Teaching

Music is taught in the ‘Garrick’, a purpose built and newly refurbished music facility. It accommodates
 

• The Music Hall, a large rehearsal and teaching space which is equipped with 13 i-macs.
• The Keyboard Room with 26 Yamaha keyboards set up for individual and group use.
• The Music Technology suite comprises of a specialist room for recording work, GCSE and A Level rooms housing 12 i-macs

Music is compulsory in the First and Second Years. From the Third Year onwards pupils can opt for the subject and music has become a very popular option amongst boys at Hampton.
 

• Classes are taught twice a week in form groups 
• Boys are exposed to a wide variety of musical styles, some they will be familiar with and many which they will not
• They build up a wide vocabulary with which to appraise the music, and experience the music studied at first hand through various performance and composition tasks
• By the end of 2nd Year all boys will have basic keyboard skills and will have a good working knowledge of Garageband and Sibelius computer software which we use to complement our teaching. 

• Classes are taught over three periods a week
• Pupils now receive a more in depth look into the subject and skills acquired in the First and Second Year are consolidated and built on, with the ultimate aim of preparing boys for the Music GCSE course should they choose to study it
• Boys spend more time on individual projects allowing them to develop their own personal voice as a composer
• Opportunities for class, group and solo performance work are built into the scheme of work and the use of music software is increased to include Cubase.

GCSE
Boys complete the Edexcel Course. The course allows students of a range of abilities and interests to broaden and develop their knowledge of the subject. Through the four areas of study, boys will study set works ranging from the western classical tradition through to African music. They will submit two pieces of composition work and two performances as part of the final assessment.
 

A Level Music covers a wide field, and requires a depth of knowledge of harmony, form, structure – the grammar of Music – and considerable powers of analysis, composition and performance to a high standard. The course requires a knowledge of Music from 1550 to the present day, including World Music and popular music, which makes it a rigorous and demanding subject to study at this level.

Boys complete the AQA course which gives them the flexibility to pursue the music they are most interested in, whilst the core components give them a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of the subject. A Level Music is enormously rewarding, and even those not going on to study Music will find they have gained an insight that can last a lifetime.

• An annual residential chamber music course in October at various locations

• A trienial exchange with the Heinrich-Suso Gymnasium School from Konstanz, Germany

• In most years we run an international tour for the different ensembles. In July 2009 the Chamber Choir and Chamber Orchestra went on a tour of Northern Italy

Instrumental Tuition  Extra Instrumental tuition is available to all members of the School, by application to the Director of Music, on any orchestral instrument, piano, organ, singing, modern guitar, jazz piano and saxophone.

Visiting Music Staff
Our visiting music staff all have excellent reputations with many being prominent performers in their field.

Timetables for musical tuition are posted in the main corridor. Most timetables are posted several weeks in advance, usually half termly. Theory and Aural lessons are also available and these will be charged at £4.50 per lesson.

Current Visiting Music Staff can been found on the School Staff page 

Ensembles and Choirs
The Department has a wide range of activities suited to all levels and all styles of music making. The main regular rehearsals are listed under 'More Information'. The provision of Chamber Music is fundamental to the life of the Department, and is strongly supported. In addition, there are a number of rock bands, and the Department is committed to providing them with time and facilities to rehearse. >> More information >>

The Choral Society

Music Department News

Owain Bates sings at Hampton Court >>more
Hampton Boys perform with English National Opera >>more
Brothers to perform in international opera festival >>more
Hampton Rock Band takes home honours >>more
Hampton pianist plays with Chinese superstar >>more
Joseph musical is an amazing success >>more

• Associated Board Examination Results Autumn 2011
• Associated Board Examination Results Summer 2011
• Associated Board Examination Results Spring 2011
• Associated Board Examination Results. Autumn 2010
• Associated Board Examination Results, Summer 2010
• Associated Board Examination Results, Spring 2010