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The Music Department embraces all styles of musical performance and runs the following regular groups, in addition to which numerous smaller 'ad hoc' groups are formed from time to time, and boys get many solo performance opportunities, not least in the weekday assemblies which include music.
The Chapel Choir performs at Sunday services and in concerts both inside and outside the School. It has toured regularly both at home and abroad.
The Choral Society consists of over 120 pupils. It rehearses each week and varies its repertoire between established major choral works and more popular music.
The School has a Chapel Choir and a Choral Society.
The Close Harmony Group, consisting of approximately 15 pupils, performs light-hearted music, and rehearses weekly. It gives regular performances throughout the year. In 2008 it undertook a joint tour to Canada with the Pipe Band.
The Orchestra performs in the termly school concerts and rehearses each Thursday evening. It is sometimes divided up to form smaller chamber groups such as a string orchestra, and chamber groups such as string quartets are formed periodically.
The Jazz Band meets on Monday evenings gives regular performances. The Junior Ensemble is a training group for younger boys not yet of a standard to play in the other school groups. It rehearses each week, and performs in the termly Pringle House concerts.
There are both Senior and Junior Pipe Bands. Both perform at concerts and on important occasions within the School, and the former takes part in external competitions and schools' piping events. In recent years the Band has made an Annual Trip abroad, and was also invited to perform in Russia. In 2008 it undertook a joint tour to Canada with the Close Harmony Group.
Instrumental tuition is available on a wide range of instruments. Instrumental lessons generally take place within the academic teaching day, but are rotated each week to ensure that no particular class lesson is missed frequently. For VI Formers, every effort is made to timetable instrumental lessons during private study periods or free time, and for younger pupils, every effort is made to avoid clashes with 'problem' subjects. Ample opportunity is given for pupils to give solo performances in the School's instrumental concerts.
Boys are able to learn a wide range of instruments.
