Spotlight on... Head of Music

With the term coming to an end to the sounds of the Summer Concert, this month's 'Spotlight on...' features our Head of Music, Mr Hoare.

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB INVOLVE?

There are a wide variety of roles that I have to take during any given day. As well as managing the department curriculum and ensuring that all lessons are engaging and relevant, I must also ensure that the extra-curricular program works with the available student musicians that we have. This means that there are two very distinct strands to my job, inside the classroom and outside of the classroom, both of which are full time jobs in themselves. 

The work involved in terms of the curriculum involves delivering lessons that arm students with enough cultural capital to understand and appreciate the wider world as well as considering styles and ways of making music that don't exist yet. Our curriculum has shifted over the last few years to focus on keyboards skills and practical music making. When preparing lessons I need to prepare materials that are engaging for all students and make them curious about the wider world of music, not just what they are used to hearing on the radio or Spotify. This means that there needs to be enough familiarity with what they already know and enough challenge to keep them interested. Introducing KS3 students to the Blues is always a favourite of mine; you can trace a thread of musical evolution all the way from music played in 1920s America, through rock'n'roll, rock, hip-hop and up to today's modern R'n'B. The students learn what they listen to in everyday life is built upon centuries of culture. 

The other aspect of the Head of Music role is running the extra-curricular program and ensuring that the external peripatetic staff have everything they need to do their jobs. The extra-curricular program at Charters is incredible and offers a wide variety of opportunities to students, including orchestras, bands and choirs. Responsibilities for these groups include such obvious tasks as making sure that the music we play is appropriate for the group, to more pastoral and supportive roles such as encouraging students who need a little nudge to attend rehearsals. 

WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR ROLE?

There is a tie for this particular question. While I enjoy my job immensely, I find it is the small successes in everyday lessons that can be the most rewarding. Students who might not be the most musical having the sudden "Aha!" moment and being able to play something on the keyboards or guitars that they weren't previously able to do. 

I also particularly enjoy the end of term concerts, it is very gratifying to see all of the student's hard work and commitment payoff in a single event. Especially the students who may have been nervous and a little scared being able to walk out on the stage and express themselves through music. The summer concert was one of my highlights from this year. We had a incredible array of students solos, subtle and emotional piano performances as well as some rousing vocal performances. The ensembles are always a big hit too, Mr Stephenson led the Senior Vocal Group this year and the acapella rendition of Bill Withers' Lean on Me was incredible.  

WHAT DO YOU FIND THE MOST CHALLENGING?

Putting together a concert is a massive undertaking and the planning stages begin months before the actual evening. There are a wider variety of tasks that need to be completed before the students even begin rehearsals. Repertoire has to be picked that it is enjoyable for an audience but is also enough of a challenge for all the students so that they are learning something. 

On the day of the concert there are so many things that need to be done, from setting up stands, to putting together all of the sound equipment and lighting. This requires planning but also the ability to think on your feet and change if something isn't working. There is a small group of committed group of students who work tirelessly throughout the day to make sure that the equipment for the day is set up quickly so the performers can come in and do their rehearsal swiftly without any worry. These are unsung heroes of performances everywhere. 

WHAT IS THE THING YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF ACHIEVING SINCE JOINING CHARTERS?

When I first arrived at Charters I had been previously teaching for 4 years in a school that only had a few extra-curricular ensembles and limited classroom resources. I was so overwhelmed by the wide variety and quality of music that was being produced here. I am proud that I have managed to maintain the high quality that was here when I arrived particularly through the adversity that has been felt by our community through Covid and cost-of-living crisis. 

OUR NEXT SCHOOL PRODUCTION WILL BE A MUSICAL, AND STUDENTS CAN ACCESS THE AUDITION PACK HERE.