Page 10
Music
The music department at KEVICC has been 'under new
management' over the last four months while the Team
Leader of the Department, Nicky Hansford, has been on
maternity leave. Anna Chadwick and I are currently sharing
the leadership role and have been getting the department
ready, not only for Nicky’s return, but also for Leonie Luff
who also returns from her maternity leave in February. In the
interim, we have been moving the department forward with
new projects and opportunities for our talented students.
One of their key principles, which underpins music
teaching at the College, is the opportunity for all students
to experience music and musical culture that is within and
outside of their experience; Anna and I have made this a
cornerstone of our planning and preparation of lessons for
students. Learners from across the year groups have had the
opportunity to experience orchestral string playing within
lessons, whole class African drumming sessions and, for
some, the opportunity to sit in on rehearsals of a symphony
orchestra.
Of course, taking part in music provides all those who
engage in it with an opportunity to extend learning skills
within the discipline of performance and composition.
However, the process of making music at any level enhances
many areas of academic capacity 'analysis suggests that
children provided with music instruction score higher [in
assessments] … important tomany fields and to core concepts
in mathematics, such as proportions and fractions'.
1
Many studies have been undertaken that investigate the
benefits of taking part in music through singing or playing
an instrument and a variety of sound scientific claims have
been reached. These studies have showed 'that early music
instruction can give your child better abstract reasoning
abilities. Music helps to stimulate more creative centres of
the brain that help your child better able to visualize imagery
and link together patterns and objects.'
2
However, the significant benefit is the ability to develop
increased 'learning resilience’ – students are able to become
more efficient and effective learners, in all subject areas. 'The
same focus and discipline is needed to play an instrument
as it is participate [at a high level] in athletics.'
3
Learning to play an instrument helps the individual
become a more effective academic. To support this kind of
learning the College music department offers a wide range
of instrumental music lessons during the College day, for
some these will be supported by subsidies. In the current
educational climate, students and parents frequently feel
under huge pressure to meet the demands of national
targets; this leaves little room for the individual learner.
Furthermore, some students who would benefit from the
challenge and achievement of being able to take part in a
College ensemble, may be prevented from doing so by the
fear of missing a portion of an academic lesson once per
week; there are strong arguments that point to significant
improvements in academic attainment as a result of
musical discipline. 'Learning to play a musical instrument
has definite benefits and can increase IQ by seven points.'
Lutz Jäncke
4
At the College, there are subsidies and bursaries on offer to
make these lessons financially accessible for students, and
further support for those students who are awarded Pupil
Premium. In addition to the instrumental lessons, and to give
learners at KEVICC the opportunity to learn 'outside of their
experience', there are a range of extra-curricular activities
that can enable young people to make music socially, as
well as being able to build confidence.
Orchestral Ensembles
The College orchestral ensemble is a long-term priority
in extracurricular activities at the College. It offers those
students who enter the College during Year 7 as practicing
musicians the potential to extend their skills but also, by
a variety of projects within the classroom, the department
aims to support new musicians through instrumental
projects that begin within the classroom learning. This
ensures that students can extend their learning through a
programme of subsidised lessons; our current initiative is
an orchestral string project that offers all those who want
the chance to play in music at a higher level and, of course,
provide an opportunity for ‘life-long learning’. The orchestra
now has a strong membership and as a priority, elementary
players are strongly supported so that they have a chance
to become immersed in the thrill of large ensemble music.
Groups and Band Playing
One of the most exciting and creative activities that happen
each day at lunchtime and after College can be heard across
the campus. Students head to music area practice rooms
where they play all sorts of music, completely self-motivated
and fuelled with their own enthusiasm for music-making;
some of this also found in after-College activities, such as
the Soundcheck music club and the KEVICC Folk Club, and
is a demonstration of the commitment these students have
in the creation and recreation of music. Lots of students are
excited about this time and the key outlet for these students
to present their skills is the opportunity to perform in College
concerts; some of these being heard in the 'Midsummer
Live’ event last July. In addition to opportunities for self-
managed, informal learning, the music staff lead a number
of other clubs including; a Gifted and Talented club on
Tuesday lunchtimes and a Rock Band workshop on Friday
lunchtimes.
Colin Spencer Joint Team Leader of Music
1
Hetland, 2000
2
Douglas & Willatts, Journal of Applied Developmental
Psychology, 1999 study
3
4
Lutz Jäncke, a psychologist at the University of Zurich from
'Playing a Musical Instrument makes you Brainier'
by Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent Telegraph Online
Building learning power through music
music club
Led by students and
supported by DMEH
Years 7, 8 & 9
Mondays
after school
room 21
Fine tune
your music
SINGING,
SONGWRITING,
OPEN MIC &
WORKSHOPS
Have Fun
& everyone
welcome
Page 11
Music
Over the last few years
SoundLaunch have run
what has proved to be one
of the music department’s
most
successful
extra-
curricular activities; led by
two of our highly talented
instrumental teachers, Kate
Graham and Vince Iddon. Students
have the opportunity to develop a
wide range of music skills that can
help them build their talent; work
towards a music career or just have
fun!
SoundLaunch was founded in 2010
as a supportive platform for singers,
instrumentalists and bands; designed
by music teachers who wanted to
create a nurturing music arena for
young performers. With tailor-made
courses specialising in song-writing
and performance, these provide an
opportunity to refine skills and help
improveconfidenceandstagepresence.
The professional and qualified tutors
have a wealth of knowledge and
experience in the field of music and
music performance.
SoundLaunch is a music club funded
by Devon Music Education Hub and the
Arts Council England and takes place in
various locations across South Devon.
Soundcheck is held at KEVICC, in Room
21 and the recording studio, every
Monday after school and is for anyone
who would like to develop their music
skills in performance, songwriting,
recording and production,supported
by young mentors too. There are lots of
different musical opportunities to get
involved with – as the photo, taken at
the Exeter Phoenix gig shows.
It was an amazing experience for all the
KEVICC students. Soundcheck also played
at various music festivals last summer
and performed in the final line-up at the
Music For Youth (MFY) National Festival.
This term, SoundCheck has focused on
recording and production in the studio,
working on performance delivery and
helping to support KS3 and 4 coursework.
So, whether it's to get
support with your own
music and performances,
compose and collaborate
with others or learn the art
of recording and production,
it's all possible and an
amazing opportunity! So
come along, fine-tune your music,
perform and make music tracks on
Mondays.
What the students say:
Soundcheck has great opportunities
to write songs and perform. You can do
group recordings and you learn how to
make compositions which would help
with GCSE [Music]. Then you get the
opportunity to record the song.
I really enjoy Soundcheck it helps me
be more confident and it's lots of fun.
Tavia
Soundcheck
has
improved
my
knowledge of music, musical styles
and has helped me so much with my
confidence. It is so enjoyable to share
your own songs and cover [songs] with
friends and people who support you;
it’s like another family.
Millie
Soundcheck
has
improved
my
song writing and has given me the
confidence to share my music and
sing in front of others
Anne
I’ve been going to Soundcheck for
two years and I really enjoy it. I am
learning how to sing in an ‘open mic’
and play new songs on the guitar,
I would really recommend it to all
[students] musicians
Kya
You can get involved too, just come to
Room 21 on Mondays after College.
Soundcheck After School Song Writing and Performance Club
Six KEVICC students – Rachel Higgs, Matilda Webb,
Callie Salmon, Kya Porter, Tavia Graham and Millie
Shuttleworth –were involved in a performance at
the Exeter Phoenix, as part of the Hubsounds Gig
Torbay Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal at KEVICC recently when they invited KEVICC
Music students to come along and experience the playing of a full-scale orchestra
and Vince Iddon
led by Kate Graham
