Channing Music

Organisation of Visiting Music Staff Lessons

Lessons are organised on a weekly rotational basis so that the girls’ access to the wider curriculum is not compromised. In this way, it is expected that the girls will miss a different lesson each week. The girls are then required to make up the work they have missed. Their Form Teachers are always happy to help.

The timetables are prepared in advance with the date of the lesson published so that the girls have their instruments and music in school. The exact time of the lesson is published and available to view via the girls’ designated Google Classroom or Firefly page the week beforehand. Visiting Music Staff are aware of all events occurring in school and adapt the timetables as necessary to ensure that the girls have 30 lessons a year.

Additional Information

Your daughter will receive 30 lessons over the academic year (which is usually 36/37 weeks long). It is important to note that, as the terms are of uneven length you may find that your daughter has 12 or 13 lessons in the Autumn Term, 10 in the Spring and the remainder in the Summer. For ease, the payment is spread as 10 lessons equally across each term. This flexibility of lessons enables our Visiting Music Staff to accommodate some of the changes that occur during the school term such as outings, workshops, rehearsals and school tests.

The fees for the Academic Year 2022-2023 are £350 per term. The cost is added to your termly bill.

A term’s notice to cease lessons is required.

School Ensembles and Extra Curricular Music

We have a wide range of ensembles rehearsing at lunchtimes, including:

• Spears Choir for Years 5 and 6

• Spears String Orchestra

• Training String Orchestra

• Guitar Ensemble

• Brass Ensemble

• Blues Band (for wind and brass)

In addition, there will be enrichment activities that will take place on a rotational basis: Composer’s Corner, Ukulele Club, Orffestra (tuned percussion orchestra) and Samba Band. This allows children who may not be accessing instrumental lessons to enjoy composition and playing instrumental music with others.

There are also opportunities throughout the year for you to come and take part in percussion and singing workshops alongside your daughter. These take place on Thursdays directly after school. Dates will be communicated via the Bulletin.

All performance opportunities, and ensembles, are open to all girls regardless of where they study.

Children need to be given the chance to show off their hard work! We have many opportunities for solo and ensemble performances throughout the year. Each week, class music lessons start with “show time” where children volunteer to perform polished pieces for their classmates. Our impressive instrumentalists also feature in weekly assemblies and entertain prospective parents during our Open Mornings. In addition to the parent/daughter music workshops, after-school recitals will take place in the Music Room on selected Thursdays throughout the year so you can come along and enjoy your child’s playing at pick-up time.

ABRSM Examinations

Each year we have approaching 90 girls taking ABRSM examinations achieving significantly higher than the national average.

The school is happy to accommodate requests from pupils who learn out of school to be entered for ABRSM examinations in school (with the exception of singing and percussion). Information for this is advertised in the Bulletin. Channing School music staff provide all accompanying services.

Please note:

• A small levy is added to the entry fee to cover administrative costs

• The certificate will read “Entered by Channing School”