum that continues throughout the school year. We try to build up pupils' confidence so that they leave with a wealth of experience and enjoyment from a wide musical background.
In addition to practical instrumental and theoretical work, pupils are able to experience music making through the use of ICT. From Year 3 they are taught to manipulate sound and to compose basic rhythms and melodies. In addition to the ICT suite, pupils in Year 6 are able to use individual laptops for their compositional sessions. A bank of Yamaha keyboards is used for keyboard instruction in Years 5 and 6.
At Cleves music has something to offer all pupils; every pupil has something to give and something to learn from the study of music.
Choirs
Year 3 Choir
This choir is open to all pupils in Year 3 who wish to join together to sing informally. No audition is necessary. Amongst other engagements the Choir sings with other school choirs at the annual Surrey Borders Music Festival in May.
Year 4 Choir
The Year 4 Choir forms the nucleus for the Cleves contribution to concerts organized by Surrey County Arts – in the past the concerts have been held at such prestigious establishments as the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican and the Royal Albert Hall
Festival Choirs
Choirs are formed from each year group specifically to sing at various festivals. These choirs are open to all pupils in the particular year.
Pupils from Year 5 participate in the annual Three Rivers Music Festival. This Festival is based at Cleves and involves pupils from local infant, junior and secondary schools.
Chamber Choir
The Chamber Choir consists of eighty pupils, drawn from the whole age range of the School. Entry is by audition.
The Chamber Choir practices twice each week (during lunchtime on Mondays and before School on Thursdays). It sings at many outside venues both within the local community and beyond. The Chamber Choir sings one morning service each term in St Mary's Oatlands – directly opposite the School and with which the School has close relations) and also Christmas Carols on two evenings each December at the Lanesborough Hotel in London.
Each year the Chamber Choir takes part in the annual school Music Tour. (see Music Tours).
Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Group
The School orchestra consists of eighteen instrumentalists playing flute, oboe, descant and tenor recorder, clarinet, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, violin and 'cello.
The Wind Ensemble is made up from the woodwind and brass players of the School orchestra
The Jazz Group consists of a smaller number of wind players who meet together to play jazz and dance music.
Entries to these groups Orchestra are by auditions. All pupils are welcome, irrespective of their year group. A Grade 2 standard is required for initial entry.
The orchestra and Wind Ensemble play a variety of musical styles, ranging from early music and hymns in school assemblies through to jazz, film music and music by contemporary composers.
Steel Pans
Steel Pans are probably the most popular of our musical instruments with approximately 130 pupils, from Year 4 to Year 6 receiving forty minute lessons in groups of nine – each group forming its own band.
The Pans are in great demand outside school, especially throughout the summer months, when they perform at numerous private functions and at charity fetes and fairs. In addition they also play at the South of England show ground at Ardingly in October each year. In 2008 the pans will take part in the music tour to Italy. The Bands also perform for various private functions.
Lessons are available to pupils from Year 4 upwards. By the summer term of Year 5 they are able to commence performing in public, while the bulk of the outside performances falls to the experienced Year 6 bands.
Summer 2008 Steel Pans appearances include
Oatlands Fayre, Fete in the Field , South of England Show ground, Whitely Village, Val di Sole, Italy
Music Tours
Each year Cleves undertakes a European music Tour. The first tour, in 2003 was to Belgium where the Chamber Choir gave concerts in churches and at a senior citizens’ home.
Since 2004 the tours have been to the Val di Sole area of Northern Italy and have involved all Cleves music groups. The Chamber Choir sings at least two masses in churches and together with the Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Steel Pans Bands, gives concerts in local venues. Cleves has built up a special relationship with the Coro Arcobaleno di Ossana and with the specialist music school, Scuola Musica Celestino Eccher, and concerts are performed jointly with them each year. The highlight of the 2007 tour was to participate, as the only foreign group, in a major festival. Cleves led the procession round the town and gave a solo concert in one of the town churches and a joint open air concert with other Italian choirs. Items are sung in both English and Italian.
In addition to the musical aspect of the tours, other activities are centered round learning about the culture and history of the area. Cleves pupils have now become familiar faces in this part of Italy and as they are warmly invited back each year. As a result they are able to broaden their experiences and gain more confidence in their musical life.
In order for the tours to take place and to be successful we are reliant upon a considerable amount of sponsorship and support – otherwise the costs would be prohibitive.
We are therefore especially grateful to the following for the financial support they have given us.
DBA Speakers, Reading and Wokingham Coaches, Hotel Alpen (in Pejo, Italy)
Read this years tour report here
Music Lessons
Waiting List for Instrumental Lessons (excluding piano lessons)
Tuition on a wide range of instruments is available at school – either through Surrey County Arts or from private teachers who visit the school. However in respect of some instruments there are long waiting lists. These lists are maintained by Surrey County Arts and not by the school. If you have applied to them and wish to know the position regarding the waiting list please telephone SCA using the number on the application form: Surrey County Arts will otherwise only contact you when a vacancy arises. In many instances this could mean waiting a whole year (eg guitars). Nevertheless please remember that the sooner one gets on the waiting list the sooner lessons will commence.
Piano Lessons
Piano lessons at school are given both by private teachers and through Surrey County Arts. Currently there are no vacancies but some will arise in September as Year 6 pupils leave. Please apply directly to Mr Taylor if you wish your child to commence piano lessons. If you are already on the current waiting list please reapply as a new list is started for each academic year. An email to Mr Taylor is sufficient.
Cleves Music Staff
Music Co-ordinator: Paul Taylor BMus(Hons) ALCM., PGCE.
Festival Choirs and Recorders are also taught by Mrs S. Croft M.Ed., GTCL (Head Teacher)
Visiting Music Staff
Violin: Mrs R. Barnes; Cello: Ms S. Barnes; Flute: Mrs S. Baylis; Clarinet and Saxophone: Mr. I. Bailey; Oboe: Mrs K. Brewster; Brass: Mr T. Walker; Guitar: Mr I. Osman; Piano and Keyboard: Mr S. Gould,
Miss A. Oldham,
Mrs S. King,
Mrs A. Newham,
Mrs J. Turvill; Drums: Mr A. Cooke; Steel Pans: Mr M. Hayes; Bassoon: Mrs M. Houselander; Brass: Carl Woodcroft
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