Music
compose, perform and study Music
Music is an integral part of school life at Hurst and it is viewed as a subject for all. Academic music is taught by a well-qualified team of academic and professional musicians.
Music is a very wide ranging activity: it provides intellectual, emotional and artistic satisfaction as well as developing the ability to communicate through performance. The skills required are helpful in many areas of academia and the merits of studying music are well documented. At Hurst, the wide range of musical groups and ensembles provide ideal opportunities for developing social skills and integrating with students of all ages.
Courses
In the Sixth Form, we offer A-level Music and A-level Music Technology. We also provide appropriate tuition by specialist teachers in the Music School. The Music department has a long record of excellent results at A-level and class sizes are healthy, but small enough to allow for considerable one-to-one tuition.
Music A-level
A-level Music is a natural extension to the GCSE course. Various key skills are developed in the course content and there are opportunities to study jazz and film music, as well as traditional western styles and to develop skills as a performer. The course also requires students to compose, perform and study set works in preparation for a listening exam, and includes a substantial coursework element. We follow the OCR specification.
Music Technology A-level
Music Technology introduces those keen on popular music or technology to the world of music production, recording, live sound, songwriting and more. The course provides students with the opportunity to develop the skills required to make high quality recordings in a range of musical styles, write and record multiple tracks and produce performances and compositions using computers and sequencing software. Students will also study the history of music technology and how it has developed since 1930.
The recording studio has everything necessary to create professional standard recordings: Multiple Macs, Allen and Heath Mixing Desk, Neumann Microphones, multiple recording rooms and more. Music Technology students have extended access to the recording studio to carry out work in their own time and undertake their own projects. Throughout the course, students can help with a variety of shows at the college, learning how live sound works and how to mix bands in a live scenario.
At the end of the final year there are two exams to be sat, alongside two pieces of coursework to be submitted.
Co-curricular opportunities
The Music department runs a wide range of co-curricular music options. These include Choir, Chamber Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band, Quartets, String Group and various ensembles focusing on different instrumental disciplines. To find out more visit our co-curricular music page.
Facilities
The College has impressive facilities for music, which include dedicated teaching rooms, a Mac suite with composing software, practice rooms for individual lessons, a music hall for concerts, a recording studio with seven workstations running the latest professional software and a soundproof drum room.
Higher Education and career opportunities
Music is given full academic status by universities and is an excellent foundation for conservatoire courses.
Hurst has a pedigree of preparing students for some of the best universities, colleges and conservatoires in the country. In recent years, a number of students have also been successfully prepared for Choral Scholarships at both Oxford and Cambridge universities. This success has been replicated in the Music Technology Department where students have progressed to study on the prestigious Tonmeister course at the University of Surrey.
Music qualifications offer a multitude of opportunities for careers in the music industry or a technology/computer orientated career. Options include performing, composing, conducting, writing, broadcasting, teaching and theatrical work.