Performing Arts
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Support Staff |
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Performing Arts is at the heart of the Bishop Challoner Community. Our aim is to encourage a love of the performing arts as well as provide a wealth of opportunities to every student in the school, whatever their particular interest. Whether a pupil attends an extra-curricular activity once a week for fun, or a student wishes to eventually become a professional - our goal is to nurture and promote an imaginative performance, under the supervision of dedicated, caring and highly qualified staff.
Our range of extra-curricular activities and the Arts teachers' commitment to excellent Arts provision ensure that Creative Arts is a high profile department which has recently been recognised both regionally and nationally. Firstly, we have been awarded the Artsmark Gold by the Arts Council England for outstanding Arts provision and education. We have also been awarded the prestigious Knights of Saint Columba Trophy 5 years in a row for the best school production in Birmingham.
Challoner is very much in touch with theatre in the outside world and students benefit from working with visiting professional companies and guest tutors from film, stage and television. It prepares students for auditions and has established links with the major drama schools and leading theatrical agents and companies.
Performing Arts subjects enhance academic achievement in every area of the curriculum. The students' involvement in the Arts, both in the classroom and through the wealth of extra-curricular activities, helps boost confidence, self-esteem, motivation and individuality.
The Performing Arts Department is the perfect place for students to develop their potential both professionally and personally. This is a community of young people who know what they want to achieve and who are working with confidence and enthusiasm towards it.
The Music Curriculum
Music is one of the foundation subjects in the National Curriculum and is studied by all students in Years 7, 8 and 9 for one hour per week.
The course covers Performing and Composing and Listening and Appraising. They are taught through mainly practical lessons which are relevant and enjoyable to pupils, developing an understanding of music from different periods, styles, cultures and traditions from around the world.
The Drama Curriculum
Drama at Bishop Challoner complements the work of other departments in the delivery of the National Curriculum. The whole process is based on interaction and understanding, and encompasses three main features:
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As a means to self learning
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As a means to self expression
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As a performance to others
All pupils in Years 7 to 9 take Drama and follow a wide-ranging progressive course dealing with many issues.
The Performing Arts Curriculum
Unlike many school in the UK, all pupils in Years 7 to 9 take part in Performing Arts lessons for an hour every two weeks.
Performing Arts lessons are Musical Theatre and Dance based workshops, concentrating on singing, dancing and acting and the integration of these three art forms.
Performing Arts classes are aimed at encouraging creativity and confidence and developing students natural skills. They also aim to expose students to live performances and engage them in the world of Performing Arts and the many opportunities it offers.
The Music Curriculum
GCSE Music follows the Edexcel syllabus and attracts a large number of students each year. The course works to further develop students performing, composing and listening skills, as well as enhancing students understanding of the academic aspects of music. Students will be formally assessed in the following ways:
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COMPOSING - Students have to compose two pieces of original music lasting no more than 3 minutes.
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PERFORMING - Students have to perform two pieces of music on a chosen instrument (one solo and one ensemble).
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LISTENING AND APPRAISING - This is 1 ½ hour written examination paper which tests students on set works learnt throughout the course.
Music GCSE has achieved 100% pass rate at grades A* - C for the last five years.
The Drama Curriculum
GCSE Drama follows the Edexcel syllabus and is a popular choice at Key Stage 4. Throughout the course students develop their improvisation and acting skills to a higher level. They will also look at plays in more detail and at different ways of bringing a script to life on stage. If they are more interested in the technical aspects of drama (for example set design or lighting) they can focus on these for part of the course. Drama GCSE has achieved 100% pass rate at grades A* - C for the last two years.
The Performing Arts Curriculum
Performing Arts at Key Stage 4 is taught through the Creative and Media Diploma (see this section for further information).
The Music Curriculum
Music will be offered as an option at A-level from September 2010 onwards. It will follow the Edexcel syllabus and, like GCSE, focuses on the three main elements of Performing, Composing and Listening and Appraising. Students must be at least GRADE 5 standard on an instrument to undertake this course. It is also helpful for them to have studied Music theory to grade 5 standard as this is an extremely academic course that requires a sound knowledge and understanding of music theory.
The Drama Curriculum
Drama and Theatre Studies is an option at A-level and follows the Edexcel syllabus. The course aims to bridge the gap between Key Stage 4 and 5 by providing students with the opportunity to study plays from the point of view of a director, designer, performer and critic. The qualification is designed to enable students to acquire a knowledge and understanding of the language of drama and theatre as well as to develop their performing and analytical skills.
The Performing Arts Curriculum
Performing Arts is an extremely popular option at A-level and follows the Edexcel syllabus. The course aims to develop students skills in the three art forms of singing, dancing and acting. It also allows them to choose and develop pone particular skill with professional coaching and tuition. Throughout the course students will have the opportunity to study jobs within the performing arts industry, create and plan a performing arts event and undertake substantial performance work which seeks to integrate the art forms.
The Performing Arts Department offers numerous Extra-Curricular activities, which are open to all students. These classes will help to develop creativity through fun based workshops as well as providing the students with a wider knowledge of the subject.
The classes have an excellent reputation for high quality teachers and inspirational content. The classes are taught by the Performing Arts Team and by outside professional practitioners. All staff are highly qualified and hold a CRB police check.
Groups are small, so each child can benefit from some individual tuition. Our classes offer the opportunity to learn specialised techniques, develop skills and work on ambitious projects.
We also have lots of fun, make new friends and generally have a wonderful time.
MONDAY
WE SING show choir - 3.30 - 5.00 pm
Electric Guitar lessons - 3.15 - 5.45 pm
Violin lessons (during the school day)
TUESDAY
BC Sinfonia - 3.30 - 4.30 pm
Electric Guitar lessons - 3.15 - 5.45 pm
Recorder lessons (during the school day)
WEDNESDAY
Drama Club - 3.30 - 4.30 pm
Drum Kit lessons - After school
Woodwind lessons (during the school day)
Brass lessons (during the school day)
THURSDAY
Dance Club - 3.30 - 4.30 pm
String Quartet - 1.20 - 1.50 pm
Cello lessons (during the school day)
FRIDAY
Show rehearsals - 3.00 - 6.00 pm
Bassoon lessons (during the school day)
Electric Guitar lessons - 3.15 - 5.45 pm
Violin lessons (during the school day)
TUESDAY
BC Sinfonia - 3.30 - 4.30 pm
Electric Guitar lessons - 3.15 - 5.45 pm
Recorder lessons (during the school day)
WEDNESDAYDrama Club - 3.30 - 4.30 pm
Drum Kit lessons - After school
Woodwind lessons (during the school day)
Brass lessons (during the school day)
THURSDAY
Dance Club - 3.30 - 4.30 pm
String Quartet - 1.20 - 1.50 pm
Cello lessons (during the school day)
FRIDAYShow rehearsals - 3.00 - 6.00 pm
Bassoon lessons (during the school day)
Instrument Lessons
We offer individual tuition on flute, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, recorder, violin, viola, cello, double bass, trumpet, cornet, trombone and tuba. These are priced at £50 per term (this includes instrumental hire if required).
We also offer contemporary instrumental lessons on electric and acoustic guitar drum kit (these are priced at £5.75 per lesson - this is based on a half hour lesson with 2 students in a group) 1/2hr individual lesson at £11.00. We have a number of ensemble groups as well such as the Recorder Ensemble, String Quartet and BC Sinfonia.