Music

We offer a wide range of opportunities for making music at John Hampden Grammar School and actively encourage students to become involved in the musical life here.

Our peripatetic music teachers visit the school weekly for one to one instrumental or voice lessons for students with the time slot varying each week to ensure students do not miss the same academic lesson repeatedly.

One of our Sixth Form students recently progressed through to the final of the Young Musician of the Year sectional final.

In the course of a normal year we have several opportunities for performing within and outside the school, including Christmas concerts and performances.  A number of bands, a jazz group, an African drumming group, orchestras and choirs make up the rich musical life here.  We put on a large musical production every two years and the students collaborate with performances at other local schools too.  Students took part in a production of 'Grease' in February 2023 and this autumn we will begin rehearsals for 'Shrek the Musical' to be performed in February 2025!

There is an annual music and poetry concert held locally in collaboration with the English department and an annual two day music competition run in March with competitors from throughout the school, including those who take music lessons within school, out of school or are self taught.  It's a wonderful opportunity for students to show off their love of music in whichever way they make it!

For older boys we offer opportunities for audio-visual projects.  Most of the videos of school life on the website are conceived, filmed and mixed by current or past students, including our virtual pieces during the Covid lockdown.  Students can also get involved with sound and lighting at assemblies, talks and performances within the school if they prefer a behind the scenes role.