XP. Independent Music Service

7th June 2023Marc Robins

Instrumental & Vocal Music Lessons

We are proud to be launching our independent music provision (XP.IMS) from September. It is a very exciting time and we are lucky to have secured some inspirational, professional musicians to teach our students.

As a result of these developments their have been some changes to the costings with individual lessons going up in cost but group lessons becoming cheaper.

If a student would like to receive an instrumental or vocal lesson please can they collect a copy of the letter attached below and return the completed reply slip to either the XP Office or to Mr Robins directly.

2023_24-Music-Lesson-LetterDownload

To start lessons in September students need to return their reply slip by the end of this half term. Any questions please contact the XP Office on 01302 898792 or email Mr Robins ([email protected]).

C29 Experts Returning…

10th November 2022Marc Robins

We are incredibly lucky to have the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band returning to XP on Thursday 17th November.

All of Year 7 from both XP & XP East are invited to attend on the XP Stairs from 7:30 – 8:30pm to watch the band rehearse. Parents / guardians of students are encouraged to attend with them and also watch the hour rehearsal.

It will be another great opportunity for our students to see these world class musicians as they prepare for their annual performance at the Sage concert hall in Gateshead.

Students will need to go home with a known and responsible adult at the end of the evening. Please ensure suitable transport has been organised.

Any questions please email Mr Robins ([email protected]).

C29 Experts – CMFCB @ XP

6th October 2022Marc Robins

Earlier in this expedition C29 were treated to some world class experts visiting school in the form of the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band.

The students were able to watch the band rehearse and see the microscopic detail that was drawn out by the Musical Director Allan Withington. It was an amazing opportunity for the students to hear a brass band in such top form as they prepared for the British Open Brass Band Championships.

Below is a recording from one of the rehearsals the week before the contest.

The band went on to give an outstanding performance at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall from a number 1 draw. Playing number 1 also meant they made history at this brass band contest by being the first band to play ‘God Save The King’.

Following the contest day and all the excitement of the performances and of course the results, students debriefed the contest in our following lessons together. We listened to some of the recordings from the day and analysed the final placings. We continue to reference our visiting experts in most lessons as part of our expedition ‘From The Ground Up’.

We would like to thank all involved in the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band for their support of our expedition and for giving our students such a high quality experience. We look forward to welcoming the band back in the future.

X29 – Experts Visiting on Thursday

6th September 2022Marc Robins

We are very lucky to have the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Brass Band visiting school this week to support our Y7 expedition.

Y7 Admiral and Skipper are invited to come back into school (on the XP Stairs) on Thursday 8th September from 7:30 – 8:30pm.

Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band (currently ranked 9th in the world!) have agreed to be involved with us again this year and support our students, which is amazing.

Y7 Students and their parents / guardians are invited to come in and watch an hour of the band’s rehearsal so we can use this experience during our work in Music in the coming weeks. This will be a great opportunity to see world class musicians at their best.

Any questions please email Mr Robins at [email protected]

Carlton Main Frickley Band rehearsing in our school on Monday evening in preparation for Thursday.
CMFCB in full flow in a previous performance.

Common Mission Music Fieldwork

By Marc Robins25th April 2022

Year 10 and Year 11 Common Mission Music students will be going to CAST Theatre on Wednesday 27th April to watch ‘Footloose’ the musical as part of their Arts Award qualification.

We will be walking from school at 1:30pm to watch the afternoon performance which will finish at 4:45pm approx.

Suitable clothing for waking to CAST Theatre will be needed depending on the weather (a coat if it looks like rain etc.) and students attending will be required to organise transport home from the theatre after the show. This will be communicated with parents and carers before Wednesday.

Any further question please feel free to email Mr Robins at [email protected]

4th for CMFCB in Gateshead

23rd November 2021Marc Robins

Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band at the Sage, Gateshead on Saturday

Our brass band visitors from last week (Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band) achieved a fantastic 4th place (out of 10) at the weekend. The comments about their performance on the brass band website ‘4barsrest’ were outstanding and the concluding comment read as below…

Wow. So much to commend in this whole performance from Carlton Main — the presentation, choreography (among the band, and the wonderful modern dance) and the playing was top drawer. Such a clever interpretation of an imposing theme, executed so well.


You can read the full remarks on the website 4barsrest

It was lovely to share in this experience with them and for our students to see the work that goes into such a performance.

Carlton Main Frickley in full flow!

We look forward to building a strong partnership between XP and the band in the future and wish them well for the festive season.

X28 Experts – Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band

By Marc Robins9th November 2021

We are very lucky to have secured the world class Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band to visit XP as experts for Year 7 (X28) as part of their expedition ‘From The Ground Up’.

We have been studying brass bands as part of this expedition and couldn’t have found a better example for the students to hear than Frickley, who are currently the No.10 best band in the world!

They will visit XP on Wednesday 17th November where they will rehearse for our students from 8:00pm – 9:00pm. Students will need to arrive (through the normal student entrance) for 7:45pm. Students will need to be dropped off and collected by a suitable adult from Car Park 3 (the normal car park at the side of school). Students will come into XP school and sit on the main stairs.

Please complete this form so we have an idea of numbers. It is an expectation for students to attend an event like this unless there is a particular reason for being unable to (eg. a prior commitment or a transport issue).

Any further questions please email Mr Robins ([email protected])

This really will be a night to remember!

Instrumental Music Lessons

By Marc Robins24th September 2021

The Autumn term instrumental lessons will be in full swing by next week for those students who signed up at the end of last year. Most students have received their lessons this week. Any students that didn’t get started this week will be scheduled to start next week.

Payment for these lessons will be set up on ParentPay asap and this term’s invoice will need to be settled before October half term.

Drum lessons specifically will NOT start until after October half term due to Mr West (drum teacher) being on a UK tour with Sir Cliff Richard! Students will still get the correct amount of lessons from him for this term when he returns to us.

Any questions can be directed towards either Mr Jackson or Mr Robins. Just drop us an email if you need any further info.

New students who would like to start lessons in the near future will receive a letter later this term and have the chance to start in January 2022.

MUSIC @ XP – Student Spotlight

By Marc Robins25th May 2021

The talent of young people always amazes me and this young lady is no exception.

This spotlight is intended to showcase the brilliant voice of Darcy from X27 (Year 7) at XP School.

She has such a fantastic talent and has entertained most of the school last week with three informal performances on the ‘P13 Stage’.

Take a look at this video as I’m confident it will make you smile.

Please welcome DARCY…