Through the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme, our music curriculum has been enhanced with a music repertoire of great works of art, hand-selected by Juilliard. We also teach keyboard skills, which helps students learn music theory.
Through our Juilliard-designed music curriculum, every student can enjoy being an engaged listener, composer, interpreter, and communicator.
Keyboard skills
The keyboard acts as an entry point for learning music theory. It's an important tool to learn basic skills like reading music, music notation, and understanding harmony. The best way for students to understand musical concepts is from first-hand experience with the keyboard. From the age of five, they'll use the keyboard to explore the fundamentals of music and notation and learn how to play this instrument.
'Keyboards provide an immediate and satisfying way for students of all ages to develop a deeper musical understanding of all aspects of a musical score - harmony, melody, counterpoint, and rhythm. Keyboard skills open the door to rapid musical progress.'
– Aaron Wunsch, The Juilliard School.
The core works
Our students explore a music repertoire of great works of art, hand-selected by Juilliard. It centres on 12 categories from different genres, cultures, and historical periods. Each category includes a corresponding and iconic core work, such as Ambush from Ten Sides (a traditional Chinese pipa solo) or Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, plus extension works for further exploration. Your child will study these works throughout their time at school, utilising each piece to set the scene for their learning. As a result, they'll deeply engage with the music.
The core works have been carefully chosen based on their iconic quality. They have many teachable moments and give breadth to your child's musical learning, too.
Our interactive activities encourage students to engage with the works and key concepts while also making connections between the pieces and other subjects.
The core works include:
- The Instrument as Soloist: J.S.Bach: Cello Suite No.3 in C Major, BMV 1009
- Music for Small Ensembles: György Ligeti: 6 Bagatelles for Woodwind Quintet
- The World of Orchestra: Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op.67
- The Concerto: Felix Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64
- Improvisatory Music: Thelonious Monk: "Blue Monk"
- Music that Tells a Story: Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
- Folk Origins: Doudou N’diane Rose: Chants du Burgam (Senegal, West Africa)
- Music for Dramatic Productions: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Music from The Magic Flute, K. 620
- Music for Ancient Instruments: Traditional Chinese: Ambush from Ten Sides
- The Song: George Gershwin: They Can’t Take That Away from Me
- Music for Film: John Williams: Score to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
- Juilliard Composer-In-Residence: Specially selected active composer from Juilliard’s network of alumni.Current Composer: Sean Shepherd
