RGS Music

Developing great people through

M U S I C

RGS MUSIC Music plays a vital part in the life of Reigate Grammar School. The Music department invites all students interested in music to participate whatever their experience and whatever style of music they enjoy performing. We aim to develop the musical potential of every student: opportunities are created for those who simply wish to be part of the school’s thriving musical tradition and for those who have ambitions beyond. The emphasis is on diversity and versatility, seen in the varied and challenging programme both in and out of school.

2

3

4

LEARN WITH RGS We provide high quality tuition allowing students joining RGS who already play an instrument to continue their development. We strongly encourage students who have not had the opportunity to learn an instrument to try and take on a new and rewarding challenge. For those working towards practical exams, we provide free group tuition for ABRSM Grade 5 theory and Grades 1-8 aural practice wherever possible.

Individual Tuition In addition to curricular music lessons, we offer individual tuition on the following instruments (other options may be available upon request): Bass Guitar

Flute

Viola

Bassoon

French Horn

Violin

Learning an instrument and playing with others enhances coordination, teamwork, self-expression, concentration, memory skills, problem-solving, self-confidence and esteem, target-setting and much more. If you would like your son or daughter to learn an instrument, please read the information contained within this guide. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Music department via RGSmusic@reigategrammar.org

Cello

Jazz Piano

Clarinet

Oboe

Instrumental and vocal lessons take place during the school day.

Lessons are taught on a weekly basis and rotate through the academic timetable so that students do not miss the same lesson more than once, where possible. Students in the Fifth Form and above plus those students learning more than one instrument may be offered a fixed lesson time usually during break, lunchtime or before or after school. Please visit rgs.to/musiclesson to apply for voice or instrumental lessons.

Classical Guitar Organ Cornet

Piano

Double Bass

Saxophone

Drums and Percussion

Singing

Electric Guitar Euphonium

Trombone Trumpet Tuba

5

MUSIC SCHOOL FACILITIES Our Music School has excellent facilities and is a welcoming, social and caring environment, always vibrant and busy. It is housed in a purpose-built, acoustically designed building containing: a wonderful recital room with a Yamaha grand piano, a baby grand piano, harpsichord and an organ; eleven practice/teaching rooms including a soundproof percussion room; a purpose-built studio with connected rehearsal/ recording spaces to facilitate provision for the subject of Music Technology; three well-equipped classrooms with a suite of 15 Macs in our Technology Room and a further 12 in a multipurpose classroom, installed with dedicated, industry standard music software which is used in the Music curriculum from First Form to the Upper Sixth Form.

Two of the three classrooms also house a suite of Yamaha keyboards.

6

7

8

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES Frequent overseas tours are undertaken, most recently to Ghent, Vienna, the Black Forest, Geneva, Rome and Amsterdam. Our choirs have performed in New York, Washington DC and cathedrals in Tuscany. There are also annual concerts at major London venues such The Southbank Centre, Cadogan Hall and St John’s Smith Square as well as local concert halls and churches.

Recent years have seen our students perform at Salisbury, Wells, Southwark and St Paul’s Cathedrals. Music and Drama frequently come together as seen in the recent productions of Hansel and` Gretel, Oliver, Les Misérables and Guys and Dolls.

All students are encouraged to join an ensemble as performing with others is an essential part of any musician’s development, it is also a lot of fun! The school has two symphony orchestras, a string orchestra, two swing bands, six choirs, a concert band, wind ensembles, a guitar group, a percussion ensemble, a brass ensemble, rock bands and many chamber groups. There is plenty of musical activity in which your son or daughter may involve themselves and all styles of music are encouraged.

RGS Musicians have excellent facilities at their disposal. The Director of Music is supported by four full-time teachers, the Head of Choral Music, 25 visiting music teachers and the Music School Manager.

Music plays an integral part in the life of the whole school, with strong links to the wider community as well.

There are musical performances at many school events: Students perform regularly in assemblies as well as during open days, RGS Foundation events, prize giving ceremonies, and on other occasions. The whole school community therefore enjoys regular student performances, strengthening awareness of music within the school; In Church Assemblies, First and Second Forms sing together songs they have learned in their curriculum music lessons and a performance is given by one of the school’s ensembles; Our annual autumn term concert at Dorking Halls sees the whole First Form perform together as a massed choir, accompanied by a student band.

Students are actively encouraged to lead musical activity within the school: Each year, the whole school takes part in the House Singing challenge, where each house performs student-led whole House songs and smaller close-harmony pieces; We have a student-led chamber ensemble and aspiring pop and rock bands; Students are encouraged to lead sections of larger ensembles and advise on playing techniques as section principals; Plugged and Unplugged evenings are a regular calendar fixture and see students collaborate to perform their own arrangements of popular songs of their own choosing.

9

We have consistently excellent results at GCSE and A Level and in Music grade exams. Leavers study music at prestigious universities and while RGS musicians regularly attend junior conservatoires some go on to win numerous awards at Oxford and Cambridge.

Music undergraduates and scholarship award holders A Level Music students are currently studying under a scholarship at Berklee School of Music, USA

“It is a huge credit to the school that it is able to give these opportunities – to have three soloists able to perform with an orchestra supporting them is extraordinary. For our daughter it was a once in a lifetime chance to perform a solo in a major venue, and is something we and she will never forget.” Parent of Upper Sixth Form student, RGS in Concert at Cadogan Hall,

One of our singers was awarded a choral scholarship at Queens College, Cambridge An RGS leaver is studying at Worcester College, Oxford with a choral award One former students is now studying at Queens’ College, Cambridge with a choral award, and one is studying music at Leeds university Two music A Level students went on to study music at St Anne’s College, Oxford, and Hertford College, Oxford Orchestras and choirs: Recent leavers currently perform in top orchestras and choirs at Trinity College, Cambridge, Imperial College, London; King’s College, London, Southampton and Durham, among other universities A number of current students attend the junior departments of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music

10

Music Scholarships Music Scholarships are awarded to children entering the school at 11+, 13+ and 16+. Candidates are required to perform two pieces on their main instrument and one on their second. The process involves sight-reading, aural tests and a short interview. At the time of entry to the school, candidates should have attained or at least be the standard of: Grade 4 on their principal instrument or voice and Grade 2 on their second instrument, or Grade 5 if they play one instrument only for 11+ Grade 6 on their principal instrument and Grade 4 on their second instrument for 13+ Grade 7 on their principal instrument and Grade 5 on their second instrument for 16+

11

12

CHORAL MUSIC Choral singing has always been a strength of Reigate Grammar School and the breadth of choirs reflects this. We are proud of the fantastic results achieved by our popular Junior Girls’ Voices, Boys’ Choir and Senior Girls’ Voices - choirs which are open to all and which shine frequently in school and community performances. Polyphony, RGS’s senior chamber choir, regularly sings in major churches and cathedrals in addition to secular recitals. Recent highlights of the choral calendar include visits from international operatic baritone, Simon Keenlyside; conductor Nigel Short and his choir Tenebrae; Evensong with Ralph Allwood and the choir of Queens’ College, Cambridge and choral tours of English cathedrals and Tuscany.

The choristers of the RGS Godfrey Searle Choir are girls and boys from Reigate St Mary’s Preparatory and Choir School and Reigate Grammar School. They sing weekly services at St Mary’s Church, rehearse sacred choral music daily during term time and make frequent visits to sing evensong in cathedrals around the country. Students may ask to be considered for a choral award by contacting Head of Choral Music, Tali Glynne-Jones via tgj@reigategrammar.org

13

SATURDAY MUSIC COLLEGE RGS’s Saturday Music College caters for 7-18 year old students from all schools in the Reigate area. The college offers individual music lessons and promises to expand your horizons with composition, musicianship lessons, chamber music and ensembles.

Regular concert opportunities and visiting masterclass experts will be regular features of RGS Saturday Music College.

Please download an application form via rgs.to/saturdaymusiccollege or contact Keri Smith, the Music Manager via kes@reigategrammar.org

14

15

Reigate Grammar School, Reigate Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0QS 01737 222231 admissions@reigategrammar.org reigategrammar.org  @rgs_music  Reigate Grammar School