Music
Music at the British School of Houston
Music at the British School of Houston is flourishing. We believe in ‘music for all’ and aim to provide opportunities for music making well beyond the classroom. There are many high quality music ensembles in which students may participate: Upper, Middle and Lower School Choirs, Brass and Wind Band, Beginner String Ensemble, Jazz Band, Intermediate Jazz Band and Recorder Ensemble. In addition, students in Year 5 and above are encouraged to form their own bands. Lunchtimes in the department are a hive of musical activity, as students rehearse solos and ensembles in preparation for concerts.
Music is taught throughout the School with Foundation, KS1 and KS2 classes receiving one lesson per week and KS3 classes receiving three lessons per fortnight. A comprehensive scheme of work is followed, based around the International Primary Curriculum and the English National Curriculum. There is a large emphasis on practical work in all year groups. Students who opt to take music at GCSE currently follow the new Edexcel syllabus and music has been taught at IB Diploma level since 2009.
Around 80 instrumental lessons take place per week, with many students taking lessons on more than one instrument. Lessons are currently offered on piano, guitar, flute, clarinet, violin, trumpet, euphonium and drum kit. Twice a year, there are opportunities to enter for external music examinations with the ABRSM.
Major events include three large Winter Concerts, a ‘Musical Celebration’, featuring all of the extra-curricular groups and a very popular ‘Last Night of the Proms’- type concert involving the brass and wind band, the choirs and the Houston Brass Band. There is an annual piano recital and a rock concert (which is entirely student-led) and once a term, an ‘Informal Concert’ in which soloists with less experience perform alongside more advanced musicians. In addition, music is a regular feature in assemblies and celebration events across the school. A musical production takes place on an annual basis for students in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 and there is an end of key-stage production for Year 6.
Outside of school, the three BSH choirs have performed at prominent local events, such as the British-American Business Council Christmas Dinner and the Houston International Festival. In December 2001, there were performances at shopping malls, including ‘The Galleria’ (the largest mall in Houston). In April this year, the Lower School and Middle School Choirs will be performing at the Children’s Music Festival of Houston and all three choirs are scheduled to perform the National Anthem for Houston’s Major League Soccer team, Houston Dynamo in May.
The Department is housed in a new building commissioned in 2009. There are three teaching rooms, currently used for teaching students in the Lower, Middle and Upper schools, plus a large practice room. All four rooms are frequently used for group work. In addition, there are three smaller rooms which are used for individual instrumental lessons. The department has two upright pianos, two digital pianos, a large number of keyboards and recorders and a wide variety of tuned and untuned percussion instruments, including a set of African drums.
For music ICT, the department currently has 14 computers running the Sibelius notation programme. The hall contains a grand piano, a brand new stage and a sound booth, complete with a 16-channel mixing desk.