Music Academy
Junior Music Academy (Year 2-6) frequently asked questions document - click here to view
Music Academy (Year 7-13) frequently asked questions document - click here to view
Term and Events Dates 2012-2013
Practical and Theoretical Music Exams Information
The Preston Manor Music Academy is a Saturday morning community music school based at Preston Manor School; it caters for children aged between 6 and 18 and is currently attended by 160 students.
The Music Academy not only offers its pupils the chance to learn an instrument but also the opportunity to play in an orchestra or other ensembles, sing in a choir and learn the theory of music. The study of music theory enables children to gain a greater appreciation of the pieces they may be learning in their instrumental lessons and a more thorough understanding of classroom based music activities through all the Key Stages. The Music Academy has had a number of recent successes in both practical (including Grade 8) and theoretical music examinations with candidates achieving marks ranging from 77% to 100%.
Pupils attending the Music Academy may choose to learn the piano, keyboard, trumpet, trombone, French horn, dhol, harmonium, tabla, drum kit, classical or electric guitar, saxophone, clarinet, flute, violin and voice. These are all taught in small groups of between 3 and 4 students.
Staff and Roles
|
Name |
Role |
Name |
Role |
|
Mr K. Crawley |
Director of Music General Musicianship, Music Theory, Orchestra |
Mr T. Murphy |
Keyboard, Piano |
|
Mr K. Papasavva |
Community Coordinator, Keyboard, Piano, General Musicianship, Music Theory |
Mr L. Coffin |
Saxophone Clarinet Flute |
|
Mr C. Williams |
Saxophone, Keyboard, Piano, Music Theory, i/c ‘The New Ensemble’ |
Mr R. Thurstans |
Classical & Electric Guitar |
|
Mr M. Papasavva |
Drum Kit, Music Theory, i/c ‘The Opposites’ |
Miss V. Marshall |
Violin |
|
Miss G. Mo |
Keyboard, Piano |
Miss B. Lynch |
Voice, Junior & Senior Choirs |
|
Miss B. Coveney |
Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Keyboard, Music Theory |
Mr M. Majeed |
Year 7 – 13 Supervisor, Assistant to the Director of Music |
|
Mr J. Sehra |
Tabla, Harmonium, Dhol, i/c Dhol Ensemble |
Mr M. Haines |
Year 2 – 6 (Junior Music Academy) Supervisor |
The Academy orchestra, the music school's flagship ensemble, plays regularly in high profile school events and has collaborated in compositions and performances with Brighton University, The University of London and BBC Music Live.
In 2000 the Preston Manor Junior Music Academy was formed for pupils attending local primary schools. Like its older counterpart, the Junior Music Academy offers the chance for 6 – 11 year olds to sing in a choir, play in a group, learn an instrument and study music theory. We currently have 30 juniors on roll who attend a range of local primary schools including Preston Manor’s own Lower School.
Every year the Music Academy puts on a Spring and Summer concert in which pupils play a wide range of instruments both solo and in groups. The junior musicians contribute with choir and small ensemble performances.
The Music Academy is staffed by a team of 12 professional musicians that are not only teachers but are also working in the music industry. The team is led by Keir C. Crawley who has composed for the BBC, Channel Four, orchestrated and arranged for both Sony International and EMI and has lectured at post graduate level on arranging and composing music for young performers. The team also includes musicians who run their own recording studios, music production companies, sing and play in professional choruses, orchestras and chamber ensembles.