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Music

Performing, composing and listening are the fundamental principles that underpin all music-making, and throughout a pupil's time at King's the music department strives to bring out the best of all these elements.  All 3rd form pupils study music and they develop these skills through working in a variety of styles, from classical symphonies to African drumming to the latest chart sounds.  Pupils can use musical software in the new iMAC suite to enhance their understanding, and there are regular opportunities to perform, from the informal setting of the classroom to larger school concerts.

It is very pleasing to see the increasing numbers of pupils who take music at GCSE level.  The exciting musical opportunities revealed in the 3rd form are realised with even more use of computers to enable pupils to experiment with composition in any style they choose with a limitless palette of sounds.  They can use the recording studio to realise their work by playing live with friends and perform to each other to discover the fun and thrill of live performance.

Music at A Level continues to develop the key skills, with more focus on analysis of great works, but coupled with a higher level of performing skills and an increased knowledge of compositional techniques.  The breadth of styles chosen for all these elements continues to widen and recently submitted work has included film music composition as well as a suite for heavy rock band.

Developments in technology over the last few years have opened up huge possibilities for a broader range of musician to follow an advanced level course.  The music technology A Level course is very much suited to the modern musician who enjoys working in a studio environment where technology, including use of microphones, mixers and computers, is used to push the boundaries of what is sonically possible.

Whichever route our musical pupils follow, they will have experienced a vast range of different styles of music, and may even have developed a particular love of some sort of it.  They will know something about all sorts of music and have performed in those styles as well, but most importantly they will go on to value their music in later life.

Staff profiles

Colin Albery read music at Exeter University, and his first appointment as head of strings at King's enabled him to play violin in the South West Mozart Players as well as indulging in his other passion as a jazz pianist in various big bands and smaller ensembles.  He was appointed head of instrumental music at King's a few years later and has been Director of Music for the past seven years.  He teaches music technology and some GCSE and A Level, and also conducts various ensembles including the chapel choir, orchestra, big band, and chamber choir, while also coaching the 3rd XI boys' hockey team.

Karen Paul gained a BA and an MMus from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the ALCM and LTCL diplomas, all in piano performance.  She joined King's in 2003, teaching music and music technology to all year groups.  A trained dancer, she choreographs for school shows and can also be found coaching girls' football.  She is an accompanist for music exams, concerts and the chapel choir.  She plays keyboard for local amateur music society productions and recently timpani for Somerset Opera.

Chris Holmes graduated from Magdalene College, Cambridge, with a BA in music.  He teaches the listening components of the GCSE and A Level courses, as well as A Level composition, aural, and grade 5 theory.  He coaches the 2nd XI cricket, and is an RFU qualified rugby referee.


Click here for details of the 3rd form curriculum

Click here for details of the GCSE course

Click here for details of the A Level course