For this week’s ‘A Conversation With…’ we had a virtual chat with Director of Music, Mr Richard Curran, to find out more about what sparked his passion for music, and how his career to date has literally taken him to the other side of the world and back!
How long have you been at Shiplake and what roles have you held both previously and now?
I have been at Shiplake for four and a half years now, but it seems like only yesterday that I was stepping in to teach my first lesson of Year 9s!
I am Director of Music here, a really busy and exciting role which allows me to work with some really talented musicians across the whole school and organise a balanced calendar of formal and informal events both at College and in the community.
I arrived at Shiplake after 19 years working in Singapore, Tokyo and Paris. In Singapore I was the school's liaison with the British High Commission where I provided choirs and ensembles for Royal visits, and in Tokyo I was fortunate enough to be able to organise masterclasses for my students with some amazing musicians including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Nicola Benedetti and Martin Taylor.
What is your musical background and what made you become a teacher?
When I was at school in Ayr I was lucky to be surrounded by some really inspirational musicians whom I looked up to whilst playing violin, saxophone and percussion in the school orchestra.
My neighbour at the time, Martin Taylor, was Stephane Grappelli's guitar player so I used to help run mic cables into their house when the BBC came round to record. This is when I really fell in love with jazz and all of its sub styles.
I decided at that point to pursue music when I left school so I went to Edinburgh University. When I was there I taught saxophone to pupils at a few schools there, at the Royal School for the Blind and was involved in a Music Therapy project at Nordoff Robbins.
Seeing so many people get so much out of composing and playing music made me consider teaching, so off I went to Nagasaki for a year to teach English to see if I REALLY wanted to have a career in teaching.
What would you say is the best thing about Shiplake College?
People are encouraged to try out new things and not to stand still. This is a good way to foster an innovative culture and evolve. Another benefit of this, of course, is that it allows the college to make its mark in an already saturated independent school market.
What is the best thing about teaching music at Shiplake?
Being gobsmacked every half-term by existing pupils who have been at the College for a few years who suddenly tell you they are Grade 8 on the crumhorn or have been learning the theremin: I exaggerate slightly, but you get my point.
There is never a dull moment in the Music Department which comprises 14 outstanding Visiting Music Teachers who enjoy a good laugh and Mr Elliott, Mr Slade and Mr Jones who I absolutely love working with. Incidentally, we take requests and we're looking for suggestions for our next album cover. Previous ones included Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody cover and the famous Abbey Road Crossing. Suggestions on a postcard.
We are obviously experiencing unprecedented times with COVID-19, how have you adapted music teaching at school to ensure our pupils are still performing?
Because we have an incredible team we decided to take all of our instrumental and vocal lessons online from day one of lockdown. Barring the initial technical hitches you might expect and once hair and make-up rooms were designated for all of the teachers, lessons have been running smoothly. I've dropped in to a number of lessons, catching a glimpse of the progress the young musicians have been making. One of the best spin-offs of running music lessons remotely is that when a lesson has finished the pupils don't have to get up and leave the room to go to another class, most of them are still at their instrument and so learning or practising continues after you switch off the camera. In addition to the lessons we presented a lunchtime concert showcasing pupils, families and teachers and we are in the throes of producing a virtual summer music festival - Shiplake Rocks 2020 (Home Edition!)
Can you tell us about the forthcoming Shiplake Rocks virtual concert?
Shiplake Rocks is a summer music festival which was established last year, when plugged and unplugged performances took place in a beautiful tipi tent and the prize giving marquee on the Front Field. This year's home edition will still feature acoustic and electric performances and, as was the case last year, performances from staff, pupils, parents and Old Vikings. Sadly, Thomas Franks won't be providing pulled pork buns or outrageous hamburgers, so viewers will have to make their own ... sign-up to Mr Howe's Friday cooking activity for some tasty ideas.
Shiplake Rocks will premiere on YouTube at 8.00pm on Thursday 18 June. See you all then!
What would you say is your most memorable teaching moment so far?
Where do I start? There are some I can't repeat in this publication due to hilarious, mis-pronounced words related to medieval 2-part melodies. I love working on Project Based Learning with Year 7s. I remember last year Lunn, James, Rory and the boys in Year 7 Olympians composed some of the best scores for a Zombie Apocalypse movie I've ever heard. At the other end of the College I've had a lot of fun putting 8-part Samba rhythms down with the Music BTEC class in just 5 mins and watching them work like pros in the recording studio.
What is your favourite type of music and why?
I don't have a favourite type. I like stand alone pieces that I can connect with and this could be for a number of reasons. For example, I like Wagner's Siegfried Idyll, Poulenc's Flute Sonata, Prokofiev's 2nd Violin Concerto, Mahler's lieder eines fahrenden gesellen, The Stone Roses, Corduroy, Belle & Sebastian, Spandau Ballet and Thundercat (not the cartoon). See? A weird variety, but all take me back to times or people that have had an impact on me.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy exploring new places, be it driving for a few hours for a day out with my family or during our annual pilgrimage to Japan when we head up into the Japanese Alps.
What is the first thing you are going to do when we get out of lockdown (that you can't do now)?
That's an easy one. I'm going to travel up to Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London with some friends. I love live music and London is just the remedy after an unusual period under lockdown.
Where in the world would you like to visit that you haven't already visited?
New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Fiji... and Shetland, once I own an Arran sweater.
What does the future hold for Mr Curran?
Well, with the advancements in cloning and medical techniques I reckon by the time I am fifty I will be the proud owner of a full head of hair again. Only joking. I have no idea what the future holds but I am going to take a leaf out of Bobby McFerrin's book...
