Music, Maestro, please…
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A new era of music at Claremont High School hits all the right notes
‘What I most enjoy about music is how creative a subject it is,’ says Ali Alhemyari in Year 10. ‘The possibilities of what you can do are limited only by your imagination. Music is completely different to other subjects and I keenly believe it can be enjoyed by everyone.’
This is a sentiment shared by Claremont’s new Head of Music, Mr Williams, and it’s the driving force behind his exciting plans for the future of music at the school: ‘We aim to be a national example of excellent pedagogy and a crucial facilitator of a musical community at a local level. As a step towards this, this year we are embarking on several ambitious new initiatives, including ”Music for The Many”, in which all students at Key Stage 3 can say they have had the opportunity to study an instrument outside of lessons, be that through orchestra, samba drumming, guitar group, or any other of our numerous ensembles.’
Ali, who plays both the clarinet and the keyboard, is one of the 10% of students admitted to Claremont each year through the Music Aptitude Test (MAT), which candidates take while still in Year 5 at primary school. Mr Williams explains that the recently revised MAT is a way of ensuring fairness and parity: ‘As far back as you can trace the history of music education, there has been a degree of elitism and exclusivity. Not everyone has been able to afford - or even be allowed - to study it. We are proud of the excellent music provision here at Claremont and a Music Aptitude Test is just another way of giving potential students the opportunity, regardless of their background, to study with us. The test assesses a child's natural ability to pick out changes in the musical elements – for example, shifts in tempo, whether pitch is higher or lower, etc. Compared to, say, a musical audition, this removes socio-economic bias as it does not require formal prior tuition. It also ensures cultural neutrality as it minimises the advantage of prior exposure to Western notation.’
Ali’s certainly enjoyed his musical experiences at Claremont to date: ‘Throughout Year 7 I enjoyed playing the clarinet alongside many other talented musicians in bands and after-school clubs. We performed at annual concerts, which took place in school, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable time.’
Under Mr Williams’ leadership, the Music Department is now increasing its offer. Those students who gain a place at Claremont through the Music Aptitude Test can expect an exciting programme of work ahead: ‘Successful candidates are entered into a specialist provision, this year updated and launched as our “Maestros’ Programme”. On this course, students have the opportunity to work towards certification for their theory grades across Key Stage 3 and are targeted with an exciting diet of workshops, trips and co-curricular opportunities, such as Indonesian Gamelan, pit orchestra work and music production. This stretches their knowledge and skills way beyond that of the national curriculum.’
It's not just students who pass the MAT that will benefit from this new approach - pupils across the year groups, young and old, will reap the rewards. ‘With an incredible new team and excellent new facilities, including our re-vamped music technology suite,’ says Mr Williams, ‘we are offering more musical courses for students to study at Key Stage 5 that link closely with post-school work experience in the music and music technology industries.
‘Claremont believes in developing the whole child and music is pivotal in this. Through a carefully structured, knowledge-rich curriculum, high expectations and expert teaching, students are able to musically express themselves in a sophisticated way through both performance of great works and composing their own ideas. Students' positive well-being thrives and their sense of achievement is evident, making the school a happy and creative place to study.’
It certainly seems to be working for Ali, whose musical aspirations continue to grow: ‘My ambitions for the future are simply to keep practising and improving my ability, and to branch out to different genres and instruments so I can enjoy music as much as possible. I want to go back to playing in an orchestra, to entertain audiences who enjoy music as much as I do.’
‘As a member of staff new to the school and a Head of Department passionate about my subject,’ adds Mr Williams, ‘I feel particularly lucky to work alongside such an excellent team and a headteacher who champions the creative arts so strongly, supporting us in our advocacy for music to become the beating heart of wider-school life here at Claremont.’
And, as Ali says, it remains open to all: ‘Whether you enjoy performing, composing, or simply listening to music and analysing how it is created, music is a subject and hobby for everyone.’
For more information about applying for the Music Aptitude Test at Claremont, please visit the school website: