The Music Department aims to offer every student the opportunity to explore their musical creativity through a range of practical activities, including performing, composing, listening and appraising. Studying a wide range of musical styles, we introduce students to new genres as well as enabling them to understand music they already enjoy in more depth developing their aural, theory, and practical skills.

Students learn to use a variety of musical instruments during lessons including keyboard, singing, ukulele, and percussion. In addition, students are encouraged to play their own instruments as part of their classroom music learning. We encourage creativity in music and identify musical ability regardless of previous experience. All year 7 have access to a 10 week program of lessons on an instrument of their choice. Disadvantaged students experience a different program which are instrument lessons for the duration of their access to pupil premium funding.

Students who have competence in an instrument are celebrated in ensemble lessons creating a band(s) developing ensemble skills adding extra challenge for instrumentalists appropriate to the skills in the class. Year 7 students will learn to perform a blues piece, year 8 reggae.

At Finham Park School, we encounter students who have virtually no musical experience as well as those who have achieved performance grades with exam boards. Our lessons and activities are designed to challenge students who have taken graded exams whilst also being accessible for beginners.