The Music Department
The music department at Fyling Hall is a thriving, popular department where pupils are encouraged to take part in all music events, appreciate listening to music, and compose their own pieces reflecting their interests and lifestyle.
A number of students who study music at Fyling Hall go on to study music at a higher level, and have even formed their own bands and perform in a number of venues locally. Across the school, pupils play a vast array of instruments and are able to share their work at the many concerts Fyling Hall hosts each year.
Our young musicians are respected across the school and act as ambassadors for the school at local and public events. The pupils of Fyling Hall have gone on to do fantastic things in the creative world and we are so proud of each and every one of them.
Some recent highlights include:
Stephanie Sinko – Music Production at ACM Guilford, Lola Wilson – Music at ACM Guilford and Emie Burnett – Musical Theatre at Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts.
Stephanie recently recorded, mixed and mastered this EP by Sofie Amelie available on Spotify.
(Current Year 10 Pupil)
Music Department Facilities
Our music department is housed in our purpose built music block, which includes practice rooms, a recording studio and a massive variety of musical instruments. We have our own live performance space in the Barn, which includes a stage, a hundred seat theatre and a professional PA system.
Cubase software is set-up in the computer rooms for composing, recording, editing and mastering. There is also an outdoor theatre and performance space in the Rose Garden for summer concerts.
To learn more about music facilities please contact Mrs Swain.
School Concerts
At Fyling Hall, we are renowned for our popular and musically eclectic concerts. Our talented pupils play alongside professional musicians such as Eliza Carthy and Indie band, Maia, and concerts always draw a crowd.
We perform both in our school theatre and in the community, such as in the Whitby Pavilion, churches, retirement homes and in the local villages. We are working with the local festival Musicport, to put on workshops in working in the performing arts industry, being a performing artist and looking into the production side of things.
(Current Year 12 pupil)
Choir
Fyling Hall Muisc School choir has developed significantly in recent years and is an integral part of the school, open to anybody from years 6-13. The choir performs at every major school event and concert. We have performed on the BBC’s documentary ‘Songs of Praise’, and we have won several awards at local arts competitions.
The choir performs a wide range of music– from classical pieces to songs from the shows, English folk music and Gospel to modern pop. The choir performs alongside other school musicians in the community, and have performed at local world music festival Music Port alongside professional bands.
(current Year 10 and choir pupil)
The Rose Garden Music Festival
Every summer Fyling Hall hosts the Rose Garden Festival for the school and the entire local community. This fantastic afternoon of music sees bands from around the area performing in the beautiful Rose Garden outdoor performance space with the countryside and coast as a backdrop. The ticketed, charity event includes food and drinks, face-painting, music and activities. The festival raises funds for a designated charity each year, with professional performers and local businesses offering their support.
“Choir is one of the best aspects of Fyling Hall School. Performing alongside students and teachers alike really gives a sense of community, and it’s great to see the effect that music can have on people in the audience.”
(Current Year 11 Pupil)
Clubs and Music Groups
Choir is far from the only music club available at Fyling Hall. Students often form their own groups, many of which enjoy considerable success locally. We also run an orchestral group, led by the wonderful Bob Butterfield, and many of our pupils perform in Whitby’s ‘Saturday morning’ orchestra. The junior school has their own choir who frequently take part in concerts both alone and with the senior school choir. Individual and group music theory lessons are also available by request.
Peripatetic Lessons
Whilst all students have music lessons in the Junior School, between Y7 and Y9, and are able to continue their studies to A-level, peripatetic lessons are available to all students who wish to hone their skills on any particular instrument.
Fyling Hall has a number of peripatetic staff who teach 1:1 piano, vocals, violin, drums, guitar, woodwind and brass instruments. The students of the peripatetic staff also perform at school concerts and events, and have a wide range of rooms in which to practise, as well as access to instruments. If you are interested in music lessons, please contact Mrs Swain.
Students can opt to take graded music examinations in boards such as Rockschool, ABRSM, LCM etc on arrangement with the music teacher.
Eskdale Festival
Every year Fyling Hall School takes part in the Eskdale Festival in both the Music and Drama Department, from the first year of the Junior School all the way up to the Sixth Form pupils. Established in 1903, The Eskdale Festival of the Arts is a performance festival held in Whitby every March to help inspire and create opportunities for young people in music, drama, dance, art and speech.
Every year Fyling Hall’s talented performers win awards and certificates with many bringing back a first place and an invitation to perform in the gala concert!
Music Within The School Curriculum
Music is taught within the school day throughout Fyling Hall, from age 4 up. Fyling Hall School offers two options for studying music at GCSE Level. The traditional GCSE Music Course (AQA), and the Level 2 Extended Certificate in the Creative Music Industry. For both courses, singing or playing an instrument is required.
The Extended Certificate in the Creative Music Industry is offered by the exam board RockSchool, and allows a student to tailor the course to their strengths. It is a mainly coursework focused qualification. This course is fully accredited by the Department of Education and is more in line with the current music industry, to prepare pupils for working life as a musician.
In year 12 and 13 students can continue with the exciting, vocational qualification ‘Music Practitioner’ which carries equal UCAS points to an A-Level and prepares students for a career in the music industry or University study.
Music Trips
The music department runs regular local or national music trips including, but not limited to:
Trips to see the Scarborough Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra. A bi-annual Arts trip to a city in the UK (previous ones include London and Liverpool) to experience workshops, local workshops linked to Musicport Festival and Broadway and Sons, university experience trips to Leeds College of Music and The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Carol singing in the local residential homes and churches in Whitby.
“I really like being a part of the music department because it is a real family feeling. I love being able to create music that I love and having the help I am given from my teachers. Everyone helps each other to grow our music understanding and ability. I have really loved being part of the music department for my GCSEs and I hope many more pick music and it is wonderful and taught by an amazing teacher! It’s certainly being an amazing two years of music making and learning.”