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Music

A brief description of the department, its aims and its facilities.

Music tuition

Dauntsey's School places great value and importance upon a good musical education.
Our resources and accommodation for music have steadily grown over many years and we are justly proud of a distinguished reputation for musical activities and achievements.

Musical Instrument Tuition

The majority of Dauntsey's School pupils learn to play instruments. Tuition is available on the full range of orchestral instruments, including percussion, as well as piano, organ, classical guitar, electric guitars and singing.

Supervised Practice is arranged for pupils in the Lower School Boarding House

Concerts

An average of two concerts per week are scheduled. The style of these range from informal evenings of Chamber Music to Jazz & Rock Music Extravaganzas; as well as the more formal Choral and Orchestral concerts, often featuring pupils performing concertos; or major performances of oratorios, such as Elijah, African Sanctus or Dream of Gerontius.

Music Technology

The School has 8 computer equipped composition workstations and a flourishing recording studio. All the concerts performed throughout the year are recorded, edited and archived and several school rock bands make full use of these facilities.

Stage Productions

Music is also a prominent feature of dramatic productions, in the form of both incidental music for plays and the presentation of fully staged operas and musicals.

Music on the Curriculum

All pupils have the opportunity of fully developing their musical potential, whether as performers, composers or informed listeners. Class music lessons (for pupils in years 7, 8 & 9) explore a wide variety of music through listening, composing and performing; the lessons generally adopt a creative and practical approach in order that pupils learn about the subject through direct experience.

GCSE Music and A level Music are both popular choices of subject with many pupils continuing their study of music at University or Music College.

A level Music Technology, a relatively new syllabus, provides pupils with the primary skills needed by a studio musician. Dauntsey's School is fully equipped for this course and we have taught the syllabus since its inception.

Associated Board Music Exams, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama Exams and London College Music Theatre Exams.
For convenience, as well as for the comfort and security of familiar surroundings, pupils normally take their musical instrument exams at Dauntsey's School. Exam sessions are scheduled throughout the year and a high standard of success is maintained.

Ensembles & Choirs

Numerous ensembles meet regularly, enabling participants to develop musicianship skills as fully as possible.

Ensembles include:

Opening Strings; The Junior String Band;
Third Form Ensemble; Chamber Orchestra;
Clarinet Choir; Flute Choirs;
(Junior) Wind Ensemble; (Senior) Wind Band;
Junior Brass Group; Senior Brass Group;
Percussion Ensemble; 3 Recorder Consorts;
Chamber Choir; Lower Chamber Choir; Chapel Choir; Madrigal Group;

Choral Society (Adult);
Symphony Orchestra; Dance Band;

Folk Group; Songwriting Seminar; Improvisation Club;

Chamber Ensembles and Rock Groups also flourish, as well as occasional activities such as Barber Shop Quartets and Plainsong Choirs.