Pupils serious about studying music have the opportunity to develop their musical abilities by participating in any of the many programmes offered at Markham, such as the instrumental programme, option subjects and musical activities.
Music at Markham is taught and delivered through the following activities: classroom lessons, the instrumental programme, after school activities, international examinations and performances.
Classroom Lessons
Pupils from Pre-Kinder to Secondary 1 have weekly music lessons. In both the Lower School and Middle School there is also a Strings Programme. From Secondary 2 onwards, Music becomes an optional subject. The weight or percentage of time allocated by teachers and pupils to each area varies from year to year. Records of achievement and improvement are linked to international examinations in Musical Literacy and practical examinations (London College of Music (LCM), IGCSE, and IB).
Instrumental Programme
Around one quarter of the school is learning to play a musical instrument on an extracurricular basis. This is what we call “The Instrumental Programme” and requires an additional fee. All pupils have the opportunity to participate in this programme. There are many instrumental and activities teachers for the three sections of the school. The programme runs on a rotational and fixed timetable basis.
Performances
A series of performances are presented throughout the year such as musicals, dramas, comedies, recitals and interschool festivals.
Activities
A variety of activities such as Choir, Band, String and Guitar Ensembles, Cajones, Andean Music, Modern Dance and Ballet are offered to pupils in the afternoons. The list of activities varies according to the section of the school. The Upper School Choir is composed of both staff and pupils.
Markham College recently began a ‘violin scholarship programme’ where a selected group of very young pupils are learning to play the violin. Another important novelty is the Ballet and Dance activities which are also organized by the Music Department.
International Examinations
Selected pupils from different year groups are invited to take LCM examinations at different levels in their corresponding instruments. Markham is the only school in Lima recognized as a Latin American representative of the LCM, authorized to provide these examinations.
Pupils in Secondary 3 and 4 and those who take music as an IB option subject, take international music examinations at LCM Music Literacy (Grade 3 to Grade 5) and IB Music at standard or higher level. Approximately 100 pupils of the instrumental music programme sit these examinations every year and the great majority of them pass with excellent results.
