Towards a university-standard digital experience
Software
In the Easter holidays the school invested in the latest iMacs installed with Logic Pro X. These are now used extensively in the KS3 curriculum and offer new choices to those taking Music in Year 10 and beyond in their composition lessons. It grants students the possibility of accessing the SSC( Sevenoaks School Certificate) curriculum even if they don’ t read music or play an instrument to a high level, but are nevertheless highly creative at using music production software such as GarageBand, Fruity Loops, and Logic.
Performance
Next year it will be possible for students to perform their musical creations from Logic live. Whereas previously they were only able to press play on their phones to show their peers their work, starting from September 2017, students will be able to recreate their music live via the use of the various products the department has invested in. This will give our budding music tech students the invaluable opportunity to perform live and help to expand the concert provision at Sevenoaks to include more contemporary music.
DJ ing
Added to the Music calendar this year was a Club Night for the Sixth Form, which gave a number of students interested in DJing the opportunity to perform live for the first time at Sevenoaks. The evening also raised money for worthwhile causes in Sri Lanka.
With the ongoing investment in music technology, Sevenoaks will be able to offer students experiences in the world of digital music that rival those of universities. One-to-one music tech lessons are available to students as well as regular times throughout the week where they can compose and create music under supervision in P38, the Music Mac room.
Simon Palmer
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2016-2017 61