Music at St.Ives School: A Community Music Department

Staff
Music Teacher – Katrina Geraghty

Visiting teachers from the County Music Service:

Sarah Hanley  - Woodwind (flute and clarinet)
Joey Hurdley – Saxophone and Keyboard
Gavin Nicol - Guitar
Terry Rodd – Percussion
Paul Roddy – Brass
Hudson Swan – Strings

More than one hundred students have been learning instruments this academic year. Information on how to participate in our instrumental scheme is given to KS3 students at the start of every term. There are opportunities to hire instruments from the County Music Service (please ask Mrs Geraghty for details). Many students are entered by their teachers for external practical music examinations eg.Trinity Guildhall and Associated Board.

Philosophy of the department

‘…to participate in a musical experience…..is at its best a way of knowing, a coming to understand more of what it is to be human.’

Keith Swanick (Music Educator)


Music at St.Ives School is for everyone; our aim is to foster a love of music which will last a lifetime. From the first lesson, all students are engaged in active music making through the activities of composing, performing, listening and appraising.

We are very much a community music department. Students are encouraged to get involved in the numerous community music initiatives which are happening in our town.

As a department we have been very active in raising money for a variety of national and local charities. During the past five years, our music students have helped to  raise over £11,000 for a wide variety of charitable organisations.

Key Stage 3

All KS3 students have a one hour lesson of music every week. The emphasis throughout the key stage is on practical music making and students experience a wide range of activities including vocal improvisation, composition using pitched and non-pitched percussion, class keyboard tuition, singing and some music ICT. We encourage our students to perform on a regular basis and there are opportunities to do so in our year assemblies, school and community concerts.

Key Stage 4

Music GCSE is offered at KS4 and students follow the OCR syllabus. They have two hours of music per week. In recent years, our exam results have been most encouraging and students throughout the ability range have been able to experience success within the subject area.

2006 – 83% A*-C
2007 – 81% A*-C
2008 – 76% A*-C

Gifted  and Talented

Our G and T students are encouraged to perform regularly at school at school and community concerts. Students indicating a wish to study music at A level are given the opportunity to study music theory and to be entered for Associated Board Music Theory Examinations.

Visiting artists regularly visit the school. This year 2008-9, we have been fortunate in having had visits from the Sacconi String Quartet and Truro Cathedral Choir.