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A team of 20-30 Music Scholars and award holders strengthens and supports the work of this most diverse of music schools.
Opportunities for Lancing musicians to develop and flourish are second to none, and are as many and varied as one would find at any non-specialist music school. The 250-300 instrumental, singing, composition and theory lessons that take place each week, with visiting and resident tutors, provide the bed-rock of our work with many of the talented young musicians – that, and the ever so slightly eccentric and relaxed environment that is Lancing College Music School.
About the Curriculum
A Level students study in preparation for the OCR examinations, with mandatory units in performance, composition and aural and historical studies, including set works.
Candidates have the choice of whether to specialise in performance or composition for the terminal assessment.
Historical studies and set works comprise areas of studies on The Instrumental Music of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven; Popular Song; Developments in Instrumental Jazz; and Programme Music.
Learning approach
All successful musicians are excellent independent learners and have advanced organisation skills. Pupils are encouraged to be pro-active learners.
Teaching focuses on developing the inquiring mind as much as on the delivery of knowledge and development of skills.
Enrichment
A full range of instrumental and singing lessons is taught by a team of specialist visiting music teachers. Lancing College is a centre for ABRSM and Trinity-Guildhall examinations.
A busy programme of co-curricular activities supports the work of the individual student. These include three orchestras, two choirs, A Cappella Club, Big Band, Symphonic Windband, rock music workshops, conducting classes, improvisation workshops, composition lessons, and a full programme of chamber music coaching. The Music School presents between 30 and 40 concerts each year, in and out of College, presenting pupil-musicians with many opportunities to perform as soloists and in ensembles.
A range of masterclasses is available to Lancing musicians. Recent visitors have included The Atalanta Piano Quartet, clarinettist Joseph Shiner, drum and brass 10-piece Old Dirty Brasstards, pianist Ronan O’Hora and horn player Sam Pearce.
An occasional social classical music society provides a warm and friendly environment for further listening, with sessions led by pupils and staff, while sitting around in garden chairs with drinks and nibbles. Visits to concerts, operas and services are organised each year.
The Chapel Choir and Choral Scholars sing Evensong at major cathedrals across the country.
LISTEN TO LIVE RECORDINGS OF LANCING COLLEGE CHOIR
Careers
Statistically, students of music in Higher Education are more likely to proceed directly to professional employment than those studying many academic subjects. We recognise that in a leading independent school, our best musicians are very likely to pursue music through adulthood as an enriching pastime. Our young musicians are extremely well prepared for both musical journeys.
Recent alumni have gone on to study at Oxford and Cambridge universities, as organ and choral scholars, and at other leading universities. The renowned Manchester “Joint Course” was the place of choice for two of the College’s finest composers, one of whom won the 16-18 category of the 2016 BBC Inspire Young Composers Award. Others have gone on to study at leading conservatoires.