Malvern College has appointed a new Director of Music who plans to “unlock the potential” of pupils who don’t have formal lessons.
James Ramm took up his post at the start of the Spring Term and has already introduced ‘live lounge’ sessions at The Grub, the school’s cafe and meeting place.
First to take on the live lounge will be two girls who taught themselves to play guitar by watching videos on YouTube.
“There are some incredible musicians here that don’t have lessons, and part of my role is to look at how we build up the number of instrumentalists at the school and unlock the potential of those pupils.”
James, who plays trumpet and piano, as well as singing, studied music at the University of York before qualifying as a teacher and teaching in Kent and Croydon before moving to Bloxham School in Oxfordshire as Assistant Director of Music.
“Music is one of the biggest industries in the UK, it employs a lot of people,” says James.
“But as well as that, it is something that connects people. It doesn’t matter your background, your nationality, where you come from, everyone is connected. Music is a great chance to build relationships and have fun.
“I am already meeting with pupils to find out what they want, so that it’s not just the teaching staff thinking we know what they want.
“One of the things I want to do is find a space where music can happen more often. That was the idea behind the live lounge sessions at The Grub, and I wanted to start with pupils who have never performed before so they could do so in a more relaxed setting to build up their confidence. I’d also like to put a piano or keyboard in there so people can just turn up and play.”
Another initiative James is driving is a music outreach programme for local prep schools.
“In the longer term, I’d like to create an orchestra of local prep schools so they can play together. I think you lose people playing if they’re isolated in their rooms.
“I also want to increase participation in orchestra and introduce film music, and develop greater collaboration with drama and theatre.”
In James’s first month at Malvern College, pupils have formed a resident House band, he has set up an all-girl jazz band and formed a saxophone quartet. Before the half term break, James and his colleagues will judge the first-round heats of Malvern’s Young Musician of the Year. This is another new initiative with the winner being crowned at an event on 13th March.
There are three categories for pupils to enter: musicians grades 0-3; grades 4-6, and grades 7+. Young Musician of the Year is an opportunity to showcase the wide variety of musical talents across the school community.