St Andrew’s Music Department

Staffing:

Mrs S Coop                 Subject Leader and Head of Music Department

Mrs A Dancy               Teacher of Music and Music Technology

Mr C Dixon                 Teacher of Music

Miss N Chappell          Music Administrator

Mr R Holdsworth        Teacher of Music Technology, Recording Studio Manager and

                                   Peripatetic jazz saxophone teacher and ensemble leader

Mrs S Jones                 Peripatetic singing teacher and vocal ensemble leader

Mr G Preston              Peripatetic piano/keyboard teacher

Mr J Majin                    Peripatetic piano teacher

Mrs J Fiderio                Peripatetic piano teacher

Mr I Rae                       Peripatetic keyboard teacher and jazz session leader

Mr M Clough               Peripatetic drum kit teacher and percussion ensemble leader

Mr H Hope                  Peripatetic guitar teacher and guitar ensemble leader

Mr A Steer                   Peripatetic guitar teacher and rock band leader

Mrs C Kelly                  Peripatetic flute teacher, flute ensemble and wind band leader

Mr T Kipling                 Peripatetic flute teacher

Ms J Britton                  Peripatetic oboe and bassoon teacher

Mrs G West                 Peripatetic clarinet teacher

Mrs T Bird                    Peripatetic clarinet teacher and clarinet ensemble leader

Mrs J Watts                  Peripatetic violin and viola teacher and string ensemble leader

Mrs K Budgen               Peripatetic cello and double bass teacher

Miss A Kidd                  Peripatetic trumpet/general brass teacher and brass ensemble leader

Mr A Warren               Peripatetic trombone teacher

Mr J Beatt                     Peripatetic bass guitar teacher

Miss L Austen               Peripatetic gospel choir leader

Music at St Andrew’s

Music at St Andrew’s provides the opportunity for all pupils to develop an appreciation and enjoyment of music though listening, composing and performing activities both in and out of the classroom. 

Music at Key Stage 3

Music is taught to all students in Key Stage 3 for one hour per week in mixed- ability groups.  During Key Stage 3 opportunities are provided for pupils to:

• develop individual performance skills, both vocal and instrumental, including use of music technology
• develop listening and aural perception skills in practical activities, including composing and performing
• develop creative and compositional skills, including song writing, arranging and improvising
• work with a range of musicians and watch and listen to live musical performances, where possible, to extend our musical learning
• work individually, in musical groups of different sizes and as a class
• build on our own interests and skills, taking on different roles and responsibilities and developing music leadership skills
• make links between music and other subjects and area of the curriculum.

Music at Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4, music is an optional subject.  We are currently running two courses, GCSE Music and NCFE Music Technology.  Music has a very large uptake at Key Stage 4 (well above the national average).  We currently have two GCSE Music groups (following the AQA syllabus) and one Music Technology group (NCFE syllabus) in both Years 10 and 11.

Our GCSE Music results are well above the national average and have been for many years.  This year 95% of our GCSE Music cohort achieved A*- C grades.  Previous cohorts have achieved 100% A* - C grades.    

Instrumental lessons

At St Andrew’s School, instrumental/vocal lessons are flourishing with nearly 300 pupils receiving music lessons every week from our wonderful team of specialist music teachers.

Click here for further details and/or to download an application form for academic year 2010/2011

Click here to renew your contract for the academic year 2010/2011

For any enquiries about instrumental lessons, please contact the music office

(020 8686 8306 option 3) or email your enquires to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Outline of the Music Facilities

There are two large purpose built music classrooms which double up as music ICT suites.  We also have13 individual practice rooms and a state of the art recording studio.  Our classrooms and practice rooms are all equipped with high spec PCs with sequencing programmes and audio mixing facilities.  We also have a large selection of classroom instruments including touch sensitive keyboards, guitars, drum kits and a wide selection of tuned and untuned percussion.

Co-Curricular Music

We try to encourage as many pupils as possible to get involved in one (or more) of the many activities that are on offer every week in the music department.  There is also the opportunity for pupils to use our facilities before school, lunchtimes and after school.  We are always delighted to welcome new members and see new faces in the department.

The music co-curricular opportunities will be updated in due course.

Throughout the year pupils are given a chance to perform in concerts, workshops, assemblies and full-scale productions both in school and at other venues such as Fairfield Halls.  Last academic year the music department put on two Autumn concerts, three ‘Celebration of Christmas’ concerts, two RUSH charity concerts, two Winter Warmer concerts, two Orpheus charity concerts, two GCSE music evenings a huge gospel event at the Fairfield Halls in July.  We recently staged production entitled 'Starstruck' which involved over 150 pupils, staff and ex-pupils and was a huge success.   We have been running a music exchange with a school in Paris for the past 14 years.  This involves pupils from Years 9 and 10 working and performing with their French partners from the school at a theatre in Paris. 

Click here to see photos of past music events