An Article That I Went and Wrote For School

“Music performance BTEC, What’s that?” I hear you ask. This is a brand new course that was just introduced to Highcliffe 6^th form last year. Basically, students explore a variety of different music genres whether it be fifties rock n roll or modern day pop music, it’s all covered. All of the students with in the group then gather to create a band where all of this new knowledge is applied to create music.  If you are looking to have a career in the music industry as a performer then this course is perfect for you. 

The best thing about this course is that the Highcliffe school music department has given us several fantastic opportunities to perform in actual gigs. For example, we got to play at the Year 11’s prom last summer. For me personally, that was my favourite gig out of all the ones we've done because the setting was so glamorous  and the audience was huge, it really made me feel like a proper rock star at Wembley stadium! We suited up, got our soundcheck done and then played our hearts out to all of the students and teachers. After the gig, I had several people come up to me and say “Wow, great performance. Well done”. This was the most incredible feeling. It was as if a rush of ecstatic hormones had gone straight to my head.

Another opportunity we were given was the chance to open for MTV’s New Artist Winner Ebony Day (an ex Highcliffe student) in the school hall. This award has been won by many high profile artists so to be associated with her really is a once in a lifetime thing. It also makes for a great story to tell people as no else has had the same experience we’ve had.

Other experiences we've had include playing at the Summer Concert last summer and being session musicians for the BTEC acting and BTEC dance students. In the summer concert we covered three songs: I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys, Use Somebody by Kings of Leon and Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry. This is another positive thing about the Music Performance BTEC course: you get to play a variety of songs new and old. Then for the session musician day we slicked back our hair and put on our leather jackets (we didn't actually do this) because we were playing music from Grease. We learnt the songs instantly from sheet music and then the other students would sing and dance to our playing. Our instructor (who had performed in the West End) was wonderfully enthusiastic and this really spurred us on to play better.

I can safely say with the utmost sincerity that I have thoroughly enjoyed this course. Please, if you love performing music then take this course. If you don’t then you’ll majorly regret it and your life at 6^th form just won’t be the same.