Secondary School Sessions

SECONDARY SCHOOL SESSIONS

 

All workshops and group visits must be booked in advance. Please give as much information as possible about group size, ages, preferred dates or times when contacting us. Sessions can be adapted to your needs, curriculum and to other age groups. For more information about our education programme, please contact: bate.education@music.ox.ac.uk

 

MUSIC THROUGH THE AGES

Transformations in music, instruments and ensembles from the Renaissance to the present 

Explore the major historical periods of the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and modern eras through the Bate Collection’s instruments. Examine the musical and social development of ensembles and play instruments from the collection – from natural trumpet to spinet, from lute and viol to baroque flute and classical clarinet, and from serpent to theremin. 

Essential information 

  • Key stage: 4 or 5 (can be adapted to other groups) 
  • Duration: 2 hours 
  • Available: Monday or Tuesday mornings (please enquire about other availability) 
  • Maximum group size: 20
  • Venue: The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, The Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford OX2 6GG 
  • Cost*:  £150 

This workshop can be combined with the Javanese Gamelan workshop.  

  • Combined workshop cost:  £270 

* Some groups may be exempt from taught session charges. This currently applies to state-funded special schools and UK schools taking part in University access and outreach programmes.  

* Discounts are also available for maintained schools with pupils qualifying for Pupil Premium/Ever 6 FSM.  

Please discuss your needs with our Education Officer. 

For all bookings email: bate.education@music.ox.ac.uk 

 

KEYBOARDS THROUGH THE AGES

Exploring the sound and context of keyboards from the Renaissance to the modern era – including a chance to play instruments from the virginals, spinet, harpsichord, clavichord and fortepiano to the 19th-century square piano. 

Essential information:

  • Key stage: 4 or 5 (can be adapted to other groups) 
  • Duration: 90 minutes 
  • Available: Monday or Tuesday mornings (please enquire about other availability) 
  • Maximum group size: 20
  • Venue: The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, The Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford OX2 6GG 

  • Cost*:  £150

This workshop can be combined with the Javanese Gamelan workshop.  

Combined workshop cost:  £270 

* Some groups may be exempt from taught session charges. This currently applies to state-funded special schools and UK schools taking part in University access and outreach programmes.  

* Discounts are also available for maintained schools with pupils qualifying for Pupil Premium/Ever 6 FSM.  

Please discuss your needs with our Education Officer. 

For all bookings email: bate.education@music.ox.ac.uk 

 

William smith harpsichord bate collection of musical instruments oxford

 

JAVANESE GAMELAN

Learn to play a traditional Javanese piece while exploring the use of cyclic patterns and pentatonic scales. Discover the cultural context of the music, how to employ gamelan techniques and structures in composition, and how it has influenced composers from Messiaen to Minimalism. This workshop is also popular as a team-building and listening exercise. Can be tailored to your specific interests. 

Essential information 

  • Key stage: 3, 4 or 5 (can be adapted to other groups) 
  • Duration: 90-120 minutes (can be divided into 2 sessions if group is larger) 
  • Available: Tuesday afternoons (please enquire about other availability) 
  • Maximum group size: 20 
  • Venue: The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, The Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford OX2 6GG 
  • Cost*:  £150

This workshop can be combined with the Music Through the Ages or Keyboards Through the Ages workshop.  

Combined workshop cost:  £270 

* Some groups may be exempt from taught session charges. This currently applies to state-funded special schools and UK schools taking part in University access and outreach programmes.  

* Discounts are also available for maintained schools with pupils qualifying for Pupil Premium/Ever 6 FSM.  

Please discuss your needs with our Education Officer. 

For all bookings email: bate.education@music.ox.ac.uk 

 

BATE TOUR and INSTRUMENT HANDLING SESSION 

Explore the new Bate Collection through themes of Resonance, Craft and Invention, and the social context of instruments from the Middle Ages to the late 20th Century. The tour can be tailored to your specific interests. Play instruments from the collection – from natural trumpet to sackbut, from lute and viol to baroque flute and classical clarinet, and from serpent to clavichord and theremin. 

Essential information 

  • Key stage: 3, 4 or 5 (can be adapted to other groups) 
  • Duration: 45-60 minutes 
  • Available: Monday or Tuesday mornings (please enquire about other availability) 
  • Maximum group size: 20  
  • Venue: The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, The Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Oxford OX2 6GG 
  • Cost*:  £125 

* Some groups may be exempt from taught session charges. This currently applies to state-funded special schools and UK schools taking part in University access and outreach programmes.  

* Discounts are also available for maintained schools with pupils qualifying for Pupil Premium/Ever 6 FSM.  

For all bookings email: bate.education@music.ox.ac.uk 

 

Picture of the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, Oxford