Music

Music is rightly regarded as an essential part of the pupils’ general education.  Especially designed for Prep school use, the excellent Music curriculum caters for all pupils, the gifted as well as those with special needs, while embracing and exceeding the requirements set in the National Curriculum.

All children are encouraged to sing through membership of one or more of the Junior, Senior or School choirs.  These choirs take part at regular intervals in concerts and festivals inside and outside School, as well as Music tours.

Children are also encouraged to learn an instrument (or two) of their choice.  The School offers tuition for most instruments.  To help make the decision as to which instrument, a comprehensive instrumental scheme is run in Year 3.  Whilst on this scheme, the children receive tuition on the violin, viola, cello, trumpet, cornet, French horn, tenor horn, trombone, euphonium, flute, oboe, clarinet and keyboard.  The scheme is also designed to help discover musical talent at an early age.  This is especially useful since all independent schools offer valuable Music Scholarships at 11 or 13.

Music groups range from beginners’ ensembles for strings, wind and brass to the senior string ensemble, ‘Bash it’ (a percussion ensemble), senior woodwind ensemble, senior brass ensemble, as well as the chamber orchestra.

As well as music-making during assemblies, there are always many musical events each term, ranging from regular mini-informal concerts, informal concerts, showcase concerts, a Piano-fest, a House Music competition, festivals, an annual Musical, as well as the Festival of Lessons and Carols at Christmas.