Vision
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To be an inspirational, innovative, team-spirited department with a world class reputation.
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Through challenge and responsibility we aim to encourage students to be dedicated and self-motivated musicians.
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We aim to nurture confidence, believing that all students deserve an opportunity to achieve his/her best.
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We believe and recognise that music education can act as a very important tool in developing life skills, social values and international understanding.
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We are a department that is committed to serving the community musically within and out with school. We have a reputation for an outstanding variety of ensembles which contribute to musical events of immense scope and enviable quality.
The Music Department
Gordonstoun Music Department offers many exciting opportunities for students to develop their musical ability. Such opportunities exist within the curriculum, within individual instrumental lessons and in the Music Department’s diverse extra-curricular provision. Students are actively encouraged to learn an instrument and participate in a wide range of organised musical activities and performances.
Individual instrumental lessons are available in the following disciplines:
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Strings: Violin, Viola, ‘Cello, Double-Bass
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Brass: Cornet, Trumpet, Trombone, Tenor Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, French Horn
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Woodwind: Saxophone, Clarinet, Oboe, Flute, Bassoon, Recorder
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Guitar: Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar
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Percussion: Drum Kit, Orchestral Percussion, Tuned Percussion
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Voice Studies
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Keyboard: Piano, Organ
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Clarsach, Accordion
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Bag Pipes, Pipe Drumming
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Music Technology / Studio Techniques
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Music and the Arts play a central part in the holistic education of a Gordonstoun student. A Music Department team of seventeen specialist teachers delivers all curricular, vocal and instrumental lessons. Students have the opportunity to study orchestral, jazz, rock, and traditional Scottish instruments. These weekly lessons are complimented by a comprehensive and diverse ensemble activity programme, available to all students.
Currently rehearsing and performing at Gordonstoun are:
Gordonstoun Symphony Orchestra
The Gordonstoun Symphony Orchestra is an all inclusive orchestra open to all Gordonstoun and Aberlour students of a suitable ability. If they can play the music (as judged by their instrumental teacher) then they can be a member of the GSO. The GSO performs a mixed repertoire of accessible music from popular classics to musicals and film music. Recently they have performed Lord of the Dance and Pirates of the Caribbean. The GSO may occasionally come together with the Gordonstoun Symphonic Chorus to perform large scale, major joint choral/orchestral works. Some sectionals for the GSO will take place in their activity music practise sessions and instrumental teachers will help students with the repertoire during their 1:1 instrumental lessons.
Gordonstoun Chamber Orchestra
The Gordonstoun Chamber Orchestra is made up of Gordonstoun’s most advanced musicians, members of our instrumental staff and any Gordonstoun musical teaching staff and cover mostly ‘classical’ repertoire. Recently they have performed Haydn’s Symphony No. 44 and accompanied Vivaldi’s Gloria. Approximate minimum standard: Gd 7 ABRSM.
Gordonstoun Symphonic Choir
Gordonstoun’s Symphonic Choir is open to absolutely anyone who enjoys singing. It is expected that all singing students as well as all GCSE and A-Level students will attend this choir. Staff are also very welcome and encouraged. The GSC will cover a mixed repertoire (musicals, classical, jazz, festive etc). Most recently they have performed Vivaldi’s Gloria and Karl Jenkin’s Songs of Sanctuary.
Gordonstoun Chamber Choir
The Chamber Choir is limited to approximately 18 advanced students. They are selected by audition and are expected to be very committed to the ensemble. The chamber choir enjoy a very busy performing and rehearsal schedule performing at numerous engagements, functions and concerts throughout the year. Most notably in this past year they have performed at the Remembrance Day Service and St. Christopher’s Carol Service; they recorded a CD: Purple, toured Egypt, were selected to perform in the Music for Youth National Festival and also performed in the Long Room at Lord’s Cricket Ground in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal.
Concert Band
The Gordonstoun Concert Band will be largely made up of the Wind and Percussion section of the Symphony Orchestra. Depending on pending concerts/events the concert band may act as a large sectional for the GSO, or work on independent repertoire.
String Orchestra
The Gordonstoun String Orchestra will be largely made up of the String section of the Symphony Orchestra. Depending on pending concerts/events the string orchestra may act as a large sectional for the GSO, or work on independent repertoire. Recently they have performed Bach’s Double Violin Concert in D minor and Palladio by Karl Jenkins.
Gordonstoun and Aberlour Pipe Bands
Directed by Gordonstoun Pipe Major, Mr Scott Oliphant and Drum Major, Mr Scott Niven the pipe bands at Gordonstoun continue to flourish and grow in popularity. Over 40 students are involved in piping at School and within the local community. Significant recent performances have included performances for the President of Ghana in Accra, the British Ambassador in Athens, the British Ambassador in Cairo and the Scottish Rugby Union.
Gordonstoun Jazz Band
The Gordonstoun Jazz Band under the direction of Mr Andy Hodge gives students the opportunity to develop their skills in this popular idiom. Memorable moments from the last academic year are the jazz band’s performance in glorious sunshine as part of Open Day and their ‘jazzed-up’ Christmas numbers in our Seasonal Concert.
Rock Bands
At the summer jazz rock spectacular, one of the Gordonstoun’s most popular annual events with the students, rock bands perform on a professionally created live stage. Mr Ronnie Berry, Timmy Donald and Caroline Truslove coach the bands regularly throughout the year in preparation for this event. The annual spectacular is usually themed and recent years’ performances have included music by the Beatles and Queen.
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The Performing Arts play an essential part in ensuring the health and vitality of the school community. The emphasis is on participation, teamwork, personal development and quality, and these are especially important when music, drama and dance come together for the staging of musicals. During the last few years there have been many memorable, exciting and indeed award-winning, collaborative performances. These have included Bugsy Malone, Cabaret, The Mysteries, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and most recently the Ben Elton/Queen musical We Will Rock You. Gordonstoun went on to perform this musical and other staged works at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We plan on staging Les Misérables (Schools’ edition) in late November 2009. Aberlour House also puts on a staged performance every year, the most recent being Honk! Junior.
Amongst the many highlights of the past academic year the Gordonstoun’s Symphonic Choir, accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra staged Vivaldi’s Gloria as part of a Seasonal Concert in Elgin’s St Giles Church; we hosted a visiting school’s music department (St Hilda’s School from Argentina) and performed a joint charity concert to raise money for Children 1st in January; we released a CD; Purple, highlighting the work of the Chamber Choir and Pipe Band; our music tour to Egypt was preceded by a concert in St Christopher’s Chapel displaying the wide variety of music on offer at Gordonstoun and the vast amount of musical talent at the school; at the beginning of the Summer term Ogstoun Theatre was transformed in to a Rock Venue for our annual Rock Show giving our outstanding eclectic mix of Rock, Folk and Pop bands a chance to wow their audience; and for Open Day in May the music department teamed up with dance and drama to stage a Performing Arts Spectacular.
The Music Department tours abroad every two years. Recent tours have included an Aberlour Senior Choir tour to Norway, a very adventurous and memorable two week tour to Ghana, West Africa and most recently a 10 day tour to Cairo, Egypt.
The Music Department is one of the largest Departments in the school. It presents students for GCSE, AS and A2 Levels (Edexcel examination board) and is a centre for Associated Board music examinations. The Department is housed in The Music School, St Christopher’s and its facilities include:
- A very fine multi-functional teaching/recital/rehearsal room, the Tennant Room, which boasts a Yamaha Grand piano and professional electric stage piano amongst its resources.
- A digital recording studio constructed around the Apple Mac Pro running Logic Pro v 7.
- A mobile suite of 10 laptops, all equipped with Sibelius and Cubase software.
- A third classroom and rehearsal room, the Orchestra Room
- A suite of sixteen instrumental teaching/practice rooms, nine of which include an upright piano. These are used by instrumental teaching staff and subsequently by students during afternoon music activity/practice sessions.
- Three large offices for use by three full-time specialist teachers, each complete with hi-fi, piano, AV equipment, PC and full school network access.
- Administrator’s office
- Instrumental Teacher’s staff room
- St Christopher’s Chapel, available for large scale rehearsals and performances
- A detached building (ATC hut) which provides a very functional base for the school drum studio, rock band performance/rehearsal room and all electric and acoustic guitar teaching.
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Gordonstoun Concerts Society
The Concerts Society promotes six or seven concerts a year by distinguished artists of both national and international standing. The programme gives students and members of the public a chance to hear classical, contemporary, jazz and world music.
Artists also give masterclasses to students and lecture recitals to Sixth Formers. Composition and percussion workshops have led to works by students being premiered at evening concerts. Students are encouraged to attend the concerts, especially those studying GCSE and
A-Level music.
For further information about the Gordonstoun Concerts Society and the current season of concerts please visit the Society's website www.thegcs.org.uk
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