6 minute read
Music 28 DT
Music
A show that certainly wasn’t panned by the critics
MUSIC REPORT
WORDS BY
Mrs Joanne Gedye,
Prep School Head of Music
Wow! What a year it has been! I cannot believe just how much we managed to squeeze into the last couple of months.
Although back in September, Covid threatened to be here to stay, the Autumn Term was still full of musical delights with the return of our live Informal Concerts. The Autumn Concert took place in the Great Hall, and although bubbling still played a part in who was able
to participate, it was a joyous occasion, and it was brilliant to get back to some semblance of a larger live musical performance. Recording our concerts has proved to be a hit and so this is an innovation we have decided to continue Mr. Whitbread with. Although the Year 3 and Year 4 Kiosk Carolling was not able to take place again this year, our traditional three Carol Services were able to go ahead, marking the end of term beautifully.
The Spring Term saw a few more Covid casualties, namely House Singing and then I managed to contract Covid again the day before the Composition Competition Finals which subsequently had to be cancelled last minute. However, the Choral Society performed McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio,
led by our newly appointed Head of Choral, Keith Roberts, to rapturous applause. We were lucky enough to be treated to the expertise of our Woodwind Fellow, who held several workshops, and we also held a highly enjoyable Year 3 Starter String Concert that rounded off the term fi ttingly.
The Summer Term was a whirlwind of musical magic. It began with The Year 3 and Year 4 Choir performing their Mini Musical ‘Seven Moments in Time’. Written by one of
Year 3 and Year 4 stars shining bright in a couple of hours was so nostalgic. Even though just like Mrs Gedye and Mrs Turton said that it took blood, sweat and tears, it all amounted to the 3 performances of a lifetime.’
No rest for the wicked, so the saying goes. The boys were treated to the expertise of both our Brass and Choral Fellows, we held our Prep Music Competition, the Year 3 and Year 4 Instrumental Starter Presentation and our Summer Concert; the perfect way to conclude what has been an amazing year of musicmaking.
And so, our musical rollercoaster ride of 2021/22 fi nally comes to an end, and it just leaves for me to say a huge thank you to everyone who has worked so tirelessly to bring music alive in the Prep School. I cannot wait to see what next year brings!
our visiting music teachers, David Williams, it was a light-hearted romp through a series of historical events. Much fun was had by all, and we were even joined by a real, live dinosaur!!! All the while, the Year 5 to Year 8 Choir boys were hard at work rehearsing for our end of term musical ‘Wow! What a Year!’ our fi rst production in the Quarry Theatre since 2018.
In the words of Daniel Joaille-Burge who played Iris the Virus;
‘Wow! What a play! I am sure that everyone who watched, enjoyed it. The play was my highlight of the year! With me and my partner Oliver playing the role of Iris the Virus, we did fetch a few boos when we bowed. However, the thrill and excitement of the play would never lose to a few boos. Across the years, I went through a lot and so did my family. But seeing the years unfold
2021 2022
Doyouthinkhesaurus?
Design Technology
DT REPORT
At Bedford Prep School the DT students have access to exceptional resources with fully equipped workshops. Utilising manufacturing skills to use metal, wood and plastic alongside textiles, a 3D printer, and CAD/CAM programmes, this enables our boys to discover and explore a passion for engineering and design.
The DT department provide a broad and vibrant DT curriculum across all key stages, incorporating a space that stimulates the pupil’s creativity and imagination. Alongside giving them an opportunity to visualize, to be tactile, sensory and have a great sense and understanding
WORDS BY
Mrs. Michelle Aldridge,
Head of Design Technology
to responding to today’s needs within the world we live in.
We always encourage our pupils to communicate what they see, feel, and think. Through colour, form and texture using a wide range of materials and manufacturing techniques. By the end of Year 8 each student will have developed the skills to use a range of manufacturing techniques using a wide variety of materials and to be able to analyse and evaluate their own and others’ work with positive and constructive criticisms. They will also appreciate the visual impacts or applications of their own work. In addition, they develop a knowledge and depth of learning about existing and past designers, engineers, styles, past periods, and present and future technology and gain the ability to develop their own design ideas through the design process, learn a range of graphical skills and to be able to transfer their ideas in to practice by producing their product.
This year the DT students at Bedford Prep School have experienced a wide range of hands-on manufacturing techniques using a variety of different woods such as Pine, Cherry and Tulip, an array of plastic manufacturing techniques using line bending, small electronics or simply added plastics to their existing products for aesthetics. Within the learning process, they have looked at
2021 2022
Boys showing off their fi nished DT projects with pride
structures and forces, the use of Solid Works as a CAD/CAM programme and each year group completed a small practical skills-based task to widen their knowledge and understanding through the many manufacturing processes.
We have seen lots of boys attend DT club, 3D printing club and DT catch up club (otherwise known as DT get ahead club). This has inspired the pupils to problem solve and communicate their creative thought processes and they have
shown good planning and growing independent learning, originality, and high-quality creative products in terms of their outcomes. This year we have seen gaming headphones holders, glasses stands, wooden Robots, structural bridges, logo toilet roll holders, outdoor plant pot stands, iPad and phone holders, and future skills swords and shields - what more could we ask for!
Well done to you all!
