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As one of the largest A level music providers in the area, King Edward’s attracts excellent musicians from across the West Midlands. This concentration of talented performers allows us to run a variety of high quality ensembles, including two choirs, symphony orchestra, string orchestra, wind band, a number of chamber music groups and thriving jazz and soul bands.
With over 70 students taking AS and A2 music (and a separate music technology A level that can be taken alongside music), we have excellent facilities, including enough Sibelius workstations for students to have one each in composition classes, a number of well-equipped practice rooms, and a range of high quality resources that are focused on delivering the oustanding A level results that we achieve annually. Every year a significant number of our students gain places at the top music colleges and university music departments.
Some quotations from our students:
- "I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you both for the excellent way in which you taught A Level music ... my academic lectures at university have made me realise how well I was taught last year ... I know a lot of people who feel the same way."
- "Every lesson we learn more things, in a more fun way, eventually learning everything."
- "The lessons are really well balanced between being teacher directed and independent student work"
- "Friendly atmosphere. Clear vision
. Helpful revision materials
. Extra help with difficult tasks"
- "the music teachers are really helpful
and created a friendly atmosphere. The lessons were fun, but we learnt loads at the same time"
Music Staff
Iain Estell (Head of Languages, Literature and Creative Arts) read music at Newcastle University, followed by a postgraduate course at Birmingham Conservatoire, specialising on the oboe. He has taught music and led departments at secondary schools in Halesowen and Hagley, West Midlands. Outside college he performs in a diverse array of groups on oboe, saxophone and bass guitar.
Dr. Steve Knight (Head of Music Technology) read music and popular music at degree level and as a post graduate completed a PhD in original composition in 2006. While preparing his thesis he worked as a sound engineer at a professional recording studio and contributed electronic based music for independent 'art house' films. Outside of college, he is a free-lance sound engineer specialising in mixing and performs with a rock band.
Dr. Tom Pankhurst (Head of Music) completed his PhD at Manchester University in music theory and analysis, focusing on the music of the Danish composer Carl Nielsen. He has taught at Manchester and Liverpool Universities, the Royal Northern College of Music, Helsinki University and Liverpool Hope University, where he was head of music. The author of an undergraduate text book on Schenkerian analysis (Routledge, 2008), Tom's ongoing interest in web-based learning has resulted in a number of popular websites, including SchenkerGUIDE.com and ChoraleGUIDE.com.
The department employs a number of staff accompanists to support student performance including former head of music Dr Mike Smith, distinguished local pianist and historian Michael Jones, and organist and harpischord specialist Richard Hall. We also have some of the best instrumental teachers in the borough from Dudley Performing Arts, with whom the college has a long and close relationship.
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