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Visiting Music Teacher (Horn)

Visiting Music Teacher (Horn)

Highgate School

Highgate, North London

  • Expired
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Apply by:
2 March 2020

Job overview

Job Type: Casual

Benefits: Define benefit (final salary) pension scheme, free access to our sports facilities (including a swimming pool), complimentary lunch and family friendly policies.

Music at Highgate

Highgate has a long and distinguished musical tradition: former pupils include John Rutter CBE, Sir John Tavener, Howard Shelley OBE, Jan Latham-Koenig and Daniel Hope. The Senior School Music Department has its base in Dyne House at the heart of the School.

The Music Department has three offices/teaching rooms for the full-time staff, twelve teaching/practice rooms, five classrooms (including an IT music suite and a keyboard room), and a recital/rehearsal room, as well as a 300-seater auditorium refitted with the latest technology in acoustic design.  

Individual music lessons are given in all the usual instruments and singing.  Over 55% of the School’s pupils have music lessons, either inside or outside the School and approximately 45% have lessons in school.  About 650 lessons are given per week.  A number of pupils attend the junior departments of London music colleges and participate in the New London Children’s Choir, and National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

By virtue of our London location, there are regular trips to Southwark Cathedral, St John’s Smith Square, Cadogan Hall, YouTube Studios, Rich Mix Shoreditch, the Royal Opera House and West End theatres. The department enjoys an excellent relationship with the Drama and Dance Departments and recent musicals have included West Side Story at RADA, South Pacific, Oliver and Guys and Dolls at the Arts Depot. Our most prestigious large ensemble concerts are themed and have in recent years included: A celebration of music by female composers, Romantics, Rebels and Revolutionaries, French Connections and  Roots and Origins featuring Beethoven’s 1st Symphony, Dvorak’s New World Symphony, Durufle’s Requiem, Kerry Andrews’ Who We Are, John Cage’s 4’33” and Grainger’s Lincolnshire Posy.

The Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced horn teacher to join our thriving department from Summer 2020. The successful candidate will be comfortable teaching pupils from Year 3 to Year 13 on an individual basis, as well as helping to develop and encourage ensemble playing across the school. There is currently approximately half-a-day of teaching available on an employed basis, with scope to build this up. In order to be successful in this role you music have an excellent track record of teaching and of being a team player working within an exceptionally busy music department.

The successful candidate must possess a qualification their instrument to at least degree level or hold a BA or equivalent in academic music. Furthermore, they must have experience in teaching individual lessons, group instrumental lessons (including ensembles), general musicianship and musical games

Main Responsibilities

  • The ability to teach 35-minute or 50-minute music horn lessons up to Grade 8 standard and beyond as requested by the Head of Brass, both from a technical and musical basis
  • Essential experience in teaching individual French horn lessons, a wide knowledge of horn repertoire and an existing practice as a professional French horn player
  • The ability to set up and run a French horn ensemble to nurture and develop ensemble and sectional skills and to assist with mixed group ensemble sessions and to support the Head of Brass when required
  • The ability to inspire students and proactively recruit new pupils through instrumental demonstrations and to set an example of high standards to pupils by demonstrating the French horn in lessons
  • To provide a considered programme of study tailored to each individual pupil that allows for continuity from lesson to lesson
  • To provide 30 music lessons to each pupil each academic year
  • To ensure that each pupil is aware if his or her practice requirements for the next lesson and is following those requirements
  • To prepare pupils to perform in concerts and in other public events
  • To prepare pupils for public exams as appropriate
  • To write reports to parents or carers twice a year on each pupil’s progress
  • The ability to explore all elements of music, including note-reading, in an active and stimulating fashion
  • The ability to work with a mixed brass ensemble to teach the foundations of brass playing in an imaginative and enjoyable way
  • A willingness to play alongside students to encourage side-by-side learning and development
  • An understanding of the place of music in a school such as Highgate and support it in his/her teaching
  • Setting the highest professional standards of dress, punctuality and politeness and be prepared to demand the same of his/her pupils
  • Demonstrating a high level of organisation particularly relating to communication with parents and other teaching and administrative members of the Music Department
  • Must have an ability to relate well to both pupils and other teaching and administrative members of the Music Department and the School


Closing Date: Mon, Mar 2, 2020

Attached documents

About Highgate School

Established in 1565, Highgate is now one of the UK’s leading co-educational independent schools, with around 1,700 pupils aged 3-18.

Academic excellence

Academic standards at Highgate remain high, as our most recent exam results demonstrate. In 2023 over 50% of all our GCSE entries were graded 9, and 78.9% were 9 or 8. Within our Sixth Form, in 2023, 46.5% of all our exam entries were awarded an A* at A level (or Pre-U equivalent) and 82.8% were A* or A. In 2023, 30 pupils matriculated at either Cambridge or Oxford colleges, whilst others took up places at prestigious Art, Architecture and Medical schools. Every year, the vast majority of our leavers enter Russell Group universities or other elite Higher Education establishments, including in the US and Canada.

Beyond the classroom

Alongside their studies, Highgate pupils are offered a wide range of co-curricular activities which enhance both their childhood experience and their future aspirations. We are also exceptionally fortunate when it comes to sport with extensive facilities, excellent staff and a wide range of activities available.

At Highgate, we encourage social responsibility through our charity work, both locally and further afield. For example, we are the principal education sponsor for the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham and support Great Lakes High School in Uganda.

Location

Our School is situated in one of the most attractive and popular areas of North London, a short distance from central London and adjacent to Hampstead Heath. We endeavour to be a sustainable school and are well served by good public transport links.

Management

Our Head, Mr Adam Pettitt, leads our Senior School and is also responsible for the overall direction of our Pre-Preparatory and Junior Schools.

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Applications closed